Earth Day resolutions

Started by Leana na'rìngtìranyu, February 12, 2010, 11:15:23 PM

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Leana na'rìngtìranyu

Here's something I found worked for me. For those who feel overwhelmed by what they can or should do to help the environment, I didn't have New Year's Day resolutions. I had Earth Day resolutions. Every year implement something new. One year, it was replacing my light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Another year it was building a solar cooker. Yet another, I replaced my disposable items like paper towels with reusable substitutes. And so on. They may not seem like much as you do them, but they do add up over time.

Also, please don't forget that recycling is only one part of the triad. Reducing and reusing are just as important, if not more so.

Rain

My Earth Day Resolution is to work more in the garden! ;D
"If there are self-made purgatories, then we shall all have to live in them."
-Spock, "This Side of Paradise"

"The greatest danger about Pandora is that you may come to love it too much." ~Grace Augustine

'Itan Atxur

My Earth Day resolution is to start learning how to live completely off the land.

Check out more from my DeviantArt page HERE

Rain

Subscribe to Mother Earth News, that mag has more info than you can shake your tsaheylu at.
"If there are self-made purgatories, then we shall all have to live in them."
-Spock, "This Side of Paradise"

"The greatest danger about Pandora is that you may come to love it too much." ~Grace Augustine

'Itan Atxur

Quote from: Rain on February 14, 2010, 12:05:03 AM
Subscribe to Mother Earth News, that mag has more info than you can shake your tsaheylu at.

I'm nitpicking a bit here but "Tsaheylu" should be "Tsahaylu" and it's actually called a queue.

But yeah, nitpicking aside, I'll definitely check out that mag!! ;D

Check out more from my DeviantArt page HERE

Letxuma Swizaw

it's tsaheylu if you go off the movie pronunciation i saw this turning into a future argument. :-\ oh noes!!! and how exactly does one prononce queue i didn't think there was a q in Na'vi.

[topic] i love earthday resolutions i'm so proud of everyone on this website for being so Eco-conscious now if only i could get off this power draining computer and shorten those 30 minute showers.... ;D
Oe Skxawnghu längu.

Kìrìstìyä tìpe'unri a kifkeyit kelor kawngsì tsere'a, tsafpìlfya kifkeyit tsafya txolängula.

Join our real life tribe! here(And yes, it will be a real tribe in the real world, not a role play tribe)

Rain

Oh! I didn't catch my error! :o Thanks, guys, for alerting me to that! I'm usually very OCD when it comes to my spelling and stuff.

As far as computers go, just shutting it off for two hours saves something like six hundred kilowatts (If I'm wrong, let me know!) and eating one meatless meal a week cuts methane and carbon emissions by some ridiculously huge percent. I try to shut off the water when I brush my teeth and I just lean my head under the showerhead to wash it instead of taking a long shower EVERY day. Ten full-shower-minutes daily usually does it. Besides, washing your hair only once every other day or so (longer if your hair isn't very oily) actually contributes to overall hair health by allowing beneficial oils and stuff to condition your hair. I've had really long hair for years and I only wash it every other day. My reward? Long, strong, shiny hair!!
Turning the thermostat down on your water heater helps a lot as well. And unplugging cellphone and laptop chargers when not in use. nAnd using as few indoor lights as possible during the day.
I just talked my dad into buying 2 new cans so we can sort our recycling into glass, metal and plastic. Any ideas about what to do with my paper-trash? We use paper plates a lot (I know, BAD Rain, BAD girl!!) but I'm trying to wipe off the best of them as use them as paint-palletes.

And as far as queue goes, I think it's pronounced "Kyoo" or "kyew".
"If there are self-made purgatories, then we shall all have to live in them."
-Spock, "This Side of Paradise"

"The greatest danger about Pandora is that you may come to love it too much." ~Grace Augustine

Rain

"If there are self-made purgatories, then we shall all have to live in them."
-Spock, "This Side of Paradise"

"The greatest danger about Pandora is that you may come to love it too much." ~Grace Augustine

Nìwotxkrr Tìyawn

Quote from: Letxuma Swizaw on February 14, 2010, 03:06:50 PM
it's tsaheylu if you go off the movie pronunciation i saw this turning into a future argument. :-\ oh noes!!! and how exactly does one prononce queue i didn't think there was a q in Na'vi.

Movie rules over paper ftw!

Queue is the human word for it and it's pronounced [kyoo]
Naruto Shippuden Episode 166: Confession
                                    Watch it, Love it, Live it

TorukMakto!

Quote from: Nìwotxkrr Tìyawntsaheylu on February 21, 2010, 12:21:29 AM
Quote from: Letxuma Swizaw on February 14, 2010, 03:06:50 PM
it's tsaheylu if you go off the movie pronunciation i saw this turning into a future argument. :-\ oh noes!!! and how exactly does one prononce queue i didn't think there was a q in Na'vi.

Movie rules over paper ftw!

Queue is the human word for it and it's pronounced [kyoo]

I looked at it as that tsahaylu is the action and queue is the organ.

'Itan Atxur

Quote from: TorukMakto! on February 21, 2010, 01:47:56 AM
Quote from: Nìwotxkrr Tìyawntsaheylu on February 21, 2010, 12:21:29 AM
Quote from: Letxuma Swizaw on February 14, 2010, 03:06:50 PM
it's tsaheylu if you go off the movie pronunciation i saw this turning into a future argument. :-\ oh noes!!! and how exactly does one prononce queue i didn't think there was a q in Na'vi.

Movie rules over paper ftw!

Queue is the human word for it and it's pronounced [kyoo]

Yes, I'm pretty sure thats the way it actually is.

I looked at it as that tsahaylu is the action and queue is the organ.

Check out more from my DeviantArt page HERE

Txonyä'ite

I am resolving to replace all my incandscent bulbs with cfl's. SAMs clubis having a sale ;)

TorukMakto!

Quote from: Txonyä'ite on February 21, 2010, 11:30:05 AM
I am resolving to replace all my incandscent bulbs with cfl's. SAMs clubis having a sale ;)

Nice! sometimes it can take a few days to get adjusted to the cfl bulbs if you are not used to it, so don't be upset by that if that indeed happens.

Daily resolution, hmm, basically what I normally do, try to recycle whatever garbage I have stored during the day/past night. 7, 30 rack from the frat last night is a good recyclement material. :P

Rain

My resolutions:
One meatless meal per week, more if available
Install new window in my room (seals up cracks where the heat escapes in winter and where the cool escapes in summer)
Grow my own vegetables
Find a small pickup that gets good mileage
Spend less time on the computer (it's a tool, not a toy)
Use less electricity/gas
Buy products packaged using earth-friendly methods (my tea comes in natural-fiber packets with no string, staple or paper tag)
Go to the farmer's market instead of the grocery (veggies without tons of pesticides and crud on them)
"If there are self-made purgatories, then we shall all have to live in them."
-Spock, "This Side of Paradise"

"The greatest danger about Pandora is that you may come to love it too much." ~Grace Augustine

TorukMakto!

Quote from: Rain on February 21, 2010, 08:45:34 PM
My resolutions:
One meatless meal per week, more if available
Install new window in my room (seals up cracks where the heat escapes in winter and where the cool escapes in summer)
Grow my own vegetables
Find a small pickup that gets good mileage
Spend less time on the computer (it's a tool, not a toy)
Use less electricity/gas
Buy products packaged using earth-friendly methods (my tea comes in natural-fiber packets with no string, staple or paper tag)
Go to the farmer's market instead of the grocery (veggies without tons of pesticides and crud on them)

Yes, pure veggies are so good! Back in my home, 10 min away there is a really high quality veggie shop, delicious.

I wouldn't cut my meat like it too much (every day , twice sometimes 3 a day, whether it's steak or chicken or turkey) and also because of dietary purposes

Try to install a doubled window, that's just a great isolator of heat and also noice, work magically

Leana na'rìngtìranyu

Here are some more hints for going green.

Things that heat generally use the most power in your house. So, I've replaced my clothes dryer with a drying rack instead. I have a toaster oven that I use for smaller meals, so I don't always have to use my regular oven. The solar cooker is an even better substitute as it uses no electricity at all. I made mine from two cardboard boxes, foil, black paint and a plastic roasting bag. It reaches 325 degrees inside, too, so I can use it for just about anything. However, the temperature of the oven is dependent on the amount of UV, so your temperature may not be the same as mine.

Things that refrigerate generally come in second. Instead of an air conditioner, I used a fan and pan of water combination to simulate a swamp cooler. I would have gotten rid of even that, but I lived in a desert and when the temperature hit 100, I had to do something to stay cool.

I have a push mower for my lawn. It serves the dual purpose of reducing emissions (I've heard a gas mower produces the NOx equivalent of eight cars) and giving me a workout at the same time.

Go through your rubbish bin some day. See just what it is you throw away and either learn to do without or find a non-disposal substitute. Frankly, it's best to learn to do without. We have become too much a consumer society anyway. I live on a farm where there's no rubbish service. To keep the mice away while I collect enough for a dump run, I wash all my rubbish before throwing it away. Believe me, having to wash your rubbish is very good incentive for not acquiring it in the first place.

Use rechargeable batteries. You can even get solar-powered chargers now. Better yet, don't use batteries at all. Find a substitute if you can or learn to do without. Please remember that batteries are considered hazardous waste. Do not throw them into the garbage. They, along with CF bulbs, should go to a hazmat centre.

Speaking of hazardous waste, it used to be recommended that you toss old out-of-code medications down the toilet. Alas, many cities are now finding traces of antibiotics and other medicines in the water supply. It is now recommended that you take your old medicines (and this includes OTCs - Over The Counters) to a pharmacy and let them dispose of the medication properly.

Solar power of any sort is great. Whatever you have the money for is an improvement.

If you have the ability to do this, place a chicken coop next to your garden. Let the chickens into the garden once in a while to eat the bugs. Just don't let them stay there too long or they will eat the plants, too. And don't let them in when the plants are very young or ready to be harvested. The chickens will usually go for the plants/veggies over the bugs under those conditions.

Cats make great bedwarmers. Especially if you let them sleep under the blankets. I'll even start you off with one of mine.  ;)

Carborundum

#16
Quote from: Rain on February 14, 2010, 07:24:01 PM
As far as computers go, just shutting it off for two hours saves something like six hundred kilowatts (If I'm wrong, let me know!)
As you wish.
First of, saying that X saves Y watts makes no sense, because W = J/s. It's a momentary measurement of how much energy is being used in a specific instant. You're thinking of watt hours.
Secondly, a computer does not use 600 kWh in two hours. Your average home desktop computer requires maybe 200 W to run, tops (if you are actively using it, that is. If you just leave it in stand-by we're talking considerably less than half that). So turning it off for two hours saves you 0.4 kWh.
We learn from our mistakes only if we are made aware of them.
If I make a mistake, please bring it to my attention for karma.

Rain

Quote from: Carborundum on March 01, 2010, 07:43:32 AM
Quote from: Rain on February 14, 2010, 07:24:01 PM
As far as computers go, just shutting it off for two hours saves something like six hundred kilowatts (If I'm wrong, let me know!)
As you wish.
First of, saying that X saves Y watts makes no sense, because W = J/s. It's a momentary measurement of how much energy is being used in a specific instant. You're thinking of watt hours.
Secondly, a computer does not use 600 kWh in two hours. Your average home desktop computer requires maybe 200 W to run, tops (if you are actively using it, that is. If you just leave it in stand-by we're talking considerably less than half that). So turning it off for two hours saves you 0.4 kWh.

Irayo!
"If there are self-made purgatories, then we shall all have to live in them."
-Spock, "This Side of Paradise"

"The greatest danger about Pandora is that you may come to love it too much." ~Grace Augustine

'Itan Atxur

Ugh!! My computer is a wicked power drain. I've got an 800 Watt power supply that I bought pre-Avatar to power my new graphics card (GTX 275!!! ;D). I've been making sure to shut down my computer completely post-Avatar just to make sure I'm doing as much as I can. I used to leave it on hibernate all day. I also have those energy efficient light bulbs and such now!! ;D


;D ;D

-'Itan Atxur

Check out more from my DeviantArt page HERE

Toruk Makto

There are lots of patasitic power drains around the modern house. Usually these are to preserve the current state of the device, make it faster to come on, or waiting for a delayed event like a timed recording. A lot of times the only way to stop these small usages is to physically pull the plug. Many people have rewired there power outlets with a wall switch just for this.

Lì'fyari leNa'vi 'Rrtamì, vay set 'almong a fra'u zera'u ta ngrrpongu
Na'vi Dictionary: http://files.learnnavi.org/dicts/NaviDictionary.pdf