One easy thing to do or to abstain from for a better environment

[Bootstoots]

I abstain from the things I would have abstained from anyway! For instance, I usually turn the heat way down in my apartment, because I'm a cheapskate and I like it at about 60 F anyway. I can tolerate temperatures up to about 80-85 F, though, so that's what I do in the summer. And I rarely eat seafood, so no overfishing for me!

On the other hand, I eat copious quantities of processed meat. I know the amount of meat I eat is bad for both the environment and myself, and I know meat prices are artificially driven down by American farm subsidies. And I'm fully aware of the conditions that our livestock are raised in. But I'm so bad that I can even taste the difference between factory-farmed beef and free-range, and would much rather it be factory-farmed with all that succulent corn-fed fat!

You see, I have very little self-control in certain areas, just like most people! Unlike most people, I'm not ignorant about what I'm doing. However, I can't seem to reduce my meat intake. I'm not overweight, but a good fraction of the calories I do consume come from animal products. I would certainly respond to an increase in meat prices, but while it's artificially cheap, I will take advantage of it.

 

[carmen510]

Buy a battery charger and a set of chargeable batteries. This means you don't need to throw out as many, and if you have clean power in your area it'll be better (I'm not sure, if you have dirty power in an area, if the benefits will weigh). Anyways you'll save money.

On that note, when you do throw out batteries, ALWAYS recycle them. This is especially important for rechargeable batteries, which contain more toxic chemicals than alkaline batteries.

 

[Angst]

Turn off your computer and read a book.

 

[GhostWriter16]

Both of the following are outside the scope of this thread:





From the thread title: One easy thing to do or abstain from for a better environment.

This doesn't work either

A similar concept is to just not drink soda pop.

 

[Narz]

Turn off your computer and read a book.

I can't I'm compelled by the Internet Gods to reply to your post.

 

[Singularity]

Purchase fur and/or meat from greenland seal's. The population is exploding - and number 17.6 million. Totally they remove 32 billion pounds from the ocean around Greenland each year, destroying the fishing for native fishermen.

 

[Rashiminos]

(Abstain from) Wheat for human consumption.

 

[Arwon]

Use plastic bags instead of paper bags. If properly disposed of they are far more eco-friendly.

I have basically never seen paper bags here. Of course several jurisdictions here have banned free low-grade supermarket bags altogether, so we're probably a little strange in this regard.

 

[luiz]

Don't buy agricultural products made in Brazil, which are probably grown in recently cleared rainforests.

That's complete nonsense as the bulk of Brazilian agricultural production comes from the Center-South, where there was no rainforest to begin with (or in some cases was cleared a long time ago).

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Easy ways to increase your gas mileage:

Shift up early, have your tires inflated properly, when driving up to a red light let the car roll up to it in gear (disengaging the engine will use fuel, letting it roll won't) and on highways try to maintain one speed.

 

[classical_hero]

But then you have commit to not drinking it

You can just replace the one you have drunk.

 

[Patroklos]

Buy your beer in kegs.

 

[Narz]

If you celebrate Xmas with pagan tree worship use a living tree instead of either a dead tree or an ugly plastic one. You can probably get some sort of dwarf variety that won't exceed your ceiling & it will get bigger year after year as your children do.

It may be slightly unusual but unusual is ok. In fact, "normal" is the problem really. Normal in the Western world means maximum consumption & maximum waste.

 

[Murky]

I was going to write my own ten but decided to google it instead

• Turn down the heat, wear sweaters.
• Carpool, bus, bike, walk.
• Install low-flow devices for toilet, shower, faucets, gardens.
• Avoid creating waste, re-use, reduce, recycle.
• Avoid disposables, use durable products, buy recycled products.
• Don’t litter, cover pickup truck loads, pick up litter.
• Avoid toxic & poisonous products.
• Take household hazardous waste to collection days or sites.
• Compost yard and food waste.
• Get involved, join a local community group working on streams or sustainability.

From http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/envirotips/tips_main.htm

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Install low-flow devices for toilet, shower, faucets, gardens.

I tried that once for the toilet but it kind of repeatedly clogged up.

Here is one: In the winter, open up curtains for windows facing the sun. This only works on sunny days though. But you can turn down the heat.

 

[Narz]

I find sun exposure during the day also helps me sleep at night (not a blanket solution but every little thing helps). Walking is also good.

Most things that are healthy for a person (walking, eating well, spending time in nature, etc.) are also good for the environment too.

 

[Angst]

I can't I'm compelled by the Internet Gods to reply to your post.

The reason that it has no other replies is, of course, that the rest of our forum followed my advice, resisted digital mind control and left their basements.

 

[Silurian]

I tried that once for the toilet but it kind of repeatedly clogged up.

Here is one: In the winter, open up curtains for windows facing the sun. This only works on sunny days though. But you can turn down the heat.

and close the curtains as soon as it gets dark.