Question:
Easy tips to live green?
Microwaved Tofu!
2009-04-06 22:07:03 UTC
I have googled a little, but I thought this would be a great place too :-) What are some simple things that I can do that will help? Also, is there anything that shows the effects of one green household? Thanks!
Eight answers:
gildersleeve
2009-04-07 11:55:51 UTC
Have you investigated permaculture? It's a system of living and land management that works to "give back" as much as it "takes out," with no leftovers in either side of the "equation." It looks to mimic on the small scale what nature does in the large scale.



Elements of permaculture include: recycling; installing water tanks on house downspouts to collect rainwater, which is then used in the household's gardens; using solar hot-water-heating systems for houses and small offices; organic gardening; home vegetable & fruit gardening; composting waste organics from the household instead of sending them to the tip / garbage dump; "clean" or "closed-system" sewage treatment plants; planting trees and shrubs as wind-breaks; wood-chipping waste wood and using it for mulch, instead of burning the wood in community "slash piles;" and internet-fostered re-use venues such as "Freecycle" and "Craig's List."



Good green ideas for homes:

Gardens:

*** Save all newspapers (and a fair amount of your junk mail, too) and use these on garden beds, under the mulch, instead of those black plastic weed mats. Overlap them, and lay in layers of 1/2-inch to 1-inch thick (1-3 cms). Cover with whatever mulch you were planning to use -- wood chips, pine bark, pea straw, whatever. No, the inks in the printing are not too toxic for this, even on vegetables.

*** Use the big 2-ltr & 3-ltr bottles as protective cover over individual plants in frosty times. Cut off the bottoms and place over a plant, removing the cap for temperature control; or cut off the bottoms and the tops, and use the cylinder around individual plants.

*** In dry times, use big plastic bottles for drip irrigation: the tall thin bottles are best. Dig a hole next to each plant you want to water, as deep as the bottle is tall. Drill several holes in the bottom of the bottle, and stand it into the hole. Push dirt back around the bottle to nearly bury it, leaving only the cap and a little bit of the neck exposed. Fill with water. It'll take a few hours to several days for the water to leak out into the soil, giving the plant slow but steady watering.

*** Compost. Lots of advice on the internet. And, as one famous horticulturist said, you can't go wrong: even if you "do" composting badly, your compost will be excellent for the garden.

*** Compost. Even if you only have a little bucket of kitchen scraps now and then, bury it in your garden or lawn, and it won't be wasted.

*** Compost, and re-use/recycle. I got old, damaged cement blocks from a neighbor's garage: she'd had a fire, and the building was torn down to build a newer, bigger garage. I collected all the blocks I could, and built a beautiful 3-bay compost bin behind my own garage. A friend happened to park behind a bakery one day, where they were throwing 10 rusting wire-mesh bakery shelves (the ones that slide into rolling shelf units, with no-snag finished edges) into the dumpster. They let her take them instead, and she used garden wire to tie them all together into a compost bin, complete with a hinged bottom door that allows access to the rotted bottom layers.

*** Save your shower water, especially from when you first turn on the faucet, waiting for the water to warm up. Put a bucket or two to collect much of this water, and use it on your garden or potted plants.

*** Wash your car on the lawn, instead of on driveway or street.



Plastics:

*** Little things --- Cut the handles and the sealed bottom off of plastic bags, then cut the resulting cylinder along one side to make a flat rectangle of thin plastic. Use inside gift and mailing boxes in place of tissue paper. (But of course, you're already using as few plastic bags as possible, right? :-D )

*** Little things --- the plastic bags inside cereal boxes are ideal for mess-mats for model-makers, fabric painters, and parents of kids being "artistic." These liners are also food-safe, so can be used for fancy cooking and food-decorating projects, especially by kids.



....
hertwesa
2009-04-07 00:44:21 UTC
In addition to all these other great tips from others...

I reuse over and over all plastic bags for produce, grains and other bulk items. As wells as jars and plastic containers. Since I buy spices and grains in bulk this is perfect for storage and leftovers.



Composting is great. Turn scaps into veggie stock to cook with... so much more flavorful then the stuff they sell in stores.



But local as much as possible... and organic within the US. international standard through the FDA are even more loosey goosey.



minimize trash by donating unwanted possessions and buying recycled or used things. BECOME A MINIMALIST, what do you need all the consumer crap for anyway?



Ditch the harsh cleaning supplies and paper towels. Get a rag and some viniger. Green soaps sold at wholefoods!
BeWaterWise Rep
2009-04-07 02:18:57 UTC
Conserve Water.

Small things like turn off the tap when not in use, take shorter showers, avoid car washes etc can save gallons of water per day. Here are some more water saving tips: http://www.bewaterwise.com/tips01.html

Presently many parts of the world are facing fresh water shortages, especially Southern California. Water Conservation will not only help these areas face the challenge of water shortage but also keep other places from facing a similar situation.
AzGirl22
2009-04-06 22:36:47 UTC
Buy energy efficient light bulbs, not incandescent. They cost a little more but they last for years. recycle cans, bottles, junk mail. Ride a bike or walk. Drive less often. Unplug all appliances when you aren't using them (they still use energy even though you aren't using them). Instead of buying bottled water, buy a water filter and use a water bottle. Take your own shopping bags to the grocery store, or if its something small don't get a bag at all. Take ten minute showers, put a timer in the bathroom and wind it up when you jump in. Another way to conserve water is to fix leaky faucets. Open windows during the day to let more light in. Buy organic food, or grow your own in a garden.
?
2009-04-06 22:14:39 UTC
I bring my own reusable shopping bags to the stores. I also walk more often if possible instead of driving, but I live pretty close to lots of shopping. I take the time to separate everything for recycling. I have a timer in the shower to help everyone take quicker showers.

http://www.showerprofessor.com/

I try to buy products that come in the cartons so I can refill my bottles at home instead of buying it in the bottles.
Nikki
2009-04-06 22:18:11 UTC
Any time you eat fruits, veggies, eggs, coffee grounds, or anything else biodegradable, throw the unused parts to your plants outside. It is natural fertilizer that instead of polluting the landfills, gives your plants vitamins. I have done this on many gardens and saved money on fertilizer while making my plants green and happy.
alfafa
2009-04-07 07:29:20 UTC
yes eat lots of green foods like fruits and vegetables. the effect of living and eating green on oneself is detoxifying a lot. if your body is free of any toxins then you are healthy fit and fabulous. when people your age is slowing down you are at your peak and when everyone is getting old you are staying young and vital in heart body and mind
sarah
2009-04-06 23:35:40 UTC
become a vegetarian



http://www.vegan-nutritionista.com/environment.html


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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