cfl bulbs
Did you know that you should recycle your burned out CFL bulbs? Not that anybody probably has had one yet since they last so dad-gone long! :-) Apparently there is a small amount of mercury inside the bulb. Check out this article for further details.
Does anyone remember when McDonald's served hamburgers in those tan styrofoam containers? My first introduction into the world of Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle was an Earth Day presentation in junior high & the presenter used one of those containers as an example of things that take forever to break down. Well, I was inspired then to live green. I'm just so glad that the rest of the country is finally catching up! I'm not sure what I think about Al Gore & his inconvenient truth, but I do know that this world is a gift & we should take care of it. Here's some things I've been doing at our house to live green.
- replace bulbs that burn out with cfl ones
- recycle newspaper, mixed paper, plastics, glass, and aluminum
- use non-toxic products to clean with (mostly white vinegar & baking soda)
- use rags that I've made from old t-shirts to clean with
- use as many reusable containers for food storage as possible (I still like the occasional baggie)
- stop buying paper plates & plasticware (I'm still using up a little storehouse of them I have for group functions)
4 Comments:
I was happy to read your post. I always get teased for being "hippy" because I do the same things you do. We also use all CFL's in the house. I do have a few of the old kind in overhead lights that I only use when I'm cleaning (which is as little as possible). The biggest thing I do to conserve electricity, other than the things you mentioned, air drying our clothes. I'm so used to it now that I hate using the dryer. I have purchased the cheapo drying racks at WM for less than $10 each. They only last about 2 years, but They save me at least $10/month on my electricity bill. It has also kept me from having to purchase a new dryer and keeps our clothes from wearing down as fast. It also keeps my clothes from wrinkling if I can't fold them as soon as the dryers is finished. My clothes stay on the rack until I have time to fold and put them up. To keep the clothes from getting stiff I toss them in the dryer for 10-20 minutes then hang them.
Good for you for being so environmentally conscious!
By
Songbirdtiff, at 4/7/08 10:18 AM
I've gotten used to being called a hippy and i kinda like it :) I wanted to add something that you didnt mention in your blog.......and that is the lesson of responsibility to God's creation that you are teaching the boys! That is my favorite part of living green...seeing the boys get excited and also creating new habits.
I am so far from where we should be, but we are taking it a little at a time.
By
Val, at 4/7/08 2:22 PM
I've been thinking about air drying our clothes, at least half the time. I just haven't been able to make the jump. Something about those warm, soft clothes fresh from the drier. Your testament is encouraging though.
By
Kelli, at 4/7/08 9:10 PM
It's true that the warmness of clothes is pretty great. In the summer it's worth the switch because the clothes smell like sunshine when you bring them in to fold. In the winter you don't get that benefit. You could always just continue to dry towels and sheets and let everything else air dry. It's impossible to give up warm sheets. :)
By
Songbirdtiff, at 4/8/08 11:08 AM
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