Ways you are Green!

[ToolGuy]

I have been really into going Green lately and figured I could list what I have done and others can too thus we all can benefit! 1. Changed a few incandescent bulbs to florescent. Takes some getting used to but it works.2. Changed out both Direct TV receivers to newer receivers bought off ebay with the Energy Star sticker/rating. $5.00 each and one is brand new, never used just an older model. The receivers are faster then my older and have more features to boot! 3. Unplugged things that glow and really are not needed like a spare clock radio, the stereo in my work room and in my garage. Even though these items are not being used, they still draw energy. The two stereos are now on plug and play switches, that plug into the wall outlet and then to the cord. You can buy them at the Home Depot for under $4.00 each and thus the switch kills all power to the appliance. I turn them on only when I want to. Little "energy vampires" an article called these appliances. Slowly sucking energy and driving your bill up. 4. My new 20" SHARP LCD TV I won at a company party is Energy Star rated and replaced a non-Energy Star TV. 5. When I run my Air Conditioner, the unit drains the condensation into my laundry tub. Instead of letting it go down the drain, I put a 5 gallon bucket under the hose and collect it all. My wife then uses it to water the flowers! 6. I changed a light bulb in the back yard lighthouse I made for my wife from a 10 watt to a 7 watt and is just as bright. Not much but it all adds up over time. The lighthouse is also on a light and dark automatic switch. 7. Of course we both drive 4 cylinder vehicles, the Vibe is the leader of the two in fuel mileage! 8. My city recycles so we do like crazy too! 9. Recently read about "E Waste". E Waste for those that do not know is all the broken or no longer needed electronics and instead of sending them to a land fill, these places take them and donate them or grind them to pieces. I will have to post the link for that, it is at home. 10. Mulch the grass when I cut it and only bag a few times a year. I am sure there is more but time for everyone else to post what they do to be GREEN!

[GrayFox]

and you're "green" plan goes out the window when you want to drive the Vette huh? j/kI've been meaning to start changing out our lightbulbs as they burn out. I'm interested to see how much an impact it makes on my light bill

[VforVIBE]

Quote, originally posted by ANO_Vibe »and you're "green" plan goes out the window when you want to drive the Vette huh? j/kAgreed, I give you a nice 'new' energy saving Vibe for the Vette.

[ToolGuy]

Quote, originally posted by ANO_Vibe »and you're "green" plan goes out the window when you want to drive the Vette huh? j/kLOL!!!! Yeah I throw it all away when I punch the throttle on the Vette! Actually though it can get 26 MPG IF I keep my foot out of it and in sixth gear. It does not require normal oil changes though since it uses synthetic oil, so there! Better for the environment! The florescent bulbs are a great idea but what takes getting used to is their warm up time. You turn it on the it slowly gets brighter. For this reason I cannot replace all my bulbs in the house with them.

[KNINE]

You just gave Al Gore a woody.

[vibe-04]

Kudos MiVibe-ToolguyI've been working on several project for years but my goal was not just to be green but save green.With the heating system, I've insulated the forced air header and taped all the joints, rerun vents to remove elbows, installed a programmable thermostat and then a 90 % efficient new furnace. That saved about 25 percent we converted to natural gas and our cost vrs propane in 50 % less. When I use the fireplace I hardly turn on the furnace.I've changed about 20 bulbs to CFs, light timers, replaced CRT with LCD panels on the PCs.Next I'm looking at solar panels to run some devices such as the sump pump, water pump (on a well system) and the fridge. I need a pony panel and some deep cycle batteries but my goal is two fold: be green and have power during blackouts for critical systems. I'm waiting for some tax breaks to come form the gov. AND I did buy the Vibe for the gas mileage, and styling and handling.

[ToolGuy]

The solar panels are sweet and I would love to put them on my garage roof. My garage is huge and could support them for sure! I sometimes think if each new house built had just ONE electrical outlet powered by a solar panel in the roof, that house would save a bunch just doing that! And the builder could partner up with a solar panel company and advertise he builds energy saving homes! I have seen shows using wind for power that technology is pretty sweet too!I also have a programmable thermostat, that saved a bunch in the 6 years I have had it.

[Sputnik]

We have changed most bulbs to CF. And as of 2010(?), we have no choice to switch them over. We compost, we recycle.We drive the Vibe - but we usually bus or bike to work. We tried to buy a solar powered (off the grid) cottage some years back but the bank wouldn't approve the mortgage because it was off the grid. I would love to get a front load washer but can't afford one yet.

[zionzr2]

I have been switched over to the CF bulbs for a few years now. I love them in the bathroom b/c when you first turn them on they are not as bright and brighten up a minute or 2 later.The vibe and the cavy are both easy on the gas.there is not a whole lot else i can really do around the apartment b/c we rent but I do all i can. We recycle 1-7 plastics, glass, metals, cardboard, newsprint, phonebooks, and whatever else we can.

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by vibe-04 »I've changed about 20 bulbs to CFs, light timers, replaced CRT with LCD panels on the PCs.Quote, originally posted by Sputnik »We have changed most bulbs to CF. And as of 2010(?), we have no choice to switch them over. Quote, originally posted by zionzr2 »I have been switched over to the CF bulbs for a few years now. You people and carbon fiber. There's a limit to the practicality of that stuff. What good is a carbon fiber light bulb, how does the light get out?

[ZubenElGenubi]

Everytime you folks say "CF" I'm thinking "carbon fiber." Does not having kids count as saving energy? Seriously, that's a great list, MiVibe-ToolGuy. We don't do as much as we probably could, but in the past three years we've actually decreased our energy usage consistantly, year over year (yup; I track it in Excel).Even though our neighborhood waste program collects recyclables, they don't cover everything (not even glass!). So, we now keep a separate collection and I take it to a city recycling center about once every other month. We've reduced our trash output to the point that we skip a trash pickup at least once a month.

[drunkenmaxx]

i am temporarily green sometimes when i drink too much.

[ToolGuy]

Yeah the CF lights are light weight too! I have also looked in LED light bulbs and just ordered two this morning. The two 110 V I ordered only use .5 of a watt each. And Zuben yeah I hear you on the trash output. We are getting to the point of more recycling then trash going to the curb.