What do you do to be green?

[Perfect Day]

Yesterday as I left work there I turned off 28 monitors! 28 for goodness sake. That is 28 people who thought "I cannot be bothered". It is a real shame. I bet they didn't leave their own televisions on as they left the hosue to come to work.

The consequences of not being "bothered" is highlighted here by Oxfam

http://www.oxfam.org/en/climate

Then I came across some facts and figures specifically about energy saving in the workplace.

• Turning your thermostat down by just 1°C can knock 10% off the cost of heating your office and you'll be unlikely to notice any difference in comfort. This won't cost you anything and could save the University between £15-£30 a year (the statutory aim for office temperature is 19°C)
• Switching off a typical fluorescent light for one hour in each working day will save 30kg of carbon dioxide emissions annually
• Lighting an empty office overnight wastes enough energy to heat water for 1000 cups of coffee
• Switching off all non-essential office equipment (computers, printers, faxes, photocopiers and lights) will save enough energy to drive a small car 100 miles
• A PC monitor left on overnight wastes enough energy to laser print 800 pages
• A PC left running for 24 hours per day will use £70 worth of electricity over 12 months
• A photocopier left on overnight wastes enough energy to print 1500 A4 copies
• A window left open overnight wastes enough energy to drive a small car 35 miles

[ShimmaPuff]

I just use regular old stage makeup.

[ILoveMyHonda]

I leave lights off if I'm not using them.
I shutdown my computer every night.
I recycle my used batteries.
I recycle my plastic bottles and aluminum cans and glass jars/bottles.
I limit my TV watching.

[exotikittenx]

Great thread! I shut off all lights and equipment when not in use.
I use reusable materials whenever possible to eliminate trash (ie. lunch containers).
I recycle.
I lower heat and wear an extra layer of clothes.
I don't leave water running when brushing my teeth.

[floridasun8]

I just recently started recycling.
I make sure to turn off fans and lights when not in use
I try to use organic produce as much as possible and try to use as much locally as I can get.
I switched to the cloth grocery bags instead of using plastic
I try to keep our back door closed as much as possible which is hard with 2 dogs wanting to go out all the time lol but at least now that its cooling off, it isnt affecting the a/c as much.
I only try to go out and drive when I have multiple things to do, not go out for just one thing.

[flowerbobon]

I bring my shopping bag to avoid using plastic bag. Usually when we do shopping groceries we will use up to 5 shopping bags, which is equal to 8-9 plastic bags. So I saved a lot there.

I turned off my computer every night before I go to sleep.

I get the bus/train to go to university.

I recycled all the notes and papers from last semester.

I throw all recyclable trash in the recyclable trash bin.

I switched off the light for one hour at night time during Earth Hour.

I buy locally grown product.

[krisluvspurses]

Recycle

Energy saving light bulbs, and I turn lights and fans off when not in the room

Cloth grocery bags, so much easier to carry than plastic bags anyway. But you can tell the baggers at the store hate them.

I try to buy as much local product as possible

I use "green" cleaning supplies

Turn off a/c when not home, unless it's 90 or above outside (I live in Texas)

Turn off computers at night

And I live really close to where my son goes to school and where I work. I walk him to school a lot and occasionally walk to work, although I should do it more often.

[Pursegrrl]

Turn off computers at night.
Thermostat set at 68 degrees F (yes, even in winter)....and even lower during the workweek when I'm not at home.
I always do my laundry in cold water. Even my whites turn out great.
Consolidate errands.
Choose cleaning supplies carefully.

I'm also doing a little part time pro bono work for a company a colleague/friend of mine has recently launched. We're focusing on streamlining processes for companies who want to convert to more renewable energy sources. Green Thinking is first and foremost in our company philosophy!

[stephc005]

i love to recycle paper, plastics, cans
i print things double sided
i don't buy bottled water anymore. i use my reusable water bottle everyday.
i only use reusable tote bags for groceries
i turn the water off while i brush my teeth
open windows instead of turning the AC on all spring/summer
i recycle old electronics and cell phones

[surferchick2]

Other than conserve power, energy, resources when it's not necessary... I take my own bags when I shop, drive a biodiesel vehicle (good of environment, support local farmers, and 50 mpg), buy recycled products (I bought a great stella mccartney purse made from recycled materials) and/or items made from biodegradeable ingredients (like use vegetable-based water bottles), shop organic and natural products, grow or purchase produce and dairy locally, encourage solar heating & charging, launder conservatively, and buy electronics that are deemed green when it's an option.

[MACsarah]

I re-wear my clothes. I totally win, right?

[chloe777]

I recycle ( we have the blue bins that get picked up every monday)
I use cloth shopping bags when shopping so they don't give me plastic bags
I have a lunch box with rubbermaid containers for everything so I'm not throwing away ziplock bags or a paper bag.
I have the thermostat set at 78 during the spring/summer and usually turn off the whole unit during the fall and winter if I'm cold I will throw on a jacket and socks.

[Attagirl]

The thermostat automatically adjusts when we aren't home.

I take advantage of my local library. I request what I want to read and they reserve it for me saving $ and trees.

I need to get those reusable sandwich containers for the kids lunches.

[runner22]

Usually use cloth bags for grocery shopping
Have a high efficiency washer and dryer
Turn off lights when not in room
Bring my lunch, and use little containers instead of baggies
Make use of adjustable thermostat, although it's been cool lately, opened windows!
Recycle paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminum

[nauticalstar]

Originally Posted by Attagirl

I need to get those reusable sandwich containers for the kids lunches.

I use these- and I love them because I can make my sandwich the night before and it doesn't get stale by lunchtime!