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So what are you doing to lower your carbon footprint?

So what are you doing to lower your carbon footprint?

How active are you in environmental issues?

As for me:

I just (finally) switched to wind powered energy for my condo. I also replaced all but the light over the dining room table with a CFL. I wash all my dishes by hand now. I wash my clothes in cold water and air dry as often as possible. I also keep all my appliance unplugged when I am not using them, and I try to limit my AC/Heat until I really need it. Since my condo doesn't have many windows, I keep night lights plugged in so that I can go to the kitchen or bathroom when I need to, and I don't have to turn on the lights.

I sometimes walk to do an errand if the place is close enough. I use reusable grocery store bags, and I'll choose low-packaging options when possible (I never buy single-serving items, for example).

At home, I recycle all my paper, tin, glass, and plastic. I reuse all plastic bags to carry things in, or pick up dog waste when I walk my dogs. I no longer trash vegetable waste, but instead throw it behind the bushes so that it can biodegrade.

I also started a green group at work. We planted 8 trees last year, and plan to do more this spring. I also found an independent recycler to come pick up paper, plastic, and aluminum cans for the entire office building. We have about 8 companies that participate. We also watch environmental documentary DVDs, and schedule guest speakers.

I also moderate a green Yahoo! Group for Dallas, and I'm signed up for every email/distribution/newsletter list you can imagine. I do take the time to respond to action alerts and letter writing campaigns as time allows, and I always try to catch the environmental radio shows on PRI. I also watch every documentary I can get my hands on.

Last fall, I attended the Green Jobs Now rally here in Dallas, and I attend the local environmental/alternative energy groups (as often as I can) that I found on Meetup.com. I also print out flyers, posters, and brochures on environmental issues and take to the local library for display on their public bulletin board/display center.

I'm sure there are a few other things as well, but this is all I can think of at the moment.

Of course, there are many things I can't do because of the costs involved, such as buying a different car, make my condo more energy efficient, or install solar panels, etc.

So what are you doing in your own life? Do you have any ideas or experiences you would like to share with other AN members?

Tags: activism, carbon, carbon-footprint, climate-change, energy, environment, global-warming

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jason Spicer on July 19, 2009 at 1:18am

My gas and electric utility, Puget Sound Energy, has an interesting program that lets you pay more and have them buy wind and solar instead of fossil fuel electricity. It's not a whole lot more, and you don't have to buy all your electricity that way--you can add green power in $4 increments. I know it's not much, but at least it's a way for people to vote with their pocketbooks fairly easily. Green-e.org lets you look for similar programs offered by utilities in other parts of the country.

Permalink Reply by Dallas (on hiatus) on July 24, 2009 at 8:32am

Yeah, we have similar tax incentives and rebates here, too. But I'm in a condo and can't really do any modifications like that. Couldn't afford it anyhow.

Permalink Reply by Dallas (on hiatus) on July 24, 2009 at 8:34am

Yes, until you start to wash, sort, and recycle your trash, you don't really realize how much you generate. It is quite astounding if you think about it. I live alone and I'm dumbfouded sometimes at how much I generate myself.

Permalink Reply by Dallas (on hiatus) on July 24, 2009 at 8:29am

I've used nightlights for years. I can find my way around the house without flipping a switch, and they don't use much electricity at all. This months' bill was $100, but I've had bills as low as $25 a month, during the spring and fall, of course.

Permalink Reply by Luke on July 24, 2009 at 7:20am

Our modest efforts:
100% renewable electricity from JackGreen.
A Queensland Government supplied Climate Smart monitor to help us monitor and reduce electricity consumption (although, on 100% green power I suspect we are better off using as much as we like to boost JackGreen's bottom line).
All lights in the house are compact fluorescent.
6 worm farms and 7 compost bins have reduced our rubbish output to such an extent that we only put the bins out a few times a year. All biodegradable rubbish is recycled in our yard and used to fertilise the garden.
We work from home so we don't have to travel to work.
Last but not least, Karen and I have a fantastic electric chopper pushbike each. I use it instead of the car for errands and grocery shopping. I'm not allowed to drive at the moment so it is my only transport.

They are seven and a half feet long and lots of fun. I have motorbike saddle bags for every day use and a trailer for bigger loads.

Permalink Reply by Dallas (on hiatus) on July 24, 2009 at 8:25am

Great efforts Luke. That bike looks like it would be hard to peddle, or maybe uncomfortable.

Permalink Reply by Luke on July 24, 2009 at 8:41am

It's electric so who's peddling. LOL Very comfortable to ride. Biggest problem is getting pulled up all the time. People want to know about it.

Permalink Reply by Dallas (on hiatus) on July 24, 2009 at 9:14am

Yeah I bet. I always want to ask about those little tiny cars I see ppl driving now.

Permalink Reply by Dallas (on hiatus) on September 10, 2009 at 3:55pm

Thanks. I caught some of his interview when he was on a local NPR station here last week or so. Oh my, too many books, not enough time.

Permalink Reply by Jo Jerome on October 30, 2009 at 9:58pm

Ok, just joined the group thanks to a little egging on by Sydni. ;-)

Much of my personal lowering-of-carbon-footprint comes from two sources: A) Mom and Dad have raised me since birth to do small, reasonable, but conscious things since way before 'global warming' became a household word. B) I'm poor as hell.

- My 'house' is a 20' RV. Not very green when I have to drive it as my 1975 disco-mobile struggles to get 8mpg on good days. But I don't drive it often (average 1,000 miles/year so far). But not much space at all that needs to be lit, cooled or heated.

- Heat in the winter is minimal. For one thing I have a snake that I allow to burmate and in such a small space, I can really only regulate his environment by regulating mine. That means no more than 55 degrees average in the Winter, less if I can manage it. The right order of blankets and comforters and I'm quite cozy!

- I'm light sensitive, so lighting is low and composed entirely of Christmas lights and the occasional candle. Not sure though how 'green' Xmas lights are.

- Solar heated water in the Summer. Namely, camp shower.

- My clothes are always hand-washed and air-dried.

- I'm planning on getting solar panels.

- My 'car' is a motorcycle. 60mpg.

- I often take reusable shopping bags to the store, and if I do get disposable it's to double as trash bags.

- Do my best to recycle my plastic, cardboard, aluminum and tin.

- When I wash my hands in public restrooms I don't dry them. It's ~~Arizona~~ Arid-zona. By the time I've taken 10 steps out of the bathroom they've air-dried. Think how much paper towels are saved by doing this?

++And the BIG one I think would make so much difference if everyone did it: I bring a reusable soda cup when I go out for fast food. How many paper and styrofoam cups do we go through every year? And I like Sydni's idea of bringing my own reusable to-go/leftover containers.

Permalink Reply by Klaus Motan on December 3, 2009 at 12:46pm

Up to me, now ?
Well, first I can´t believe my eyes, and I sure hope I´m wrong when assuming that 8 mpg means 8 miles per gallon - hell, my 40-ton eighteen wheeler doesn´t consume so much fuel, what you´re driving, a battle tank ?
I don´t have a tv-screen
I tend to buy used things, especially books, or lend them from public librarys
I usually have my own bags with me, when going for shopping, otherwise I take some of the empty card-boxes lying around in the market (here in Austria)
I drive mostly moderate
I seldom use shampoo or soap, when showering, only if really necessary
I (it´s obligatory here in Austria) seperate my garbage for recycling
I´m a vegetarian
I don´t support McD, or any other fast-food and junk-producing "restaurant"
I have my coffee mostly served in mugs or cups, and avoid "coffee to go"
I have no cell-phone
I try to avoid buying one-use products, or single packed ones
I´m an Austrian, which means, in general, that to support my lifestyle much less energy is wasted as for the typical American style
Nothing important or impressive so far, but, as I´m some kind of couch-potatoe too, I don´t have to breathe so deep and often (I tried to stop it completely once, but the necessarity is hard to overcome) ;-)

Permalink Reply by Jo Jerome on December 3, 2009 at 10:59pm

Yes, you read right. 8 miles per gallon. 1975 20' Class C motorhome. Really not designed for aerodynamics and efficiency.

Thankfully, it isn't exactly my drive-to-work-and-back vehicle. In fact I only just took it for a short drive last week for the first time in 7 months.