Comments on: The Following: What’s Something ‘Green’ You Did Today?

By: James

James — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:36:20 +0000

I recently purchased a large 45 gallon lidded trash receptacle made of recycled plastic along with an aluminum can crusher and installed them at my workplace. I just took the first load of workplace recycling to the city’s recycle center after only 8 working days of collection! That was last Thursday and the can is about 1/2 full now. I also reuse the blank side of paper used in the office when the content on the printed side and the printed use purpose of the reused paper permits. I go behind everyone and turn off the lights in the employee restroom (men’s!). I take home my compostable lunch waste from work. I avoid using paper cups at work and bring a handtowel from home to avoid using paper towels as much as possible at work.
At home we leave off lights unless it’s necessary to see while in the room. We use an electric power utility company that uses only renewable power generating sources such as wind, water, geothermal and solar.
We use CFLs in all our lamps and ceiling lighting. We compost. We recently purchased new washer and dryer appliances that use less than a third of the water our old ones used and less power. I even selected the make based on where it and its parts were made in addition to the dryer being a condensation dryer, eliminating the need for a air vent hose. The manufacturing source is relatively local, reducing the carbon footprint of the transport of its material and the finished product, not to mention supporting local (US)manufacturing and employment. My most recent order of company uniform clothing is made of recycled and renewable material (recycled polyester and bamboo). I drive 55 on highway enroute home to reduce emissions and increase fuel economy. My coffee maker is a thermos type that runs only while the coffee is brewing. We eat and drink organic as much as possible. We use our own cloth and recycled material shopping bags everywhere. The soap I use is handmade locally instead of from a large commercial store bought brand. I collect rainwater for watering our plants. I’m in the process of building a greenhouse from found lumber and concrete to more cost effectively transform my current non-native suburban lawn into mostly beds of native species to ultimately save water and create a more diverse wildscape to attract beneficial wildlife. I garden organically. We do restaurant take out or leftovers with our own plastic storageware instead of the restaurant’s usual packaging fare made from styrofoam.
But I’m not obsessed, if that’s what you’re thinking!

By: Denise

Denise — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:45:08 +0000

I have been green by getting bins at my work, and got everybody informed and recycling in the office. I also am starting a Green Club at my college. We had our first Earth Day celebration at school this past semester, with free food and drinks and some business such as Florida Refuse, Progress Energy and Southwest Florida Water Management District. I have alot of ideas in store for these next semesters. At my college we now have recycling bins throughout campus. And are finally getting rid of all of our styrofoam in the cafeteria! I also bought 2 more re-usable grocery bags yesterday, and I plan to get a lot of fabric (hopefully donated) and make bags myself and give them out.

By: R.C.W.

R.C.W. — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:19:01 +0000

Here at work we have adopted the mantra, “Say No To Styro.” Instead of employees using two or three Styrofoam cups a day, costing upwards of $5,000 annually, our boss issued plastic travel cups with lids. The initial cost was a $250. It was a cost cutting matter at first, but now my co-workers are looking around to see where else we can make our workplace greener.

By: Marion Napier

Marion Napier — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:29:12 +0000

I collect wire hangers from the cleaners. When I get a large collection, I return them to the cleaners. It gets them out of my closet and the cleaners can reuse them instead of buying more. When my groceries are placed in plastic bags to carry home, I return them to the grocery’s recycle bin. I purchased several re-useable cloth bags to carry my groceries home instead of using plastic.

By: Dee Lyon

Dee Lyon — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:03:16 +0000

Since I took out my lawn, my California Native plants that I put in have taken over and don’t require much water, no fertilizer, pesticides or mowing. My vegetable garden that I weeded today will provide food without trucks and planes moving it around.

By: Peaceout25

Peaceout25 — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:11:01 +0000

I work in a small office & I have recycling boxes/bins everywhere. Every time I learn a new way to recycle something, I set up another box & send out another email to my office. I take the recycling home w/me & send out other things to be recycles by others (pens to the Pen Guy; #5 caps to Whole Foods or Aveda; ink/toner cartridges to the local school….) I am CONSTANTLY pulling things out of the trash – my office mates call me Oscar – LOL I do what I can – it’s easy enough that everyone should.

By: Charity Akers Durham

Charity Akers Durham — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:04:14 +0000

I found a reycling center less than a half mile from our home office and set up recycling bins so its EASY for everyone to recycle.

By: Lori Brown

Lori Brown — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:25:57 +0000

I celebrated Earth Hour 2009 this weekend and carpooled this morning to work as usual.

By: Trey Granger

Trey Granger — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:57:39 +0000

I went out of town this weekend and moved my indoor plants outside to get them some sunshine. Hopefully they’ll return the favor by absorbing any of the toxins I release while cleaning my place this week.