Since Low Impact Week starts in a few days I thought I'd post my plans for the things I'll be doing. I already started doing a few of them and marked those with an asterisk.I didn't end up doing the scorecard since we're having someone come and stay with us for a few months starting this weekend and all the numbers would be off. It would look like all my efforts are resulting in increased consumption!
Energy reduction
Keep the heat below 67 during the day and 60 at night
Unplug appliances and charging devices when not in use
No TV *
Air dry dishes *
Cold water only in machine washer *
Line dry clothes *
Water reduction
Take shorter showers
Save water in bucket when warming up shower
Food behaviors
Eat vegetarian for the week
Minimize packaged foods *
Use cloth bags at grocery stores *
Waste reduction, reuse and other
Switch to 100% recycled plastic garbage bags
Replace 7 light bulbs with CFLs
Sign up for alternative energy plan
I'm already doing pretty much all the other suggestions on my original guideline list. In addition, we've been eating a ton of salads from our garden (spinach, lettuce, beet tops, radishes and herbs). I can barely wait for the beets, and U-Pick season at our local farms is almost here!
I'll check in afterwards to see how I do!
17 comments:
Don't forget that you shouldn't just take out a working light-bulb to replace it with an energy efficient one. It's very wasteful to throw away a lightbulb that's working, even if it isn't energy efficient. I'm all for switching the lightbulbs, but wait until you have a burnt-out bulb.
Good luck! I'm so excited about this! Most of my friends think I'm crazy, but I've inspired a couple of friends to do this with me! Yahoo!
I am going to post about this, but there are a few things I can easily do -
1) Put up a clothesline
2) Buy a rainbarrel
3) Use cloth bags at grocery store
I just signed up for 100% alternative energy, so that was pretty timely.
Hey Frisky Chicken - "Keep the heat below 67 during the day and 60 at night" ???
You live on a farm in Antarctica? Running your heater in June?
:-)
Greenpoo - I live in Seattle, where the daytime highs are usually in the 60s and the lows in the 40s.
So, yes, running the heater in June and July is not unusual...
anonymous - I read somewhere (Mother Earth News, I think) that replacing an incandescent with a CFL, even before it burns out, is more efficient in that you are going to eventually throw out that bulb anyway and the energy savings over the course of its remaining time is justifiable.
Now that logic is probably debatable, but it does make some sense.
For apartment dwellers, such as myself, we replaced our lightbulbs and stashed away the incandescent ones. When we move again, we'll do the ole switcheroo. Oh, I'm also poor, otherwise I'd donate them to the cause.
Yes, I've also changed my light bulbs and stashed the old incandescent ones in the closet. I plan to re-install them years from now when I am ready to sell the place.
I'm still prepping my "Low Impact Week Plans". I've not decided if I will put it up on the web or not.
I want a rain barrell or two or three, but I don't want to make it or install it....so, I'm not sure how it's going to appear, but I'll remain hopeful.
I thought of you today while I was spreading the mulch that we made from all the dead trees on our property last fall. I thought, oh, that Crunchy Chicken would be so proud of me being all resourceful and such.
april - I'm so proud! I'm working on a post regarding rain barrels for tomorrow, so stay tuned!
Good - I've been wondering about rain barrels.
Also, is there a way to keep track of the number of people who participate in Low Impact Week? One of the things I find most inspiring about the green community on-line is discovering I'm not alone (which I've long felt living here in conservitopia). As many of us will be posting about Low Impact Week on our sites, it would be neat if we had a place to send folks to check in (folks who are participating and folks who think it's a great idea?). Anyway, my two cents worth.
Piddler - I'm trying to list those people who have blogs in my list of co-sponsors, as long as they are blogging about it, so that others can check it out.
Of course, this relies on people telling me they are doing it and also making it easy to find the information on their blog. Some individuals are participating but it's hard to find the info on their blogs.
So, if you are participating in Low Impact Week, are blogging about it, and are not already listed under my co-sponsor list on my sidebar, let me know and I'll add you!
And Piddler, you and your genius horses are not alone! (Damn you've been busy posting - I'll have to go catch up on your blog.)
I posted my plans.
I'm so very nervous.
Oh, Wendy. Don't be nervous! We're all here to support you :)
I updated your link too. Have fun on the bus!
About the Diva cup--are cloth reusable pads acceptable??
I find I already do a lot of things on your lists. That pleased me.
I just bought cloth bags at the grocery store and I LOVE using them!! No ripped bags and they hold a ton of stuff!!
We were supposed to change a lightbulb or two? WhoKnew?. OF COURSE we're supporting Low Impact Week. We've been practicing for weeks now.
Yep, we are doing it. Our goal is to improve. We are nowhere near some of you, but we commit to improving this week.
Here is my list
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