green + '09
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- joeth0
NOBODY is perfectly green. Vegetarianism works for some. Biking and public transportation works for others. And so on...
The goal should be to educate ourselves and each other, not to insult people for their choices.
- calcium0
DrBombay, I hope you waited until the old bulbs were dead before swapping them.
Too many people just buy new CFL bulbs because they last longer and draw less energy and throw out the old ones. But in reality it is good to make sure those bulbs receive their ultimate end of life process before being discarded, if not for the waste stream then for the production and transportation of said product.
- joeth0
Here are some more good ideas...
http://www.50waystohelp.com/
- pango0
i'll start biking again when the god damn snow melts!!
mean while, public transit and free rides from friends.
- mightcould0
Blackle saves energy because the screen is predominantly black. "Image displayed is primarily a function of the user's color settings and desktop graphics, as well as the color and size of open application windows; a given monitor requires more power to display a white (or light) screen than a black (or dark) screen." Roberson et al, 2002
- I don't know about power, but I'm one of the few that believes a dark background on a site is easier on the eyesMeeklo
- very interestingarmsbottomer
- epill0
i smoke greens...
- janne760
i don't drive a car anymore. and i am planning to look more to greener solutions in design if possible. thinner stock, eco friendly hosting etc. etc.
i just watched this documentary, it is so incredibly intense and positive and factual(!) that i am all feeling so good right now:
http://www.vpro.nl/programma/teg… (mostly dutch though.., but vital parts in english)more on that & videolinks here:
http://www.vpro.nl/programma/teg…the end of oil is nigher than ever.
solar power development is going at an insane pace at this moment. really, seriously insane.
read this:
http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/fro…imagine floating islands creating gigawatts of energy and at the same time, in that same process, create almost infinite amounts of cheap fresh desalinated water, to drench the thirst of millions of people in need.
- i do drive one every now and then, but i don't own one anymore. and feel less like it every day..janne76
- armsbottomer0
i totally agree with meeklo and joeth. being environmentally conscious isn't something that can be measured and compared, and trying to do so just adds confusion. promoting education is crucial, so that people can choose how and where they contribute, rather than being told specifically what to do.
being more aware of the choices we make as consumers is definitely a huge step. no one can be infallible in this day and age, but making an effort to examine the detrimental effects some of our decisions is certainly progress.
"Waste = Food" is a pretty amazing documentary about sustainable design:
http://video.google.com/videopla…Not directly addressing eco-friendly behavior, this documentary disturbing yet fascinating look at the history of mass consumption and how its been used to control and manipulate societies:
"Century of the Self"
http://video.google.com/videopla…Also "Our Daily Bread" is quite good (and shocking), examining modern industrialized food production. No voice overs/interviews, but very effective.
http://www.ourdailybread.at/jart…
- Point50
where you live plays a huge role. Here in Vegas it's a sprawled valley and public transportation sucks. My job is 20 miles from my house and public transport would take me 2 hours to get to my destination on a one-way trip. riding a bike to work is almost out of the question during the summer months when the temp is between 105°F - 115°F. Also, our water usage is out of control with very little rainfall and quick evaporation. I carpool with a co-worker when I can and attempt to make errand stops along the way to or from work instead of on the weekends.
- i think the type of person that moves to LA or Vegas isn't really too down with riding buses or trains to begin with.DrBombay
- janne760
^
- DrBombay0
Public transport, I pay a premium to our power company to use more alternative energy sources. Swapped out all of the old bulbs in the house to the compact flourescents. Replace the furnace filter frequently, just insulated the attic.
Ways that I am bad is that I still smoke cigarettes, which seems stupid to mention but it is a pollutant.
Also, I use propane heat to heat the garage when i am out there in the winter. Although I insulated the garage last week too.
I recycle all aluminum cans (which is a lot!) I have a real pet peeve about wasting things, I try to use everything.
- SigDesign0
Story of stuff is great... We're defined by what we consume right now, and that's pretty sad... I mean, the idea that we are judged by our credit scores for jobs... i don't like it.
We got rid of a car, and I take mass transit...will soon bike, hopefully. And, recycling, using less electricity... using less... we don't need as much money, food, devices, etc, as advertising would want us to believe.
- Meeklo0
but then again, being green is now a "type of consumer" and its being exploited to the full extent.
From the "recyclable bags" they sell you at whole foods, to the new "green macs" to the example calcium mentioned before about people not waiting for bulbs to die before replacing it.
- Gifto0
I think this is a really subjective thing - I know people who claim to be green (usual recycling etc) yet holiday abroad lots, have more than one car and have weekend activities than involve lots of driving about...
I recycle a lot of stuff and walk most places within reason but wouldn't really consider myself green....
- likewise. being green is as impossible as being perfect. but every effort counts
Meeklo
- likewise. being green is as impossible as being perfect. but every effort counts
- Meeklo0
well, the main problem is caused by "consumism" but commercials don't tell you that, they say. This laptop is green, BUY IT NOW.
oh by the way the new iPhone is out, get rid of the other one and buy this one, is faster.
- Meeklo0
well, the main problem is caused by "consumism" but commercials don't tell you that, they say. This laptop is green, BUY IT NOW.
oh by the way the new iPhone is out, get rid of the other one and buy this one, is faster.
- kalkal0
We have to recycle in our area, the rubbish only gets taken every 2 weeks, the recyclable stuff gets taken every other 2 weeks... That shit can mount up if you don't recycle something.
- mikotondria30
A vegetarian driving a hummer produces less CO2 than a meat-eater driving a prius...
I neither drive, nor eat meat, nor smoke, so I really reallly get pissed off when I'm nearly forced to buy those fucking mercury-containing fluorescent lightbulbs which claim to last 5 years, yet 3 have blown here in about 2 weeks, and if you break them then you're fucked as you have mercury vapour and droplets in your kids bedroom.
Fuck that,Fuck anthropomorphic C02 modulated climate change, too - honestly I can't believe that is still the story of the day when the non-evidence is so widely available and so quick to obtain.
Pollution and disproportionate distribution of clean water, enough food and healthcare is the ONLY 'greenness' we have an obligation to address.
Oil will not 'run out', it is not immoral to produce vast quantities of CO2 to support your lifestyle, as long as that lifestyle includes a concious effort to stop the above injustices.
Living a good life is not as simple as 'being green' according to the latest trends, and I am astounded at the amount of thinking that people allow other people to do for them - get edumacated, people and wake up.