What things do you do to be more 'green'

[AdrianneIsabel]

How does one play beer pong without disposable cups?

[sillysally]

I've started using much more natural (homemade) cleaning supplies and far fewer chemical laden products, but to be honest that is mostly to protect the health of the birds....And the birds need the house to be warmer than we had it before we had birds, so maybe that cancels out the natural cleaners-lol.

Most of our "green" habits have more to do with saving with money first, with the greenness of it being an afterthought.

[GipsyQueen]

We try to be pretty green. My Mom's always bought organic only since I can remember.
Now living on my own I:
I use reusable shopping (others you have to buy here, no free bags)
Buy mostly organic (always dairy, meat, fish, veggies ect.)
We get local organic veggies delivered once a week
we recycle (have to, our trash cans are too small)
I use "organic" cleaners and laundry detergant/fabric softener. (Id leave the softer be, but I don't have a dryer so towel without fabric softener are meh)
I use public transportation or bike most of the time
Thermostat around 70 (we have tiles, its REALLY cold.) but it get's turned down when we are not here.
We buy fairtrade coffee/teas only.

[LindaJD]

We have mandatory recycling in my town so we do recycle whatever we can. My heat stays at 66 during the day when no ones home and 52 at night when we are all in bed. Otherwise it is 68. We mostly use reusable bags for grocery shopping but do get a few plastic for when we scoop the litter box a few times a day. 80% of our lights are energy efficient. We don't use air conditioning, if we get too hot, we jump in the pool. I shop locally when I can. I use the reusable filters for my keurig instead of the plastic throw a way ones. I'm sure there are more and I am doubly sure I could do more.

[milos_mommy]

You people with your thermostats so low are insane

I'm hoping to cloth diaper the baby, at least at home.

[smkie]

i am trying to use less plastic. Not buy it if it isn't absolutely necsesary. That goes for packaging, reuse.,,save, things like bubble wrap and styrafoam and use natural peanuts when possible.

I always look for anything i need at the thrift store first. More times than not, I will find something that works. The thrift store I shop at most goes to 17 local charities so it is a win win all the way around.

I try to consolidate all trips. Not only for the idea of saving on gas money, but just in general.

[ACooper]

Originally Posted by Psyfalcon

I think the microwave actually comes out ahead of most other forms of cooking, energy wise.

I think I have the driving under 6k miles now.
House set to 60-65.

OMG.........JEALOUS!

My gang (including Orson!) are a bunch of whiners with the temp set to 68....how in the world do you get cooperation on the 60-65!?

[Psyfalcon]

Programmable thermostat.

60 is supposed to be while people are asleep!

[milos_mommy]

I sleep with about six blankets and let me tell you I wouldn't be getting out of bed if it was 60 in my house.

[Snark]

Originally Posted by Psyfalcon

Programmable thermostat.

60 is supposed to be while people are asleep!

Ours is set to 60 all the time but when you're outside a lot, caring for livestock when it's 10-20 degrees, well, 60 feels pretty darned good! In the summer, we keep the thermostat around 78-80 for the same reason, being out when it's in the 90s, I hate coming into the house and 'freezing'.

Back when my Rottie mix, Emily, was alive, she hated heat (and generated quite a bit herself) so to keep her from whining, grumbling and pawing at me all night, I usually kept my bedroom window cracked all winter. Now, THAT got cold!