Envriomental disscussion and tips to save our planet

[deluxe]

I have to confess. I'm a pretty big Envriomentalistcal.... Envrioment freak. I just thought, hey why not talk about Envriomental stuff with other SK people.
And talk about stuff like well Global warming, poullution that kind of stuff. And ways we can combat it. Right now i have the light off to consevere energy.

[ally88]

We could all stop using our laptops/computers so much!!:blush:

[Todash]

Here's some other ways to conserve energy and reduce waste (note that these also conserve money). We can all do at least some of these.

Carpool and/or consolidate errands (have one day a week where you do all running).
Install a programmable thermostat and set it up to use less energy at night and when you're gone. During the winter it's easy to have the house a little cooler even when you're there because you can just put on a jacket or sweater.
Use the dishwasher; it's more efficient than you are.
Wait until the dishwasher and washing machine are full to run them.
Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents.
Wrap your water heater with an insulating blanket thingie.
Cook from scratch. Fewer packages to throw away.
Drink tap water, even if you have to filter it.
Look for ways to reduce our reliance on nonrenewable resources; use solar power. Walk or bike when you can. Don't buy stuff made from old-growth trees.

That's what I have for now. :)

[tess4da]

I am a tree hugger. I made it through Katrina with a single candle for cooking, and water I'd bottled ahead of time. No electricity for ten days, didn't miss it. Read by a gas lamp. Stephen King, of course.

[Liselle]

I'm not so sure about all the little things we do make such a big difference, such as energy saving light bulbs - they take forever to come on and then they have to be specially recycled because they contain mercury. Solar panels cost a fortune and you will need at least 20 years to recoup the amount spent.

The ones that need to get their act into gear is the big industries and factories (especially in the far east) until they fall into line I do fear we are wasting our time.

[Todash]

I am a tree hugger. I made it through Katrina with a single candle for cooking, and water I'd bottled ahead of time. No electricity for ten days, didn't miss it. Read by a gas lamp. Stephen King, of course.
Cool. How'd you cook with a candle?

[Todash]

I'm not so sure about all the little things we do make such a big difference, such as energy saving light bulbs - they take forever to come on and then they have to be specially recycled because they contain mercury. Solar panels cost a fortune and you will need at least 20 years to recoup the amount spent.

The ones that need to get their act into gear is the big industries and factories (especially in the far east) until they fall into line I do fear we are wasting our time.
They won't do it until public opinion forces them to. That's why individual practices make such a large impact. One person cannot save a forest, but one person can start a chain reaction.

[poisonbat]

Small things I do:
1. I recycle everything that can be recycled. Even if it means a trip to a specific recycling plant. Computers and all electronics can be recycled without them ever poisoning our landfills.
2. Nothing and I do mean NOTHING plastic goes into my trash can. Plastic will be in a landfill for an unknown amount of time. Fast food cups, ziplock bags, milk jugs, yogurt cups etc. If it has a number on the bottom of it, it is recyclable.
3. Use canvas shopping bags and if I happen to get a plastic one, it is returned to the recycle bin at the front of the store.
4. Metal, anything and I do mean ANYTHING metal can be recycled and it is worth money. Steel, iron, aluminum(and not just soda cans) can all be recycled. This includes food cans, coffee cans etc.
5. All things cardboard can be recycled. Cereal boxes, food container boxes, etc.
6. All things paper can be recycled. Fast food bags, newspapers, paper towels, I suggest shredding bills before recycling them but they too can be recycled.
7. I got my niece started on G-Diapers, they are biodegradable and earth friendly. Diapers are not DISPOSABLE! It bothers me to no end that the diapers that my mom used on me, along with every other baby that used or is currently using are still in a landfill somewhere.
8. Why is it that TRASH BAGS are NOT biodegradable? Even if everything in the trash bag is biodegradable and all of the recyclables removed, the very bag itself is not biodegradable.
9. I walk whenever I can to pick up a couple of things I forgot at the store instead of driving. The market is only a couple of blocks away so this is easy for me.
10. My recycle bin is always full at the end of the week and my trash almost empty. I wish that more people would take advantage of this. Even my grass and yard clippings get recycled in my green waste barrel. :bat:

These are just my recycling tips.

[JohnDalglish]

8. Why is it that TRASH BAGS are NOT biodegradable? Even if everything in the trash bag is biodegradable and all of the recyclables removed, the very bag itself is not biodegradable.


Hi,

I'd never thought of that one before, thankee Poisonbat, seems crazy when you think about it, doesn't it?

Long days and pleasant nights

[Ubasti]

I try to always:
turn the lights off when I leave a room
keep the tv unplugged when not watching it
use bio-degradable trash bags
refil the same plastic bottle with filtered water from the tap
buy eco-friendly cleaning products

[CorbinKale]

I only cut down dead or dying trees for firewood, and use no electricity to heat my home. But I do it to be a good steward of the forest that provides me with warmth and tasty critters. Not to save the planet.

I keep the lights off, unless absolutely needed. But I do it because I like the dark and dislike paying for electricity I don't need to. Not to save the planet.

More and more scientists are jumping ship away from 'global warming', skipping right past 'climate chaos' and heading straight for the ''global cooling' bandwagon. Guaranteed, in five years the popular crisis will be the next 'ice age'. Seen it before. 'Experts' make a lot of money scaring folks and preaching about what people should be frightened of next. Not a bad gig, I suppose, if they can sleep at night.

Just like the weather, climate gurus operate in cycles for their personal gain. Not to save the planet.

[Moderator]

I only cut down dead or dying trees for firewood, and use no electricity to heat my home. But I do it to be a good steward of the forest that provides me with warmth and tasty critters. Not to save the planet.

I keep the lights off, unless absolutely needed. But I do it because I like the dark and dislike paying for electricity I don't need to. Not to save the planet.

More and more scientists are jumping ship away from 'global warming', skipping right past 'climate chaos' and heading straight for the ''global cooling' bandwagon. Guaranteed, in five years the popular crisis will be the next 'ice age'. Seen it before. 'Experts' make a lot of money scaring folks and preaching about what people should be frightened of next. Not a bad gig, I suppose, if they can sleep at night.

Just like the weather, climate gurus operate in cycles for their personal gain. Not to save the planet.


It's my personal belief based on information I've read about and watched in documentaries (haven't seen An Inconvenient Truth yet) that the earth does go through cycles of warming and cooling. But I believe that what we've been doing since the Industrial Revolution has been affecting that natural process in a way that hasn't happened before. Regardless of whether people believe global warming/cooling is "real" or that we are faced with imminent disaster as some proclaim, though, I go along with your philosophy that we should each be acting as stewards for the earth. I'm not perfect about it, but do what I can and if each person did that we'd all be a lot better off.

I did find your comment about "experts" telling people what they should be frightened off a bit ironic, though. I don't personally subscribe to the worry about having guns taken away or a need for the survivalist philosophy. That appears to be your reality, though, and if it helps you sleep at night, then it's not for me (or anybody for that matter) to try to convince you otherwise. I honestly don't mean it as a criticism of your personal beliefs. I just was noticing how one person's truth (on any subject) can be another one's folly.

[brownmouse]

I'm not so sure about all the little things we do make such a big difference, such as energy saving light bulbs - they take forever to come on and then they have to be specially recycled because they contain mercury.
.

AND- my daughter- whom most know- has special needs- is VERY sensitive to her environment. It's part of the autistic like behavior with her syndrome and these harsh lights really bother her-the flicker of them and the weird light it gives off. And the fact that there is mercury in them drives my OCD nuts!! I hate not using them for all the obvious reasons but am seriously thinking about stocking up on the old fashioned bulbs before they are discontinued. But I feel guilty! :oops:

Other than that I try to do my part. Recycle, turn off unnecessary running water, cloth grocer bags, and - I was thinking- should warm water ever be used(outside of the shower or bath- with dishes and such)? I understand the need for hot- if you think it is necessary to kill germs (some think cold is fine with the right detergent but don't tell my MIL that) but warm water? OK- this is probably over thinking it but to get warm water (used mostly for comfort) you(usually) turn on the hot tap and blend it with the cold and isn't that a waste of energy- just to keep my hands comfy as washed? I know, kinda weird but it's stuck in my head and so now every time I wash my hands with the help of two faucets (hot and cold) I feel guilty- but my cold water is sooo cold! brrrr.

Another thing that bothers me- do kids meals really need those little plastic toys? I mean how long do your kids actually play with them, if at all? Land fill! I say get rid of the stupid toys!! :glare:

[LadyHitchhiker]

I don't understand people who don't want to keep the Earth clean. I mean, environmentalism isn't going to hurt our planet, it can only help, so why not do it? I mean just because you don't clean your bathroom every day doesn't mean you might not benefit from it! :D

[tillyn]

I recycle what ever i can, trying not to load up the land fills anymore that i have to. I also give things away that i don't want.

[CorbinKale]

It's my personal belief based on information I've read about and watched in documentaries (haven't seen An Inconvenient Truth yet) that the earth does go through cycles of warming and cooling. But I believe that what we've been doing since the Industrial Revolution has been affecting that natural process in a way that hasn't happened before. Regardless of whether people believe global warming/cooling is "real" or that we are faced with imminent disaster as some proclaim, though, I go along with your philosophy that we should each be acting as stewards for the earth. I'm not perfect about it, but do what I can and if each person did that we'd all be a lot better off.

I did find your comment about "experts" telling people what they should be frightened off a bit ironic, though. I don't personally subscribe to the worry about having guns taken away or a need for the survivalist philosophy. That appears to be your reality, though, and if it helps you sleep at night, then it's not for me (or anybody for that matter) to try to convince you otherwise. I honestly don't mean it as a criticism of your personal beliefs. I just was noticing how one person's truth (on any subject) can be another one's folly.

A person consists of all they have seen, done and experienced. Naturally, that shapes how each person views events and situations. I could very well be crazy. If I am, no one will be more relieved than me! :biggrin2:

[sknut70]

I think the new term is "climate change" more than global warming and global cooling. you should watch the inconvient truth, it is a very interesting movie. It was a bit alarming, but the info was great.

I'm with Ms. Mod on the idea that we have been speeding up climate change on the earth since the Industrial revolution

here is a great link from the EPA (cuz some people dont trust Al Gore) http://epa.gov/climatechange/basicinfo.html

[ms.darkside]

More and more scientists are jumping ship away from 'global warming', skipping right past 'climate chaos' and heading straight for the ''global cooling' bandwagon. Guaranteed, in five years the popular crisis will be the next 'ice age'. Seen it before. 'Experts' make a lot of money scaring folks and preaching about what people should be frightened of next. Not a bad gig, I suppose, if they can sleep at night.

Just like the weather, climate gurus operate in cycles for their personal gain. Not to save the planet.

From what I gathered from educating myself on global warming is that it mainly affects areas such as the Arctic zones. A few degree temperature change melts icebergs and sends cold water into the jet stream. Naturally, cold water sinks and flows faster on the ocean floor to areas around the world. When you get the cold water mixing with the warm, it generates some intense tropical storms and/or hurricanes. So, I believe that when people say when its cold outside, "global warming my ****", it only needs to happen in certain areas to affect us for one. Another point is, and most people don't even take notice to summer lasting longer than it did before. I live in the north, and indian summer is stretching later into the calendar year. We have had more and more 70 degree weather into Nov. Our deer hunters have not had snow for about 10 years or more. Which in days of my childhood that wouldn't be.

I hope that in the future that scientists say global warming is no longer an issue. It means that we have actually done something to change it for the better!!! Hopefully, we will keep our good habits of recycling.

[svensegers99]

so sad that we're aware of the destruction of the earth by ourselves but still don't wanna do something about it...the best thing to do is develop vehicles on hydrogen!We're working on that but I think its still far away.Maybe we can also stop turning acres and forests into building properties.And maybe we can even stop chopping down them rainforests .And if we really want to do something meaningful,we should replant forests!Guess we're doing better then 10 years ago with hybrid cars,wind energy and stuff like that,but theres still a long way to go.Ow btw...ice ages,global heating,its perfectly normal.The only thing that isn't normal is the pollution of water and air,and the holes in the ozone layer!

[poisonbat]

I know I will catch flack for this but here it goes. Christmas Trees... It is horrible to chop down these beautiful trees for 2 weeks of Human pleasure just to be dumped on the curb brown and dead at the end of the holiday. :sad: It is pine tree Armageddon. Especially the Majestic tree in Times Square. This tree is usually around 65-100 years old and is decorated for simple human pleasure and then discarded when it has finally been drained of it's life. :sad: Ok I am off my soap box now. :glare::bat:

[sknut70]

We are doing a lot better with the forestry thing as well. at least in the Northeast US. I belong to the Appalachian mountain club, and have been reading about the conservation efforts. They have worked out with the paper companies in Maine to keep the forest a running farming forest as well as working with other organizations to conserve the Maine forest.

however, the deforestation of Africa and the Amazon is a real hurt to us right now .

the longer summers, the shortened winters, the change the hatching of certain bugs, which changes the diet of certain birds which changes eco systems all over the place.

a little ripple like changing the date of a caterpillar hatching could lead to extinction of a certain bird, which could lead to the over population of pests. mosquitoes carry more diseases now, at least in my area.

[brownmouse]

I know I will catch flack for this but here it goes. Christmas Trees... It is horrible to chop down these beautiful trees for 2 weeks of Human pleasure just to be dumped on the curb brown and dead at the end of the holiday. :sad: It is pine tree Armageddon. Especially the Majestic tree in Times Square. This tree is usually around 65-100 years old and is decorated for simple human pleasure and then discarded when it has finally been drained of it's life. :sad: Ok I am off my soap box now. :glare::bat:

Yeah- I know how you feel. If it makes you feel any better the majority of Christmas trees grow super fast. Also you can get a live one and then donate it to a park. And, one last plus, the dead trees make great squirrel homes during the winter. Any better? :oh:

[cunninghamair]

I recycle religiously and just bought a Kindle!

[JayneH]

It is Earth Hour on Saturday 28th March 2009 at 8.30pm in your local time zone.
Just switch off all electrical appliances and light switches for one hour.
http://www.earthhour.org/about/ is the link if you want to check it out. We do it here every year.

I have a worm farm in the back yard for all kitchen scraps.
for lawn scraps I have a compost heap down the back of the property.
All tree prunings and heging gets put through a shredder and put back into the garden as mulch.
Only use free range eggs and buy free range chickens.
Air con only goes on at the end of the day once the sun has gone down and switches off automatically 1 hour after going to bed. We dont need air con when we're asleep :smile2:
We have solar hot water and am hoping to get a solar power system on some time this year so we can provide electricity back to the grid in off peak times.
Only plant native plants so no watering required.
I could go on......

[sknut70]

buying a christmas tree from a tree farm is more earth friendly than buying the plastic things. The tree farm does not chop down forests, and the plastic things end up in landfills.I am terribly guilty however. I bought a plastic thing last year. sigh.. I could not deal with the pine needles I would continue to find through out the year.

Geothermal engery is a great way to heat your home. It is a large cost initially, but in the US, there are programs where you get reimbursed for some of the costs. also, you make alot of electricity. people can actually make more electricity than they need and they sell it back to the Electric company. that is a great money saver. I dont have it but I sure would like to.

[Jax]

sigh.. I could not deal with the pine needles I would continue to find through out the year.


That's what I don't like as well. I would vaccume the needles up every day, and I'm still finding needles here and there every so often.