| Archive for NEEPS North East Eco-friendly People's Site |
| monkey nuts |
What can we do?We have just been having a discussion about what 'Joe public' (us) can actually 'DO' about the problem of global warming.So I have a question for you all. Imagine I am totally unaware of what my family can do to help stop/slow down global. What changes can I make to help? I will start off *Turn off appliances that are not in use, do not leave them on standby. * wash clothes at 40 degrees or below. any more???? |
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| kimmie |
3.dont use a full sink of water to wash up
4.use eco products to wash clothes dishes etc 5.recycle as much as you can 6.if you have a garden ... have a compost instead of making trips to the dump |
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| Sassinak |
7. Make extra food to freeze when using the oven
8. When buying new equipment, look for the efficiency rating 9. When making a car journey, find other things to do at the same time to save extra trips |
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| Maria |
Grow and eat (yum) something edible - almost zero food miles! Totally zero if you then save your seed or grow a perenial type. Also zero packaging - and zero processing waste! 
Buy less 'stuff' - 'stuff' never ever makes people happy anyway - we don't need stuff-ing to fill our lives.
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| DiddleDeDum |
Did you hear the play on the radio about a carbon neutral house? No freezer there! Though they did get a freezer compartment on the fridge. All food was bought locally and cooked. They had a target amoutb ot electricity to use and had to switch things off a n on to achieve it - so they had a smart meter and could turn off the telly, fridge etc to turn on the washing machine or have a shower.
It was really interesting. I do what I can but could do a lot more such as get a smaller car, plan journeys better - I need to go out to get milk shortly! - & turn things off more. I do wonder what difference ecoballs make - I use enviromnemtally friendly washing powders and as little as possible = the time I used ecoballs some of my clothes fell to pieces as they couldn't stand the pounding & I had to throw them out. I could move to a town or village where I could wak to the shop or bus but, then I guess we all could do that! I think there are two lots of things - those which reduce Carbon and those which reduce pollution and they are not always the same thing - things which reduce carbon can be very polluting - look at nuclear power. |
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| Maria |
Although often they are one in the same. Most production processes use energy, which releases carbon, in addition to creating pollution and waste. Unless the process is powered by green elec. I don't have too look to far to see it - my laptop - countless components created by electricity sucking machinery, my jeans, more machinery weaving the cloth. Today's mass industry needs power to make and transport its goods. If we refuse to buy those things we don't need - Jo bloggs will make a big impact on carbon reduction. 
Oh - of course, transport! Less car journeys, and exploring local hols instead of flying
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| JamesB |
heres my few items for the list
eat less meat eat less dairy eat less processed food dont drive for short distances combine trips ie go to the shops, drop off stuff at the skip for recycling and visit friends in one trip cycle short distances (my wifes cycles with Erik in the bike trailer to stuartfield once a week for the toddler class and I partly cycle to work) dont shower every day close doors and reduce drafts use public transport like the park and ride where possible buy clothes from a second hand shop dont fly or at least reduce flying dont fly internally within the UK, use trains (inc sleeper) dont holiday abroad practise eco driving ie no sharp braking buy local food dont buy cut flowers use wood for heating combine baths and use the water for washing the floor as well eat seasonally sorry getting a bit carried away, better stop now! |
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| monkey nuts |
Some good stuff here guys
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| Ina |
Mmh. Must be pretty green already. I think I do just about everything on those lists...
Just got a report on agriculture in Aberdeenshire from Shirley. What really, really annoys me are those comments like "there is a demand for local and traditional food from the wealthy consumer". Arghh! No, for f*'s sake - it's not just the b* wealthy consumer who demands that!!!! Sorry. 
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| Julie |
There is another thing you can do which deserves to be mentioned too. Change the way you think. Ask yourself; Do I really need that, is it essential? and say it every time you buy something along with, how much packaging is it wearing, what was involved in the making process, how far did it travel to get here etc.
Learn to vote with your feet. |
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| IainC |
Yup... I can't believe some of the people at work who will take the car round to the shop from the office, I walk it if I need to go (regardless of the weather). TBH, if they go at the wrong time (ie traffic lights against them) then it's actually as quick if not quicker to walk than drive... and that's excluding the time it takes to get to the car from the office rather than walking the other way, etc as well to the shops (or having to worry about parking, etc). Have walked a good distance before to get from parking to shops, etc 'cos it saved me having to park in town, etc, yet know people who've taken taxis to get from one street to another (when it was only 5-10 mins walk at most). |
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| Maria |
Use the library instead of buying the book - about to request a few in mine.
For the 'stuff' you do decide to buy or already have why not share it? Whether it be tools, techno, clothes, books, games, allotment. My lil one loves the beano (didn't we all??) it's passed to a friend and onto another friend...hopefully until it falls to bits. Her friend is now about to start getting the kids national geog...which will get the same treatment. If you want to take this idea further you can join http://www.justfortheloveofit.org/
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| IainC |
Hmmm... not sure about that one from a purely selfish PoV... I like books and like to re-visit them from time to time... I know for a fact that the times I "don't read" make me a right grumpy b*gger, to the point that now even the wife can tell when I've gone a few months without reading a new book
Always used to use the library when I was younger, but honestly can't say I've been inside one for years 
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