Earth Day - April 22, 2009

[ajrsmom]

This year Earth Day is April 22, 2009.

What changes have you made in your life and home to "go green"?

Have you found that these changes have made a difference?

Were they costly or hard to do?

Have you stuck with it or have you gone back to your old ways again?

This poll is multiple choice. If you're using other ways to "go green", we'd love for you to share your tips with us!

[Pag36]

I have been using the plastic bags (for years) from K-Mart etc as trash basket liners and there are lots of them in this house.
I reuse any bottle/jar/container that I can.
I generally use vinagar and water to clean mirrors/glass.
Cut up old towels to use as rags to use less paper towels.

[Pag36]

Also forgot to say I have those special light bulbs in most of lamps but they for what ever reason they will NOT work in my light in my BR grrr! but I try not to have it on that much.

[seleach]

We are using the fluorescent bulbs in our lamps and the light fixtures in the basement.
Lights are not left on in rooms we are not in.
We also use plastic bags from stores in our wastebaskets.
We set the thermastate lower in winter and higher in summer.
I use old t-shirts for rags and old socks for dusting. Put my hand in the sock and wipe away. Works great.
Run my dryer back to back to use less electricity. Dryer doesn't have to heat up everytime.
Use empty jars for jam, salsa or what ever use I can come up with.
Scanner and printer are off unless I need to use them. Wireless is turned off before I go to bed.
We have a low flow shower head and toilets that use less water.
We have big trash cans for collecting rain water for watering the garden and flower beds.

[Pag36]

I also collect rain water for plants etc
And my printer/scanner is off too when not in use and TV in my BR is also unplugged. Likewise Toaster Oven, Microwave but not my coffeepot

[BuddyBeanieBaby]

No plastic bags here...

Light bulbs are the economic ones,can't think of the name of them...but they cut down on the cost of hydro...

Keep lights off most of the time,even at night...

I use rechargeable batteries in my digital camera and remotes...cuts down on the waste of used batteries...

My thermostat is always down low in the winter and never on in the spring,summer or fall...

Smiles & Hugs...

[Bilby]

Most of the above listed, it's good to be green

[CHADSMOM]

I try to be green as possible...
I take my plastics to the church down the road from us - they gather them and take them to a recycling center monthly.

Also I have quite a few flourescent low watt bulbs. They seemed to have saved me a little bit so far on my electric bill. I too keep my lights off when not in use same with my scanner/printer, computer, etc.

My thermostat is currently in the off position as we have had some mildly cool nights but not really cool enough to need the heat running all night...In the Spring months I usually open my windows and enjoy the breeze. I keep the thermostat turned up to around 78 in the summer months.

[bluebird]

I like being green. I make my own cleansers, laundry soap, bath salts. It is cheaper making homemade and I reuse bottles. I hang laundry up to dry inside and outside. Try to reuse everything I can before I send it to the thrift store.

[Minny]

We use the low watt energy saving bulbs, but I don't see much difference in the elec bill. I reuse all kinds of containers. I only do laundry 1 day a week.. I only have 3 loads. I use the plastic bags from the grocery store for trash & sometimes if I have to wrap garbage, I'll use them for that. Our recyclying pick up is picky on what we can put in it.. they only want aluminum cans, bottles & plastic milk jugs.. no cardboard, styrofoam or anything like that. I have to put those in the garbage.. even though it don't make any sense to me. I thought all that stuff was recyclable. We keep the thermostat on about 72-75º when it gets down to about 50º. It's pretty warm here most of the time, so only turn it to take the cold chill out. I like the windows open to let the fresh air in. We have a small lake in our MHP & use water from that for watering the flowers & lawn. I use all old shirts & towels for cleaning rags.