How green are you?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

With Al Gore in the running for even more awards, (except that one that we would love, but he refuses to seek) at some point, we need to make individual choices about our lifestyles.

At my home/office we've taken several steps. If we need AC, we keep the temps high, 78 on average. If the winter sets in, the sweaters come out.
One year ago, we experimented with one CF light, today there are but two fixtures that still have incandenscent bulbs. (LEDs just aren't readily available here). Even our power company, Commonworst Edison (Illinois) has moved to Cf technology. Their light bulb exchange program estimated limited demand because of CF costs. They were shocked to move their entire stockpile over several weeks. The hardware stores nearby now have equal space for CF and other bulbs, and the trend is rapidly moving to CF only.
Driving? Hardly ever anymore. I changed the inlaw studio attached to my home to a law office, with conference room and another office. The commute is great. Personally, I only drive to court (and even then use public trans) or legal meetings.
So far, so good. But today, I patted my self on my shoulders. bilaterally.

People here in my conservative nape of the forest love their lawns. They take republican pride in having a putting green-styled front yard. 1 out of 2 even have commercial services, either for cutting, sodding, fertilizing or weed control. Me? I used to mow, leave it long, and never water it. Somehow, mine seemed as green as theirs. But that damned mower was too reliant on gas and oil, it was noisy as hell, and heavy, even with assist drive. Then the damned thing would not start ( A great excuse to avoid a week or too, especially with no rain) So, do I get an air filter, change the plug, clean out the old gas, replace the fuel line, and after all that, still take it in for servicing (at 150 a pop)? Do I, as a neighbor suggested, get a new and improved gas guzzler. Hmmmm.

So, I checked out the intertubes for cleaner, quieter alternatives. The lawn ain't small, considering that the odd shaped lawn containes 6 pairs of dog feet, at 100 lbs each. Electric? how is that efficient?
Real progress means reel mowers. Push mowers. Senior Manual Labor. In my yute, I remember them as slow, heavy cumbersome, hard to use contraptions that looked scary. S0 I did some research. Scotts still makes a good one for longer grass, although the drop forged blade needs sharpening each season. but, some of their manufacturing has moved across the Pacific Pond to China. strike one. Great States has others, but it also has drop forged blades that need yearly sharpening.
Brill Luxus? Never heard of them. But everything I read said, it was better, head and shoulders, than the others, at a similar price, light, extremely durable, with a flame hardened blade that needs no sharpening for 10 years.

I ordered one. They said, it might take 5 biziniz days to arrive. It took one.
I put it together. A simple chore.
I went out to Mr. Front Lawn which was now long enough to wave back to me. Hmmm.

Honestly, I never enjoyed lawning my cut (no, wait reverse that) more. Quiet, a great walk, peaceful, and a really nice cut, despite the length. And without the bag, the clippings go to feed the lawn all year. No fumes, no noise, no stress, no problema.

So, how far have you gone in greening your life? Which of the below describes you best?

[NightWatcher]

1. I do stuff, haha

CF lights, added insulation for lower energy costs, recycle, drive a corolla 38mpg, enviro friendly chemicals and cleaners. I want to get solar panels for the roof.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. if you find a supplier with a decent product, let us know

I really want solarians growing on my roof.

[NightWatcher]

9. the best companies that I've found...

cost about the equivalent of 5 years of power bills for the installation and product. The upside is that the system is guaranteed for 15 years. Woo hoo, 10 years free electricity. There are a few companies, but I am still loking into the best bets. My neighbors would really hate me if I put up a wind turbine as well, but screw em.

[MuseRider]

17. I have thought about a wind turbine

one of the small ones made for a house. They look really cool (very expensive, too expensive) but I would guess the neighbors might not like it. Screw em would be my attitude. It would be different if it were something else but for energy saving? Yup, screw em.

[TheUniverse]

2. I plan on never having any kids.

I assume that is probably the most environmentally friendly thing you can do. other than that, Im not too environementally friendly, except for the fact I got a small car and house, and use those weird looking lightbulbs that last a long time.

[maxsolomon]

4. reel mower & organic gardener here

we reduced our lawn to a bocce court.

besides turning the heat down, composting, & CFs, i like to bitch a lot about carbon footprints, too. does that count?

oh, and no kids, either - tho i raised stepkids who hate republicans. its like i recycled children.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. LOL. I rent my own kids. the nephews.

I suspect that merely thinking about energy differently is enough to make a noticeable change.

[kysrsoze]

23. Use push mower. Buying 4-cycle snowblower. Eventually going solar.

Here in Chicago, we have almost no grass in our yard, so I was really happy to buy a push mower. It's fun - like pushing a big pair of scissors. You could easily do a small yard with it b/c it's so lightweight. We've also done our research and found a four-cycle snowblower for the alley, which will be significantly more fuel-efficient and spew a fraction of the greenhouse gases and particulates of a four-cycle mower. Evidently, running a 2-cycle mower or snowblower is the equivalent in carbon emissions of driving a newer car hundreds of miles.

Within the next couple of years, we also hope to install solar electric panels on our roof. Waiting for more efficiency. The thermostat is always used sparingly too. I just swapped everything I could over to CFL bulbs and we've installed two ceiling fans. All the remaining incandescent "can" ceiling fixtures in our home are now on dimmer switches to save additional electricity and keep the home cooler in summer. We're having a good time with efficiency and are excited to see how much we can cut our utility bills.

Almost forgot to mention I always ride a bike or take public transportation to work.

[KitchenWitch]

5. Some of the above

Reel mowing
Replacing incandescents with CFs
Turn down thermostat in winter and turn up in summer.
Plan to intall whole house fan for next summer.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. I read that a simple method of brushing teeth saves

thousands of gallons of water.
pour water in a glass. dunk brush in water. (Turn OFF the faucet)
apply teeth soap. apply to dentition.
USE THE GLASS TO RINSE. Then, USE THE GLASS TO RINSE THE BRUSH.
what used to take several gallons, takes three cups max.

little things like this add up.

[Solar_Power]

7. I've installed solar panels and get 50% of my power from solar power

and I drive a Ford Escape Hybrid

[kysrsoze]

24. How much did the conversion cost? What kind of tax breaks? What state are you in?

[cali]

10. All CFs, wood heat, almost always double up in the car

and rarely drive more than twenty miles a week. Have a garden. But must confess I don't use a reel mower. My water is gravity fed. Dry my clothes on a line until I can't. Passive solar. Compost.

I'm pretty green, but then I live in a place where it's pretty easy to be green.

[TahitiNut]

11. "It's not easy being greeeeeen ...."

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. green tahiti nuts mature over time.

no?

Just trying little things helps a lot.

[proud patriot]

12. I've done all that plus I grow a vegatable garden

and have Fruit trees . I'm going to go Solar
very soon .

[tech3149]

13. Have to go with other

I don't have the option to do everything possible because I rent and can't afford to rebuild the place to do the best I can. I have been using CF lighting for years. I haven't used the central air since I moved. I keep the thermostat in the low 60's during cold weather. My primary power usage is the computer and a desk lamp. I drive less than 2500 miles a year(unless I take my parents to visit family). I'd love to have a bike, but it's tough if not deadly in this part of the world. I looked into getting a reel mower a year or so ago, but unless the landlord will cut my rent for the cost, I can't do it.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

34. all good stuff, wish more were like you.

what part of the world is so anti-bike?
if I may

[MuseRider]

15. Lots and I am pretty proud of myself!

Really. I thought I would hate CF but I love them. We just built a new house on my farm. Almost all of our lights are CF, I think there are 2 that are not. I have been as near to organic as I can on the farm. I have tons of compost that my horses make. I use it and all the neighbors use it. Organic garden. We spent the money and put in Geo Thermal. Don't know yet how much that is helping since the construction workers are still here every day in and out but our first bills were smaller by at least half from our last house that was a little smaller than this one. Since I am finally on my farm my 40 miles a day in a gas guzzling super truck are over (12 years of that). I think I maybe drive a bit over that per week now, many weeks I don't leave the farm. We keep the heat low and the air conditioning (when we use it) high. We do have a whole house fan that I prefer to the air conditioning. If it were up to me the AC would never go on. We are planting our new lawn in buffalo grass and wild flowers. No mowing because we are in the middle of a pasture anyway so who cares plus it stays pretty low. We built the house so that it is perfect for using the sun in the windows to help our energy use but we also built ready for solar panels once we can afford them.

I am proud because it has been so long with the driving and I was feeling so guilty about it plus it was costing a fortune. I am hoping our garden will be large enough to supply lots of others and will add chickens soon to supply good free range hen eggs. Proud maybe isn't the right word. Pleased is probably better because I finally feel I am giving back to the earth and to people. Good feeling.

Have fun with your new mower, that is really cool.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

18. buffalo grass and wild flowers, I am green with envy.

great stuff, Muse.

[MuseRider]

19. I am sooo happy out here

in the boonies. Not 10 miles from town and I have neighbors but the "town" down the road is about 1/2 block long. Cool people here too, lots of old hippies like me.

It just feels good to finally do the right thing.

I will be collecting seeds next fall if you are interested. Free of charge. Let me know.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

20. yes, please. I bow generally in thine direction.

I planted raspberries when I moved here 5 yrs ago. Now, I have two groupings of rasssbush that either is great or weird.
One neighbor behind me loves his chemical grass garden. I do believe that the rasberry bushes have been prevented from flowering because of his sprays. ( and despite lots of watering, lots of chemicals, lots of stuff, I still prefer my lawn)
The second bunch next to the house, wow. We have been sharing baggie fulls with every neighbor every day, and even now, I could easily pick a large baggie amount. They just thrive there. Two of the three dogs wait patiently, hoping for one or two berries as a treat. (they usually win) Unless you have a physical reason not to eat them, a fresh rasberry, grown wildly, has the absolutely best taste.

the garden has tomats, a grape tree, several pear and peach trees, cukes, japanese herbs, and mint, sage, oregano, and much more. Somehow, the weeds seem to overtake my efforts to keep it orderly, and about august, we just make a trail or three to grab fruit, veggie, or herb.

I want to grow some bamboo, (to block out mr. chemical neighbor) but the spouse is saying nyet, nyet, soviet.

If I could gather the money, we plan to build a green house on the top of the garage, and enjoy even more growth patterns all season.

[MuseRider]

21. You should be able to use

almost all of what I will plant. The weather is not all that different (or did not used to be:() and I believe you are in short grass prairie area. I am on the border of short and long grass, a very lucky place to be. This year for the first time I have a lot of Big Bluestem. All, or most of what I plant will be from seed gathered from my county or the near edges of the boarder counties but should still be OK for your area I would think. I have tons of echinacea now and I will look and see what they birds have left, I would gladly send you some of that. Black eyed susan, I also have a ton of blue sage this year in the pasture that is just sublimely blue. Chicory may be too late. The best of all is the Swamp Mallow that grows all around my pond. Looks like a large Hibiscus, white with a rose center or occasionally pink. Large bushes of them just showed up here a few years ago and they now surround my pond. I have lot of those seeds and I don't think they really require the water but I don't know. That is it for now I think, that is all wild. Next year hopefully more.

Your garden sounds lovely! How do you contain the mint? I had some wild raspberry bushes at my old house and I think I had the same problem you are having. I HATE HATE HATE those chemical companies. The entire neighborhood smelled when they came through.

We also have 3 dogs, sounds about like yours. 2 will eat anything (retrievers) and our little mutt is a little more picky. She will have nothing to do with fruit, even apples.

I ended up blocking an unsightly fence with Forsythia that I let grow. It ended up about 8 feet high, wild as can be and was absolutely stunning. Maybe spouse would like that better? It is still pretty after blooming and if you let it go it just adds such a nice natural look. You can tell I have no taste for a primped lawn or surroundings. Not that I don't think they look nice, they do, but I like my things wild and natural if possible.

I have my first sun room, not quite a greenhouse but I have plumeria cuttings rooting now and 2 orchids blooming and two beginning to adjust plus lots of other stuff. Good luck, you will love it.

Let me know if any of those things sound like a possibility and I would be happy to send them.

Edit: Swamp Mallow IS a Hibiscus.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

31. mint? easy

the spouse LOVES mojitos. the more mint, the merrier.

Mr. Chemical company came by late afternoon, (funny you should mention it) They sprayed three houses down at the entrance of the cul D sac. Then they drove to my nieghbor behind me (who sterilized my rass) and repeated the process. Amazing how that smell carries.

[Deja Q]

16. Been using fluorescent bulbs long before they became popular.

I buy in bulk; saves on excess packaging.
I walk when I can; live close to work and the local stores, but do need to drive to the bulk purchase store.
I recycle.
I keep as many lights and other things off when I'm not in the area.
I don't own a private jet.
I replaced my big, heavy, warm CRT television with a thin, light cool, LCD set of comparable size that uses 1/3rd the energy.
While I have an electric blanket, I find more real blankets to be all snuggly and comfy.

And I won't boast about any of it because boasting indicates a finished process that was successful. We all will have room for improvement. Always.

[SlowDownFast]

22. Getting there.

All bulbs to CF.

Wood-stove central heating/water heater combo.

HE washer/dryer - all greywater from house to garden.

30x60 organic garden and composting.

Constructing first (from scratch) 10ft diameter wind turbine, to be installed next spring. Plans are to construct 3-5 more for mini wind farm in adjacent field.

[DaveJ]

25. Sorry, I Have to Ask

I wonder if 19+ people here really do reel mowing? Sorry, I've never owned a yard. At the same time, I've never seen a person reel mowing in my life. Besides that, I would answer yes to the other items on the list.

[kysrsoze]

dup post

[kysrsoze]

26. Lot of people in Chicago use push mower. Yards are small and the city's doing lots of green stuff

Even our church installed no-fertilizer/low-water landscaping. We're starting to see green condos and green roofs.

[DaveJ]

28. Okay, good to hear

I'm just jealous apparently.

[kysrsoze]

29. Well, it does cost some $. It was about $250 for 10 dimmer switches. Ouch!

But that much wattage without dimmers sucked electricity and actually made rooms feel extremely hot. CFL bulbs are finally coming down a bit, but the recessed spots are still expensive. We do a little at a time. It adds up though. Even if you don't have a lot of cash, you can start small, do what you can. I know the state of Illinois and the City of Chicago have free CFL programs. I don't know what other states do, but I would think there are resources out there.

[sandnsea]

27. I don't use chemicals

and have mostly local shrubs so they don't need extra water or maintenance. So I went ahead and took credit for that one, even though my husband mows with an electric mower. Our neighbor kitty-korner uses a push mower though, so it does happen.

[kysrsoze]

30. Awesome. Nice job, you and your neighbor

[medeak]

32. drive motor home but tow greenie subaru?

how does that rate?

edited to say...landscaped 40 acres (commercial complex) as per state water resources..no lawn and lots of gravel and indigenous shrubs.

[taterguy]

33. A desire to be green is one of many reasons that I rarely drive

Mostly it's a lot cheaper, then there's the fact that I felt silly protesting oil wars while voraciously consuming gasoline back in 1991.

Lastly, it's just more pleasant to ride a bicycle. I honestly don't get why more people don't choose this lifestyle.

[GliderGuider]

35. I've had "green surgery"

The single most important thing each of us can do for Gaia is to refrain from adding more "consumption units" to our burgeoning population. In comparison to that, all the rest is window dressing.

Get vasectomies, guys.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

36. but, what happens when

gaia gets angry, then gives us a second change to repopulate?