Foo - What do you do for the environment that you don't do because of the environment?

I'm talking about those things that you should do because you love mother earth, but you actually do because you're just another selfish human doing selfish things, and the by-product happens to be good for the environment.

Here's mine:

- Bike commute. I do it for exercise and to save my wallet.
- Chose wind power for electricity. Cheaper rate than traditional because of a contract situation in Texas. I wanted to stay with Gexa because of the airline miles you get and the wind plan was the cheapest I could get.
- Insulated and sealed my house for energy efficiency. I don't like high power bills.
- Switched to CFLs throughout my house. Same reason.
- Occasionally ask for paper instead of plastic. I love making popcorn the old fashioned way on the stove. I use the paper sacks to toss butter, salt, and popcorn around for distribution.
- Infrequently dry clean suits. Makes the suits last longer.
- Bare-minimum water my lawn (Dallas). The faster it grows, the more often I have to cut it.

I read my news on the internet, rather then get a newspaper. Because I'm cheap, and I don't care about internet trees.

I kill drifters.

They're carbon footprint is outrageous, but I do it for the pure entertainment value.

ride a bike because I hate driving
read internet news--same reason as hos13
recycle shipping materials, because I'm too cheap to buy my own bubble wrap/packing peanuts/boxes/whatever
recycle plastic bags from the store to line trash cans because I'm too cheap to buy actual trash liners
keep lights in my room to a minimum, because I am a vampire and hate the lights anyway :p
recycle paper because I'm too cheap to get printed paper

well, pretty much, I do environmentally good things because I either hate the alternative or I'm too cheap :lol:

I ride one of these (mine is on the Right) 70 Mpg and a Hoot to ride!!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w36/pjphreak_photos/hisandhers.jpg
<1971 Honda Trail 90.................................................................................................. .................................................................................................... .................................................................................................... ..........................................................1983 Honda Trail 110 (Postie Bike fer u Aussies)>

well, pretty much, I do environmentally good things because I either hate the alternative or I'm too cheap :lol:
+1, kinda.
I do keep the environment in mind, but a lot of it is about my pocketbook.

I think buying bottled water is dumb. Water's water... and my re-usable bottles are just as convenient.
I'm not a big fan of a/c in the car- plus, it hurts the gas mileage
I save pretty much every decent box I can get my hands on, because collecting boxes when its time to move is a hassle.
I buy local (farmer's market) because the produce is better, and cheaper
I take public transportation when I can because I hate driving downtown, I get lost, gas is pricey and parking even more so. And, it makes every day a bit more of an adventure
glass on beaches is bad for peoples' feet, too.
etc

Instead of paper/plastic, you could buy reusable bags/backpacks.

A/C is better than rolled down windows at speeds of over 40MPH. Even then the mileage loss is negligible compared to proper inflated tires and tuned engine.

Bottled water is a complete waste of money and natural resources. AVOID at all costs.

CFLs contain mercury, which enviro weenies used to not want in the house at all, so don't place in children's rooms. CFLs are useless as lights for my iguanas, please do not ban incandescent lights! I need both heat and light.

Anything I do, I do to save money. I could care less about the environment. What has it done for me lately anyway.

I'm talking about those things that you should do because you love mother earth, but you actually do because you're just another selfish human doing selfish things, and the by-product happens to be good for the environment.


I don't think the environment can tell what a person's intent is. All that matters is the results.
Hippies vs Housewives makes no difference if the result is identical.

I kill drifters.

They're carbon footprint is outrageous, but I do it for the pure entertainment value.

when is the new drifter barbeque?

Composting. I needed better soil and I thought "why the heck am I throwing out all that great organic material?"

Organic pest management. I could spray my tomatoes and peppers but it's so much more satisfying to kill snails and hornworms by hand.

Line drying. It's 100F and 12%RH during the summer here. The line is actually faster than the dryer in those conditions.

Whole house fan. The white noise helps to lull the Wondertwins to sleep. Cools the house much cheaper and just as fast as the AC when the Delta Breeze comes up.

Bike commuting. I'm too cheap to pay for parking, too antisocial to ride the bus, too impatient to drive.

Recycling aluminum cans. CRV is a b!tch and I'd like to recover some of that cost.

There are others but I can't think of them at the moment.

Recycling aluminum cans. CRV is a b!tch and I'd like to recover some of that cost.

There are others but I can't think of them at the moment.

That's one I can add too. I don't do it for the environment. The City of Dallas only allows me one trash bin, but they also allow one recycling bin (picked up every two weeks). Recycling saves me room in the main trash bin.

Like artifice, I do not buy bottled water while in the states. Its a colossal waste of money and the carbon footprint to get a bottle is ridiculous in comparison to tap water.
I dont get tech journals and read them online when needed because it makes my desk more cluttered that as it is.
Bikecommute (not as often as I should) because it gives me evenings to do things with friends.
I try not to fart as much as possible because people dont seem to dig it.

Bottled water is weird. Just get the huge 5 gallon things and transfer it to your reusable ones. Sheesh. Or better yet, get your own tap water filter. 'Tis cheaper.

I bicycle commute because it keeps me on the bike, it doesn't take much longer than driving, saved wear and tear on the car (which died anyway, but no matter), and it's kind of fun. My commute is short enough that vehicles powered by internal combustion are barely warmed up by the time I get here.

I use low-wattage light bulbs (15w incandescent) because I dislike being overly wasteful, and I find that I really don't care for super-bright lighting at night. I turn off and unplug items not in use for the same "not liking to be wasteful" reason, as well as being annoyed by everything having little lights and crap.

I recycle aluminum cans for the money.

I ride a motorcycle because it's fun. It's neat that I rarely get less than 55 MPG (sometimes over 70 MPG) out of it, and that it costs about $10-15 to fill the tank, but those come way behind the fun factor.

I don't drive my car. Not because it's bad for the environment or anything, it just doesn't run and I'm too lazy to remedy that. :P I love driving.


Whole house fan. The white noise helps to lull the Wondertwins to sleep. Cools the house much cheaper and just as fast as the AC when the Delta Breeze comes up.Whole house fans are awesome. I think it's more pleasant to sleep under an open window anyway, and like you say, the white noise produced by fans is nice to sleep to.

I ride a bike to save $$ on gas and to rehab my knees after replacement surgery

I heat my house with a woodstove because i hate I natural gas bills.

TSC

We recycle, ride our bikes most places and buy local whenever possible.

We recycle, ride our bikes most places and buy local whenever possible.

I work part-time for a producer farmer---buying local is awesome---fresh is best! Sweet corn, melons, beans, onions, potatoes, peppers...

Tim C.

You know , the usual:

Bike commute
Clothesline instead of dryer
compost
farmers market
public transit
a/c only as necessary
European Front Load washer - 12 years old and only one model available in Canada that is more efficient.

A couple of others:

When I need hot water for washing floors, bike, etc. I take from the Hot Water tank's drain valve, this save water as it's instantly hot, and it also lengthens the life of the water heater as this cover off this semi annual flush that all manufacturers recommend

Most stuff seems common sense or I'm too cheap

I refuse plastic bags for another reason though - put two in a drawer and poof next thing you know you have 80000! No thanks!

I work part-time for a producer farmer---buying local is awesome---fresh is best! Sweet corn, melons, beans, onions, potatoes, peppers...

Tim C.

Absolutely! We hit up the Farmer's Market whenever we can and stock up. It's more likely to be organic as well, and it tastes better!

i try not to buy much stuff. it's good for the environment, but it mostly has to do with me being cheap.

i try to spend as little money as possible and mooch off others/the govt/the system/etc etc as much as possible. eg. using computers in the library, sitting and reading in the courthouse for the ac, etc.

not use the A/C when it's +28c in my room because I don't have on in my room.
set the A/C to 25c in the living room because I'm used to being in a stinking hot room.

I bike. I like it and it's beyond cheaper than maintaining a fleet of cars. Too much other gratification for environmental issues to rate.

Farm share, I guess, too. We like the farmers and we like their food and it appears to have ancillary benefits hopefully maybe.

I buy meat and fish from hunters/fishers. Same deal as the farm share I guess.

edit: and I am a total lefty pinko so I am not just saying that I do these things for other than environmental reasons just to maintain non enviro-cred!

Not turning on the heat when it's 40F indoor. I like the cold.

Not drying the clothes in the dryer, line cloths is much faster than dryer (works as most of my clothes are polyester based (even down to my boxers and socks), I hardly wear cotton).

I carry a Sigg bottle with me pretty much all the time, I love water, but I hate paying Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc for local bottled water.

Saving every box I get, I use them to store things.

Buying use when it makes sense to.

Minimize electronics and buying in general because I absolutely hate throwing things away.

Buy clothings that tend to stay in trend longer (ie. jeans, boots, white shirts, leather jackets, etc), because I hate changing the wardrobe every year.

I don't drive, never have and hopefully never will

I use product like I am a chef. I waste as little product as possible

I buy locally as much as I can

I don't have any ac

I recycle and have as long as I can remember. My home town was one of the leading towns in north america as I have been doing it for close to 20 years.

At work I actively look for as green a product as I can buy without sacrificing performance. It can be anything from choosing poe over traditional power or using "green" servers

Pretty much everything I do and use is done with consideration to the environment. While it doesn't rule my decision it can definitely have an impact on it. If the product is the same price and quality but is green. I will always choose it. Take soaps. The "green" soaps on the market are crap, the smell like crap and they don't clean. My fiance wants everything to be green, but I can't sacrifice my cleanliness to feel good about something. At the other end, when we buy meats we buy them as close to the original design as possible. Buy a whole chicken, use the neck, wings, and bone for stock, use everything else for day to day. I don't think I have purchased a chicken breast in 6 years.

Minimize electronics and buying in general because I absolutely hate throwing things away.


As an IT guy in this province I hate how far behind the times BC is. Its embarrassing. I go through a lot of electronic stock that I can legitimately get rid of in this province without going to a lot of work. I hold onto the equipment as long as possible waiting for someone to offer a proper recycling center and it never comes. For a green province we sure do fall behind ontario.

Bottled water is weird. Just get the huge 5 gallon things and transfer it to your reusable ones. Sheesh. Or better yet, get your own tap water filter. 'Tis cheaper.

Have a filter and a water cooler. The bottles are still much more useful, more sanitary, and they get recycled.

I hold onto the equipment as long as possible waiting for someone to offer a proper recycling center and it never comes.

There's a local non-profit electronics recycler called freegeeks (some cities also have this). I get most of my cables and non-essential components from them, it beats buying brand new from stores.

There's a local non-profit electronics recycler called freegeeks (some cities also have this). I get most of my cables and non-essential components from them, it beats buying brand new from stores.

Jesus it would cost me over 100$ to make those donations. Hard pressed to convince the owners that we need to pay to throw old stuff out. Bummer, looks like a semi good company.

I commute on my bike whenever possible - including the cold PA winters. I also just bought a Prius - not really for the earth, but rather for the 50+ mpg. It hauls my bikes well also. :thumb:

... Brad

i only wash once a week to keep water and electric bills down :P

I harm the environment by dumping used motor oil in one corner of my property, simply because I'm lazy, and not to intentionally harm the environment.

I use plastic shopping-bags whenever possible. To consume the space of plastic-bags in a landfill, you'd have to chop down an entire continent of forest.

I don't have any kids.......

Instead of a Ford Explorer as a company car, I take a car allowance and ride my Duc or my Birdy to visit customers when I can.

I'm vegan.

I reuse items when I can.

And...I make up for everything by flying an average of 120-130K miles a year. :rolleyes:

Not only is bike commuting better for the environment it's better emotionally. Aside from the risk of accidents or flats. Taking public transit is inevitable in the winter around here, and that's when you realize how wonderful it is not to have to deal with smelly people, crying babies, crowds of noisy teenagers after school, and idiots having moronic conversations on their stupid cell phones!!!

I drive a 2002 Toyota Prius because my parents won't let me ride my bike to work :mad:.

I sleep in the basement, so I'm not constantly downing the AC (when we have it on, which is a rarity) because the basement stays a nice 70 degrees in the summer and about 50 in the winter.

I sleep with a ton of blankets in the winter so we can turn the heat off during the night.

I ride my bike when my parents let me.

I carpool when I can.

I turn my computer off when I'm not using it.

I wear sweaters in the winter because I look good in them.


Really. I do.




Don't hate me for being beautiful.