Reducing your carbon footprint.

shilala · 09-09-2009, 09:25 AM

I'm a resource whore. I love my SUV. I like to let the water run while I brush my teeth.
I do turn off lights, but I still get Christmas cards from Penelec.
What do you guys do consciously to try to save Mother Earth?
What don't you do that you probably ought to?

MedicCook · 09-09-2009, 09:27 AM

I have always been good at keeping lights off for the most part.

aich75013 · 09-09-2009, 09:35 AM

In the last two years, we have really gotten into recycling.
We went from barely being able to fit our trash into the can every week, to having to ask for an additional recycling bin (since they only pick up recycling once every two weeks.)

Also, we try to take our own bags to the grocery store, instead of using plastic bags.

I've also replaced almost all of our lights with CFL bulbs. Except in the baby's room where I have a dimmer.

We do a pretty big Christmas light display every year, so I am only adding LED lights. No more incandescent. That's partially because my house can't handle much more.

I am guilty of driving a SUV, though.

Doctorossi · 09-09-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shilala

I love my SUV. I like to let the water run while I brush my teeth.

So you're the guy I'm compensating for!

68TriShield · 09-09-2009, 09:37 AM

I recycle tons of materials every day
conserve water
conserve electricity
no unnecessary driving
I hold in all flatulence

MedicCook · 09-09-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68TriShield

I recycle tons of materials every day
conserve water
conserve electricity
no unnecessary driving
I hold in all flatulence

You should set up a containment system and use it to power your house.

09-09-2009, 09:40 AM

I fly in Al Gore's private jet to shop at Whole foods.

md4958 · 09-09-2009, 10:06 AM

I really could have cared less about recycling until my son was born. Now I try to be conscious of what goes in the garbage can at home.

Almost all the bulbs (wherever we can use them) in the house and the bakery are compact fluorescent because of the cost savings, not the energy conservation.

I also try not to let the water run un-necessarily and shut off lights not being used, but again for cost savings. When you start paying utility bills you understand why your parents were always up your ass about stuff like that.

Giant & 49er Fan · 09-09-2009, 10:13 AM

If it's yellow, let it mellow...

If it's brown, flush it down!

G G · 09-09-2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPguy

If it's yellow, let it mellow...

If it's brown, flush it down!

Ashcan Bill · 09-09-2009, 10:24 AM

I'm trying to reduce my dust footprint.

According to my wife, it seems that every time I walk outside, I track in dust and leave footprints on our hardwood floors.

I am going to work hard on improving this problem.

ade06 · 09-09-2009, 10:27 AM

I conserve water by peeing in the shower

e-man67 · 09-09-2009, 10:33 AM

I drive whereever I go REALLY fast b/c the less time on the road the less carbon your car spews.....now I just need to get that v10 M5 with 500hp to get there REALLY REALLY fast! See the Toyota Prius is really slow so you spend more time on the road therefore emitting more carbon into the atmosphere...

09-09-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ade06

I conserve water by peeing in the shower

I conserve water by peeing in his shower as well.

[/joke]

I've gotten into recycling fairly recently, I replaced all of my bulbs in the house with CFL's and so forth.

BigFrank · 09-09-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ade06

I conserve water by peeing in the shower

lol, so do i

kaisersozei · 09-09-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by md4958

I also try not to let the water run un-necessarily and shut off lights not being used, but again for cost savings. When you start paying utility bills you understand why your parents were always up your ass about stuff like that.

I think my parental admonitions--from pretty much the time I could walk--are more of a reason I do the things I do, rather than any sort of altruistic motivation to "save the planet." The planet is going to be here long after my great-grandchildren are gone.

My wife always complains that "we're not living in the Great Depression," but there are just some habits I can't shake. To that end we:

recycle everything we can--our bins are almost always more full than our trashcan
turn off the lights when leaving a room
turn off the water when brushing teeth
take short showers (at least I don't turn the water off when I'm soaping up, as we used to do when growing up. or when camping.)
wash pretty much all of our laundry in cold water
have natural gas heating, water heater, range & oven
use an environmentally sound, oxygen-based sanitizing product in my homebrewing equipment
upgraded all appliances to energy efficient models in the past 4-5 years
drive cars that get 20+ mpg (but no Prius/hybrid crap)
eat leftovers
compost really old leftovers

And I'm trying to build a nuclear-powered home generator, but these unmarked helicopters keep circling.

BlackDog · 09-09-2009, 11:53 AM

We've done a few things with the intention of saving money, and a side benefit of reducing energy consumption, For example we try to combine trips, errands, etc to drive fewer miles. We started doing this, though, to save money when fuel prices were so high, and not so much to save Mother Earth. We've continued doing it just because it makes sense. When we replaced our washer & dryer we got ones which use less water and electricity. Many of the light bulbs have been changed to VFL's. We recycle, but are forced to by the city we live in.

Of course I commute about 90 minutes per day since we moved into our house, so I'm probably killing any benefit I may have created with the other stuff.

sikk50 · 09-09-2009, 01:07 PM

Well, we recycle our beer cans every semester to fund our keg, does that count?

I drive very large diesel truck with no kitty cat or muffler, so I don't think I'll be on Al Gore's Christmas card list any time soon.

Skywalker · 09-09-2009, 01:12 PM

I only smoke cigars made by hand!!!

borndead1 · 09-09-2009, 01:21 PM

I never really cared until I started working in a plastic factory. The amount of plastic parts/granules/dust/purge that we throw into the landfill is truly disturbing. We've gotten better (MUCH better) over the past couple of years, but it still made me wake up and realize that it only takes a little effort to be less WASTEFUL.

I recycle my paper/cardboard
"If it's yellow, let it mellow...." yeah, I do that

Canvas grocery bags
Reuse plastic bags

09-09-2009, 09:25 AM	#1
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Reducing your carbon footprint. I'm a resource whore. I love my SUV. I like to let the water run while I brush my teeth. I do turn off lights, but I still get Christmas cards from Penelec. What do you guys do consciously to try to save Mother Earth? What don't you do that you probably ought to? __________________

09-09-2009, 09:27 AM	#2
MedicCook Mila smoked my cigar Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Ryan Location: Schaghticoke, NY Posts: 10,946 Trading: (7)	Re: Reducing your carbon footprint. I have always been good at keeping lights off for the most part. __________________ 27 World Series Championship's "If your wife doesn't like the aroma of your cigar, change your wife.", Zino Davidoff

09-09-2009, 09:35 AM	#3
aich75013 Feeling at Home Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Adrian Location: Allen, TX Posts: 774 Trading: (25)	Re: Reducing your carbon footprint. In the last two years, we have really gotten into recycling. We went from barely being able to fit our trash into the can every week, to having to ask for an additional recycling bin (since they only pick up recycling once every two weeks.) Also, we try to take our own bags to the grocery store, instead of using plastic bags. I've also replaced almost all of our lights with CFL bulbs. Except in the baby's room where I have a dimmer. We do a pretty big Christmas light display every year, so I am only adding LED lights. No more incandescent. That's partially because my house can't handle much more. I am guilty of driving a SUV, though. Last edited by aich75013; 09-09-2009 at 09:38 AM. Reason: Just realized we've been recycling for around 2 years

09-09-2009, 09:37 AM	#5
68TriShield Got Torque? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dave Location: Maryland Posts: 7,194 Trading: (40)	Re: Reducing your carbon footprint. I recycle tons of materials every day conserve water conserve electricity no unnecessary driving I hold in all flatulence

09-09-2009, 09:40 AM	#7
zonedar Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Reducing your carbon footprint. I fly in Al Gore's private jet to shop at Whole foods.

09-09-2009, 10:06 AM	#8
md4958 Captain Cannoli Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moe Location: Suffield, CT Posts: 5,712 Trading: (62)	Re: Reducing your carbon footprint. I really could have cared less about recycling until my son was born. Now I try to be conscious of what goes in the garbage can at home. Almost all the bulbs (wherever we can use them) in the house and the bakery are compact fluorescent because of the cost savings, not the energy conservation. I also try not to let the water run un-necessarily and shut off lights not being used, but again for cost savings. When you start paying utility bills you understand why your parents were always up your ass about stuff like that. __________________ "One fart can foul the air for everyone" - Esteemed philosopher "If avoiding the nasty $hit is being a snob, them I am guilty as charged."- Same esteemed philosopher.

09-09-2009, 10:13 AM	#9
Giant & 49er Fan Formerly known as RPguy Join Date: May 2009 First Name: Jaime Location: McCovey Cove! Posts: 1,318 Trading: (35)	Re: Reducing your carbon footprint. If it's yellow, let it mellow... If it's brown, flush it down! __________________ "This cigar tastes like the weekend!" - JBoogie

09-09-2009, 10:24 AM	#11
Ashcan Bill Ol' Dude Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Bill Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 1,900 Trading: (6)	Re: Reducing your carbon footprint. I'm trying to reduce my dust footprint. According to my wife, it seems that every time I walk outside, I track in dust and leave footprints on our hardwood floors. I am going to work hard on improving this problem.

09-09-2009, 10:27 AM	#12
ade06 Have My Own Room Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Ade Location: Philadelphia Posts: 1,190 Trading: (24)	Re: Reducing your carbon footprint. I conserve water by peeing in the shower

09-09-2009, 10:33 AM	#13
e-man67 Big Drunkin Monkey!! Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: Eric Posts: 1,480 Trading: (29)	Re: Reducing your carbon footprint. I drive whereever I go REALLY fast b/c the less time on the road the less carbon your car spews.....now I just need to get that v10 M5 with 500hp to get there REALLY REALLY fast! See the Toyota Prius is really slow so you spend more time on the road therefore emitting more carbon into the atmosphere...

09-09-2009, 11:53 AM	#17
BlackDog Gonna make you groove... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Warren Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 2,468 Trading: (19)	Re: Reducing your carbon footprint. We've done a few things with the intention of saving money, and a side benefit of reducing energy consumption, For example we try to combine trips, errands, etc to drive fewer miles. We started doing this, though, to save money when fuel prices were so high, and not so much to save Mother Earth. We've continued doing it just because it makes sense. When we replaced our washer & dryer we got ones which use less water and electricity. Many of the light bulbs have been changed to VFL's. We recycle, but are forced to by the city we live in. Of course I commute about 90 minutes per day since we moved into our house, so I'm probably killing any benefit I may have created with the other stuff. __________________ "We live in the good of this."

09-09-2009, 01:07 PM	#18
sikk50 Just Bored Really... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Andrew Location: The Jefferson State Posts: 2,084 Trading: (13)	Re: Reducing your carbon footprint. Well, we recycle our beer cans every semester to fund our keg, does that count? I drive very large diesel truck with no kitty cat or muffler, so I don't think I'll be on Al Gore's Christmas card list any time soon. __________________ "Not a Headache in a Hogshead"

09-09-2009, 01:12 PM	#19
Skywalker BABOTL Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dice Location: Galaxy Far Far Away Posts: 10,168 Trading: (18)	Re: Reducing your carbon footprint. I only smoke cigars made by hand!!! __________________ Smoke what you like!!!

09-09-2009, 01:21 PM	#20
borndead1 Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 1,345 Trading: (7)	Re: Reducing your carbon footprint. I never really cared until I started working in a plastic factory. The amount of plastic parts/granules/dust/purge that we throw into the landfill is truly disturbing. We've gotten better (MUCH better) over the past couple of years, but it still made me wake up and realize that it only takes a little effort to be less WASTEFUL. I recycle my paper/cardboard "If it's yellow, let it mellow...." yeah, I do that Canvas grocery bags Reuse plastic bags