How "Green" Are You?

Tarah716

What do you do around the house or in everyday life that is "green"? 

kellelle01

We recycle anything we can.  We use re-useable water bottles.  We also use the energy-saving lightbulbs. 

mcvaydesigns

I co-designed the greenest house east of the Mississippi... does that count?

(and I am serious)

 

ETA:  In case anyone actually cares... here is a little story on the news about the house in FL

http://video.tbo.com/v/26459552/green-house-built-on-treasure-island.htm

There were a million other news stories about it, but I am too lazy to find them.

MrsLokiAngel

I carpool w/ my husband 4-5 days/week.

mary811

I reuse our plastic grocery bags and sometimes use the cloth bags when I go shopping.  I use old shirts, burp clothes, towels  for cleaning windows, cars, blinds, etc , pretty much anything that I don't have to eat off of or lay on.  We also recycle papers, magazines, milk jugs, etc.

It seems like being green in one area just makes another area less green.  Like we are paper towel wh0res, but if I used a rag, I am wasting water from having to do more wash.  It's a catch 22

It's not easy being green!  (love Kermit!)

amyvan317

We recycle a lot of things, we carpool to the office when we are both in it.  I also use as many green cleaning products and laundry detergents as I can.  Also, once little one arrives, we will be cloth diapering.

It is also my "job" at work.  My company sells environmental compliance and sustainability software for manufacturers and I manage the marketing program for it...I have to think "green" all day.

heatherjrichards

We recycle anything we can and Ann Arbor is great about it.  I am way better about saving energy by unplugging everything and making sure to open curtains/shutters versus turning on lights during the day.  I really need to get those energy efficient light bulbs.  I like to use Freecycle too to get rid of stuff instead of trying to sell it or throw it away.  That makes me feel green

amyvan317

I forgot about re-using shopping bags and using cloth ones for grocery shopping.  I love my re-usable bags...they store so much more and are easier to lug into the house too!

heatherjrichards

MrsLokiAngel:

I carpool w/ my husband 4-5 days/week.

We did that for a year and a half ( i think) when I was working and it saved SO much gas. 

vw2181

I try to use reusable rags for wiping down the counters,cleaning windows and mirros, etc...  I also prefer to use cloth napkins, but DH doesn't like them as well as paper napkin/paper towels.  I use vinegar instead of dryer sheets/fabric softner.

jesss10

i don't clean so i use no paper towel or waste water washing rags or use chemicals. ;-)

MrsLokiAngel

heatherjrichards:

MrsLokiAngel:

I carpool w/ my husband 4-5 days/week.

We did that for a year and a half ( i think) when I was working and it saved SO much gas. 

We estimate it saves us 2500/year. 

heatherjrichards

MrsLokiAngel:

heatherjrichards:

MrsLokiAngel:

I carpool w/ my husband 4-5 days/week.

We did that for a year and a half ( i think) when I was working and it saved SO much gas. 

We estimate it saves us 2500/year. 

Probably more like $10k with gas prices now

heatherjrichards

mcvaydesigns:

I co-designed the greenest house east of the Mississippi... does that count?

(and I am serious)

 

ETA:  In case anyone actually cares... here is a little story on the news about the house in FL

http://video.tbo.com/v/26459552/green-house-built-on-treasure-island.htm

There were a million other news stories about it, but I am too lazy to find them.

You are always so famous! I'm jealous. 

Basebalbride

Recycle as much as we can-at least paper

Use Green products, most of our hand soap, laundry soap, cleaner is green

I try to buy local at Farmer's Markets

Reusable bags, I try to carry one everywhere just in case -I also bring one on trips work and personal

We use reusable bottles for water/coffee

We reuse bags

*edit-I try to use coupons on my phone and not print them out

 

Basebalbride

jesss10:

i don't clean so i use no paper towel or waste water washing rags or use chemicals. ;-)

note to self..Jess's house smells like poop

mumegs

We recycle a lot - any type of plastic or cardboard food or drink containers, magazines, etc. We use all energy efficient lightbulbs, and we also have energy efficient washer/dryers and toilet. We are lucky in Berkley, they will take almost anything, even batteries!

We are also carpooling to work, but it's not by choice

DH is way into green, he wants to get solar panels for the house, although we can't afford the cost!

Mira06

We do as much as we can.  We recycle, use cloth rags, cloth napkins.  I make a lot of our cleaners and those I don't make are "green" brands.  And we plan to cloth diaper.  Before the move, we alos bought local food products.  I am still struggling with how to do that since the move. 

firewife9278

We use the plastic grocery bags to scoop the cat waste into. And we use cloth bags at the grocery store unless we need to replenish the plastic ones. I even bring a tote bag to the mall with me most of the time.

You know those paper cup sleeves at Starbucks to keep your hands from burning? I have an insulated cloth one that my friend made me that I carry in my purse to use.

I drink my water from a reusable camelbak water bottle, and I do drink tap water.

However, we use a ton of napkins/paper towels/paper plates at home (and my office), and recycling isn't offered in my condo complex.

ETA: I forgot that we do use the energy efficient lightbulbs, and method cleaning products that aren't full of chemicals (more for the cats than for the environment, but still)...

Mrs.CFH2

We recycle.  Well I recycle.  I say H hates the Earth on a regular basis.  I tried to make it as easy as possible by having a dual side waste basket in the kitchen, one side for recycling. 

We have energy saving bulbs throughout the house.

I am pretty conscious about turning things off- lights, the TV, etc. when not in use.  And I'm good about not having the TV on all day just for noise.  That took a little getting used to at first.

I don't run the dishwasher or washing machine unless I have full loads.

I've been trying to use my broom more than the Swiffer to save on waste.  I also have been switching to some Method products.

We rarely have our A/C or heat on, although that has changed a bit since having Cam.

I still use paper towel, Clorox wipes, and all that jazz.  I am not interested in completely changing my lifestyle just to say I'm "green" but I do what works for our household.

Julz629

• I recycle as much as I can.  And DH does too -- with a little nagging sometimes.
• Stopped buying plastic water bottles -- we use a Brita faucet mount.
• I use reusable grocery totes.  However, I need to use plastic bags for dog poop, but I usually take them from my mom so I don't know how green that is...
• I *hope* to cloth diaper.  It depends on our day care plans.
• I do most of our laundry with cool water.
• We are replacing all of our light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs as they burn out. 
• We have replaced our dishwasher, furnace, and hot water heater with energy start appliances.
• We will be doing the same with our fridge and oven/stove when we are done with our kitchen.