Here is a general question for you guys (and the few gals) --

 

How environmentally conscious are you? I mean, do you recycle, conserve water, go organic, etc.?

 

There was a time when I pretty much threw anything away into my trash can. Food, paper towels, soda cans, newspapers... you get the point. Actually, some food went into my garbage disposal too. I showered for an endless amount of time and my shower felt as if I was in a freakin' hurricane-force gale. And I ate pretty much non-organic meats, vegetables, and rarely drank tea(s).

 

Flash forward from 2003 to 2007. My trash has not been emptied out in about 2 weeks (former cycle time was < 1 week) and it is mostly small food products, items that cannot be washed out and wet paper towels (I do not want to throw these into my recycling bin and make a mess). My recycling bin is a small green tub I purchased for $5 at Meijer and I stock it full of newspapers (I get the WSJ daily), rinsed food and soda cans, plastics, and whatever else can be recycled. I also now live in a more efficient apartment with a small water heater that feeds into a 2 gallon-per-minute shower head -- and I take shorter showers. I also pretty much now live at Wild Oats, eating organic fruits, vegetables and meats that have no pesticides or antibotics and drink tea like there is no tomorrow (sweet tea included).

 

Lately, I've started using organic soaps and shampoos. The shampoo I purchased actually dries my hair out considerably more than Heads and Shoulders, so I had to purchase a conditioner with it which gives it a nice feeling. I've also purchased organic soap that has no artificial ingredients or fragrances (due to a slight acne issue) ... and today I even enjoyed a nice salt/warming bath.

I recycle everything I can at home and at school (Miami makes it easy!), but I take long showers, something I don't see myself cutting back on. I use public transportation weekly, although I walk most days.

• I have recycling bins/trash bags.
  
• I'm a habitual renovater/remodeler and refurbishing/remodeling is considered "greener" than new buildings.  I use a combination of new materials & recycled products and I've used paints that consist of organic compounds.
  
• I have energy efficient windows and lighting, therefore reducing the need for electic lighting and air conditioning
  
• I have energy star appliances
  
• I conserve water, with fauces/showerheads thatare low flow/water conserving and have high efficiency toilets
  
• Lord knows I've use salvaged products/items and refinished refurbished them
  
• I live close to amenties (stores/public transportation) therfore using less fuel
  
• I use timers so that appliances are turned on a set times and not on all day.
  
• I have no grass at any of my homes, so there are no chemical lawn products being used.
  

 

Seicer, Its funny you posted this, I was just looking at solar panels.

We recycle -- Euclid, OH just started curb side recycling again. they take a lot -- cans, bottles, plastic, newspaper, and cardboard (even cereal boxes)

 

we eat a lot of organic stuff, fresh organic produce, meats without hormones, and organic packaged goods if available

 

organic/natural grooming products

 

probably should start using more organic cleaning products

 

wish we could take public transportation but little available that would meet our needs

 

Question -- does Cleveland have curbside recycling?

 

Did anyone hear that the production of soy products now is actually doing a lot to destroy old growth forests and rainforests since the land is being taken over for soy farming?

 

 

Cleveland only has drop-off sites for recycling, but at least you don't have to sort every single thing. My partner and I usually recycle cardboard and bottles (Great Lakes Brewing would be proud). We also re-use shopping bags. I've been car-free for over five years, and my partner's car gets great gas mileage.

the city of cincinnati has curbside recycling, so I use that, and I average about 10-12 gallons of gasoline a month.

Question -- does Cleveland have curbside recycling?

 

Hint:  the city of cleveland has lots of information on its website  :wink:  I know the search feature worked for me. :roll: :wink:

http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/government/departments/pubservice/pubserwastecol/recycle/clevelandrecycles.html

 

 

You guys might like or be interested in this site.  One of the guys helping me figure out a problem with a plumbing/bathroom renovation gave me this site.

 

www.livinghomes.net

public transportation only, no car, walk a lot, recycle always, reuse grocery bags. i think thats about it.

I usually recycle alot of things,

cans, plastic, paper, etc.

I dont leave water running, and I use grocery bags for poopscoopers, I keep juice bottles to fill the pan grease then throw away, I dont burn anything(I cant, dont have a yard). I bike alot of places, I only use my car when I have to drive far distances through bad neighborhoods. I use public transit alot, and I scream at people when they litter, untill they pick it up, and throw it away in a trashcan or something, littering drives me fucking nuts. :shoot:

I just got a couple of those fluorescent light bulbs to replace a burned out porch light only to find out the cover wasn't big enough. :-)

no car, use a reel lawnmower, recycle, re-use grocery bags (paper and plastic), don't eat fast food much, use a citrus based degreaser on the bike, no fertilizer, rarely use insecticides.

As you can imagine, my lawn looks like crap. :-)

I just got a couple of those fluorescent light bulbs to replace a burned out porch light only to find out the cover wasn't big enough. :-)

no car, use a reel lawnmower, recycle, re-use grocery bags (paper and plastic), don't eat fast food much, use a citrus based degreaser on the bike, no fertilizer, rarely use insecticides.

As you can imagine, my lawn looks like crap. :-)

 

thats exactly why I have a stone backyard!  from a resale stand point, im screwed, but I hate yard work!

      I'm not environmentally-conscious enough. I do recycle just about everything and have only one car for the family. We're about to build a compost bin as well.

      But my house is over 3000 sq ft and its pretty expensive to heat. I also use a good amount of fertilizer on my yard.

 

We might build our own house someday. If we do, it will be green as can be.

I lead a carbon neutral existence.

I recycle, use energy efficient lighting, and turn lights/electronics off when I'm not using them. But I sure do drive everywhere...

 

After watching An Inconvenient Truth last year I went and made a donation to offset my carbon footprint, but I'm a poor grad student now, so I won't be doing the same this year.

I'm as environmentally concious as a homeless person. My dorm recycles aluminum cans, bottles, paper etc and I don't own a car so I rely on the bus.

I just got a couple of those fluorescent light bulbs to replace a burned out porch light only to find out the cover wasn't big enough. :-)

no car, use a reel lawnmower, recycle, re-use grocery bags (paper and plastic), don't eat fast food much, use a citrus based degreaser on the bike, no fertilizer, rarely use insecticides.

As you can imagine, my lawn looks like crap. :-)

Try milorganite; made from recycled sludge. EZ to use, no burn in, doesn't need to be watered in.

http://www.milorganite.com/home/

 

A fertilized lawn will grow strong and choke out the weeds. I didn't use a herbicide this year and I can count on one hand the number of dandelions

We vermicompost, not so much for the environment, but for an educational project for the kids and it makes lots of good potting soil.  I haven't had or mowed a lawn since I was a teenager.  I recycle, but don't think about it much or put too much effort into it.