What are you doing to stop/slow down Global Warming?

meatlesslizzy · Jul 25, 2006

Hi everyone, 
What are you all doing in your everyday lives to prevent/stop/slow the effects of Global Warming? I'm just curious, as our family has been taking big steps to conserve energy. 
Many people still do not know about or understand the concept of Global Warming. We recently held a "Global Warming Party" and made a beautiful, delicous dinner for everyone that came. We watched the latest "Global Warming: What You Need To Know" on the Discovery Channel with Tom Brokaw (it seemed mainstream enough for most people to grasp and understand). I thought this would be a wonderful way for people to help spread the message to those who do not educate themselves with enviromental issues. 
Thanks everyone, and it will be refreshing to hear what you all are doing!!!!!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/broccoli.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":bobo:">

Pinkerton · Jul 25, 2006

Great thread! Maybe we can all learn from each other here. 
These are some of the things we do as a family. 
1. Raising awareness! Talk about it, don't be afraid. My daughter (14) is spending the summer researching global warming for an article for her school newspaper and is going to also send copies to the news papers in our area. 
2. Both of our vehicles are hybrid (Prius) and we limit our driving. 
3. We replaced our washer and dryer with a high capacity, high efficiency set. I do half the loads in half the time, for real! 
4. RECYCLE! Don't be lazy about it, it's important and worth it. We also buy "paper from paper" paper products. (Toilet paper, paper towels) 
5. Go vegan! 60% of deforestation in the Amazon is due to cattle ranching alone and don't even get me started on the pollution factory farming is responsible for! 
6. Buy organic, locally grown whenever possible. Less pollution, less transport. 
7. Conserve energy as best as you can. Don't put on a sweater and crank up the AC and don't turn the heat up because you like to sleep in your underoos. Turn out lights and unplug unused items. 
Educate yourselves and your family and friends. Don't stop learning about this importand issue. Nobody is perfect, but every little bit helps!

Ludi · Jul 25, 2006

I don't especially pretend that what I'm doing makes any kind of difference, but, some things our household does: 
- Not having kids 
- Restoring Tallgrasses on our land (prairie grasses sequester carbon in the soil) 
- Only running AC for work if necessary, not for household activities unless temps are around 100 degrees 
- Driving infrequently, a used Toyota Echo, 40 mpg. 
- Turning off lights during the day except for work. 
- Growing a significant part of our own food (most of our fresh produce) 
- Transitioning to lower-energy-use professions - my husband is following his lifelong dream of becoming an animator (digital files use less energy to send than physical objects, computers use less energy than power tools); I'm starting a small diversified farm. 
- Cooking with solar part of the time 
- Avoiding most processed foods 
- Recycling of course (but need to improve in this area) 
- Hanging clothes out instead of using the dryer (most of the time) 
- Preserving food using solar dehydrator 
- Planning a lot of other things such as solar water heating, passive cooling, composting toilets (save water and so save energy pumping it), PV well pump, etc. 
Lots of improvement needed, though....

jeneticallymodified · Jul 25, 2006

i know it might not sound like much, but i try and do what my mum and gran used to do, and multitask my oven (saves on electric bills too!)- so, when i use it, i try and get more than one thing out of it- so i might do baked potatoes, but seeing as they take an hour or so, i'll do some roasted veggies too, and sneak a made from scratch rice pudding in on the bottom shelf. if some things are done before the potatoes are ready, i'll try and squish some mini cornbreads (which take 15 minutes) for putting the freezer for eating another day, in there too, and use the residual heat to slow cook something, or grill some garlic bread for my bf, etc. its a big of a juggle logistically, unless i think ahead, but its quite good fun! i don't go as far as kramer on seinfield and heat up my clothes in there, but you know, you probably could!

Ludi · Jul 25, 2006

I love that idea, hoodedclawjen, and need to remember to do that next time I use the oven! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

spectrum42 · Jul 25, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Ludi <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
- Cooking with solar part of the time </div>
</div>
 
What kind of cooker do you use for this and what types of things can you make?

Ludi · Jul 25, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by spectrum42 <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
What kind of cooker do you use for this and what types of things can you make?</div>
</div>
 
This one: <a href="http://solarcooking.org/minimum.htm" target="_blank">http://solarcooking.org/minimum.htm</a> 
but with side wings added to the reflector. I mostly use it to precook beans, but also make casseroles, stews, brownies and similar quick breads, and lasagna. It will do any slow-cooker recipe, cooking at around 200 - 250 degrees all day. I usually put things in around 11 am, and shift the cooker around several times during the day to follow the sun. Eventually we hope to make a more permanent one of wood and metal, but in the meantime this cheapo cardboard version works fine. The hardest part about using it is planning ahead a little, but anyone who is used to using a slow cooker should have no problem. If you can't be home to shift it around, you just point it due south (in the Northern Hemisphere).

kpickell · Jul 25, 2006

I try and vote for candidates who don't believe in global warming, that way it will never come.

spectrum42 · Jul 25, 2006

Thanks for the solar cooking info, Ludi! I can hardly wait to try it. I really, really needed another project to add to the multi-page "to do list" around here too. LOL. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/tongue3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

Pinkerton · Jul 25, 2006

Ludi, that cooker is so cool! What a great and useful project for us to do with the kids. I love having them active in things that are also a good lesson on smaller footprints. Thanks!

JacksonMIvegan · Jul 25, 2006

The earth has been warming since the end of the ice age. it will warm untill the salinity of the oceans is greatly enough reduced to perpetuate more cooling and ice. 
But untill then i choose to do nothing.

Ludi · Jul 26, 2006

Spectrum, pinkerton, I'm glad the info is useful. The solar cooker is a very fun project, and so practical for summer cooking because it doesn't heat up the kitchen like the electric oven. Brownies turn out especially nice and moist (be sure to make a "goodie" in it for the first project - I did! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/chef.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":chef:"> ).

raw jess · Jul 26, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Pinkerton <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
2. Both of our vehicles are hybrid (Prius) and we limit our driving. 
3. We replaced our washer and dryer with a high capacity, high efficiency set. I do half the loads in half the time, for real! </div>
</div>
 
It SHOULD take half the time to do half the loads. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/laugh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":lol:"> 
Sorry, I know what you mean, but I couldn't help it. 
I just bought a Prius.

Pinkerton · Jul 26, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by raw jess <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
It SHOULD take half the time to do half the loads. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/laugh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":lol:"> 
Sorry, I know what you mean, but I couldn't help it. 
I just bought a Prius.</div>
</div>
 
That's funny, I thought the same thing when I wrote that and laughed at myself. Let me rephrase: I do half the number of loads I used to do and EACH of those loads takes half the amount of time than before even though they are twice as large. I guess that means I am also using half the detergents too! (not in each load)<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/tongue3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> Good luck with your Prius! We LOVE ours!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/rockon.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":rockon:"> Did you get Smart Key? I have it, but my husband doesn't. It's so cool!

surya · Jul 26, 2006

Here is what I do: 
- Not have a car, and instead take public transport or cycle everywhere. We are considering joining a car club (where you share a car with a number of people, and book in advance for when you need it), but we're very lucky to be able to get around without a car so far. 
- Reduce and recyle. I pack lunch for my husband which doesn't use disposable stuff, and take my own plate and cutlery to my work cafeteria (which uses disposables). My in-laws put a bucket in the shower to catch some of the run off, and use a big washing up bowl to wash the dishes. This water is then used to water the plants. We're going to copy this as well now (though living in an apartment, we produce more water than can be used to water our meagre plants!). 
- Buy carbon offsets each time I fly (which is unfortunately several long haul trips a year) <a href="http://www.climatecare.org/" target="_blank">http://www.climatecare.org/</a>

bigdufstuff · Jul 26, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Ludi <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
I don't especially pretend that what I'm doing makes any kind of difference, but, some things our household does: 
- Not having kids </div>
</div>
 
Quite possibly the number one thing you can do. I invite everyone to join Ludi and I in not having kids. If we stop reproducing we can fix this monstrosity! 
Yes I am being serious.

gogoshire · Jul 26, 2006

I try to do my part: 
1) Vote Green whenever possible 
2) Follow the 3 Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) 
3) Bike or walk to work 
4) Buy locally grown organic food 
5) Don't eat meat 
Stuff that doesn't make much of a difference when it's just one person, but if everyone did his/her part..... 
I definitely will check out solar cooking!

MZCsmpsns · Jul 26, 2006

I don't do anything... It's too hot to do anything....

raw jess · Jul 26, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Pinkerton <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
That's funny, I thought the same thing when I wrote that and laughed at myself. Let me rephrase: I do half the number of loads I used to do and EACH of those loads takes half the amount of time than before even though they are twice as large. I guess that means I am also using half the detergents too! (not in each load)<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/tongue3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> Good luck with your Prius! We LOVE ours!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/rockon.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":rockon:"> Did you get Smart Key? I have it, but my husband doesn't. It's so cool!</div>
</div>
 
Yeah, I believe all the 2006s have the SmartKey. I didn't want navigation or anything, I got the package 4 in seaside pearl (blue). It actually is supposed to be here any day. I haven't gotten it yet. 
I'm not having kids, either! 
Another bad thing I do though is use my remote starter to warm up/cool down my car. (one thing that's going to drive me INSANE with the prius, cuz they dont have them)

kpickell · Jul 27, 2006

I don't understand the kids thing. 
Kids are only hope for the future, and if the socially/environmentally-conscious people are not having kids, that means the next generation are all being raised by parents who don't care. 
If anyone should be having kids it should be you guys.

What are you doing to stop/slow down Global Warming?

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