2012 Greener Living Challenge

**RaineyDaye** · 01-06-2012, 08:19 AM

Anyone interested in a challenge to live greener in 2012? It seems that many of us are interested in eating locally, being frugal, reusing items, cutting our electrical usage, etc. So I thought I'd resurrect the Greener Living Challenge that Emily started in 2009.

**RaineyDaye** · 01-06-2012, 08:29 AM

Things I do to live greener:
limited driving
use mostly CFLs
save the cold water that runs while waiting for it to warm up
shorter showers
compost food scraps
recycle cans, bottles, plastic, etc
use a water filter instead of buying bottled water
bring my own bags to the store (when I remember)
cover some windows with plastic in the cold months
set heat to 64 in the daytime, 50 at night
limited A/C (hardly ever use it)
unplug computer, tv, printer when not in use
freecycle useful items that I no longer need
reuse lumber from home improvement projects whenever possible

Things I want to do in 2012:
bicycle instead of using car for short trips
try again to grow some of my own food
make fleece window coverings for bedroom windows
reuse packaging materials
bring my own bags every time I shop
join a CSA and/or shop at farmer's markets
try to use fewer plastic containers or bags
make cleaning products
cut down on paper towel usuage

**dinah** · 01-06-2012, 12:29 PM

i would like to join! i am always striving towards green and ethical living.

**madhen** · 01-06-2012, 01:05 PM

I could certainly use the reminder daily to live within my carbon footprint!

**RaineyDaye** · 01-07-2012, 09:19 AM

Hi Dinah and Madhen,
glad to have you in this challenge.

I forgot to add to my list that I eat mostly vegetarian, mainly for animals but also to have less negative impact on the environment. (Last year I had some slips when I was visiting friends. I plan to do better this year.)

**madhen** · 01-07-2012, 06:46 PM

I didn't drive anywhere today. I heated my house with wood cut from a sustainable source.

I didn't eat vegetarian, but I had only turkey, so smaller impact on the environment. I started planning my veggie garden, so I can "shop" for produce in my own backyard, vs. buying imported.

**Mamaw** · 01-08-2012, 06:13 PM

today I
*composted veggie scraps
*used rags to clean with
*saved old towels to either try a braided rug or use for rags
*packed up old books and magazines for goodwill - not trashing them
*did no driving
*left heat on low using less gas and turning out lights when not needed
*gathered 4 eggs from the ladies

**Maisiedotes** · 01-08-2012, 08:19 PM

Count me in!
We already:
Use only CFLs
bring canvas bags to the store (when we remember)
shop at farmers markets when possible
eat a vegan diet
recycle
shut the water off when brushing teeth, showering, etc
use cloth diapers and cloth cleaning rags instead of paper towels

We are striving to:
be better about remembering those canvas shopping bags
cross-utilizing foods during the week so there is less waste
plan a patio garden
make more cleaning products

**madhen** · 01-08-2012, 09:38 PM

Ate vegetarian.
Did my shopping in a loop and waited on it until today, when I had to leave the house anyway.

**AspiringToBeFrugal** · 01-08-2012, 11:52 PM

I'm in too!
~ With the execption of going out to eat for fast food (which we've cut down on CONSIDERABLY!) and getting plastic/paper cups there, DH and I have made a big switch to using our reusable water bottles a LOT.

~ I also try to remember to take my resuable bags to the store with me whenever possible.

~ We have upped our recycling by a substantial amount over the last year. And I've finally got DH "trained" to put things in the recycling bins rather than just tossing them in the trash!

~ I'm going to work on buying more raw foods rather than processed stuff this year which helps eliminate garbage waste.

**dexterteach** · 01-10-2012, 03:36 PM

I would like to join!

My goals are to:

-Use canvas bags at grocery, other stores
-Drive less, ride bike more
-Use up cleaning products I have now, and from then on use only natural products
-Grow Spring, Summer, and Fall garden
-Eat healthier, as AspiringToBeFrugal mentioned incorporate more raw foods into diet
-I'd also like to begin to have one vegetarian meal per day

Wow.....I have a long road ahead of me!

**lilyrose** · 01-10-2012, 03:54 PM

I'm in. I'm always trying to be more green.

This past weekend I had a b-day party for DD with family. I used "only" regular dishes, flatware and cups. That was for 22 people. Haven't gone as far as having washable napkins. That's my goal for next year's party.

I harvested the last of my carrots. I did the initial rinse in a bucket to get 95% of the dirt off. Then I tossed that muddy water on the lawn. I didn't want to see that garden soil go down the drain.

**madhen** · 01-10-2012, 04:01 PM

Yesterday, ate vegetarian except for two hard-boiled eggs that came from my free-range and very spoiled hens.

Composted.

**madhen** · 01-14-2012, 09:39 AM

Not much yesterday, although I did compost.

**madhen** · 01-16-2012, 09:36 AM

Yesterday, I:

composted
didn't drive anywhere
washed laundry in cold water, so used less electricity

I need to start recycling again. I haven't been good about it, because it requires extra space in an already tiny kitchen, but I will try to find a spot. I don't have a lot of cans/bottles, but with the dogs getting canned food daily, that does build up.