Comments on: Going Budget Green for the Home http://www.green-talk.com/2009/05/08/going-budget-green-for-the-home/ Turning the Planet Green, One Conversation at a Time Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Feeling Green and Lonely? Misunderstood Due to Your Green Efforts? | Green Talk® http://www.green-talk.com/2009/05/08/going-budget-green-for-the-home/#comment-30850 Feeling Green and Lonely? Misunderstood Due to Your Green Efforts? | Green Talk® Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:31:08 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/?p=2524#comment-30850 [...] I will admit, I can get carried away and can spout off  a gazillion ways to go green green without breathing, but blame it on passion.  I love this little Planet. But yet, I still feel [...] [...] I will admit, I can get carried away and can spout off  a gazillion ways to go green green without breathing, but blame it on passion.  I love this little Planet. But yet, I still feel [...]

]]> By: Betsy (Eco-novice) http://www.green-talk.com/2009/05/08/going-budget-green-for-the-home/#comment-19113 Betsy (Eco-novice) Wed, 13 Apr 2011 03:06:10 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/?p=2524#comment-19113 Ha ha, I was just looking at your post about reducing my junk mail. We've moved lots, and in each residence, I get a new batch of junk, even if I canceled it in the last one. I've been in my current place for almost a year now, and I'm still getting stupid catalogs and the weekly grocery circular. Does that sound like Super Eco Woman to you? Honestly, it's embarrassing. P.S. That Green Dimes link you mentioned doesn't exist anymore. It's now http://precycle.tonic.com/ Here's another good list of junk mail services (that cost money): http://www.stopjunkmail.org/links.htm I suppose it would be more useful if I added that as a comment on your junk mail post. Ha ha, I was just looking at your post about reducing my junk mail. We’ve moved lots, and in each residence, I get a new batch of junk, even if I canceled it in the last one. I’ve been in my current place for almost a year now, and I’m still getting stupid catalogs and the weekly grocery circular. Does that sound like Super Eco Woman to you? Honestly, it’s embarrassing.

P.S. That Green Dimes link you mentioned doesn’t exist anymore. It’s now http://precycle.tonic.com/

Here’s another good list of junk mail services (that cost money):
http://www.stopjunkmail.org/links.htm

I suppose it would be more useful if I added that as a comment on your junk mail post.
Betsy (Eco-novice)´s last [type] ..Green Cleaning – Laundry

]]> By: Anna@Green Talk http://www.green-talk.com/2009/05/08/going-budget-green-for-the-home/#comment-19112 Anna@Green Talk Wed, 13 Apr 2011 02:44:25 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/?p=2524#comment-19112 Betsy, your ideas are amazing. I think you need to change your name to Betsy super eco woman! I just got a dehydrator and was thinking about making coconut yogurt. I tried my hand at coconut and failed miserably. I have a hate/love relationship with my pressure cooker. It never seems to get enough pressure. I think the seal stinks. Great way to make beans. As for potty training, where were you when I trained my boys? Betsy, your ideas are amazing. I think you need to change your name to Betsy super eco woman! I just got a dehydrator and was thinking about making coconut yogurt. I tried my hand at coconut and failed miserably.

I have a hate/love relationship with my pressure cooker. It never seems to get enough pressure. I think the seal stinks. Great way to make beans.

As for potty training, where were you when I trained my boys?

]]> By: Betsy (Eco-novice) http://www.green-talk.com/2009/05/08/going-budget-green-for-the-home/#comment-19097 Betsy (Eco-novice) Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:46:26 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/?p=2524#comment-19097 A few food ideas: eat less (not super fun, but definitely cheap and green), drink only or mostly filtered tap water, eat less meat (more beans). More food ideas: http://www.eco-novice.com/2010/11/save-money-on-food-while-going-green.html A few food ideas: eat less (not super fun, but definitely cheap and green), drink only or mostly filtered tap water, eat less meat (more beans).
More food ideas: http://www.eco-novice.com/2010.....green.html
Betsy (Eco-novice)´s last [type] ..Whole Grain Cookies

]]> By: Betsy (Eco-novice) http://www.green-talk.com/2009/05/08/going-budget-green-for-the-home/#comment-19092 Betsy (Eco-novice) Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:02:47 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/?p=2524#comment-19092 One idea: In the cold months, after I use the oven, I open the oven door all the way. Hey, I paid for that heat and I'm gonna use it! Then the oven fan doesn't have to work hard to cool down the oven either. Another, use a pressure cooker. I've heard in countries where fuel is scarce/super expensive, pressure cookers are universally used. Whatever, they definitely save energy, and then you can skip the canned beans and have beans ready in 20 min. For kids, cloth diapers are definitely a cheap option. And if you take a few steps (wash in cooler temps every 3-4 days, line dry, skip the bleach), they are eco-friendlier than disposables. Also, try early potty training -- the cheapest and eco-friendliest option of all. The average age of potty training in the US has been creeping ever later for decades (used to be before age one!). I also have started making many staples (bread, granola, going to try yogurt soon!) from scratch as a way to cut costs and reduce my packaging consumption. Also to have more control over ingredients. I actually have a label on my blog called Lazy and Cheap Ways to Be Green. These ideas are not only cheap, they are super easy (maybe EASIER than what you are doing): http://www.eco-novice.com/search/label/Lazy%20and%20Cheap%20Ways%20to%20Be%20Green A sampling of lazy, cheap ideas include using "outdoor clothes" for young kids (put their dirty clothes on them again before they go out in the mud) to reduce laundry (in my house, most outfits get worn 5+ times before washing); feed your baby regular baby-friendly foods (and skip the store-bought and homemade baby foods); shower less. Many have to do with lowering your cleanliness standards, I'll be honest. I have an "easy" label too. One idea: In the cold months, after I use the oven, I open the oven door all the way. Hey, I paid for that heat and I’m gonna use it! Then the oven fan doesn’t have to work hard to cool down the oven either. Another, use a pressure cooker. I’ve heard in countries where fuel is scarce/super expensive, pressure cookers are universally used. Whatever, they definitely save energy, and then you can skip the canned beans and have beans ready in 20 min.

For kids, cloth diapers are definitely a cheap option. And if you take a few steps (wash in cooler temps every 3-4 days, line dry, skip the bleach), they are eco-friendlier than disposables. Also, try early potty training — the cheapest and eco-friendliest option of all. The average age of potty training in the US has been creeping ever later for decades (used to be before age one!).

I also have started making many staples (bread, granola, going to try yogurt soon!) from scratch as a way to cut costs and reduce my packaging consumption. Also to have more control over ingredients.

I actually have a label on my blog called Lazy and Cheap Ways to Be Green. These ideas are not only cheap, they are super easy (maybe EASIER than what you are doing):
http://www.eco-novice.com/sear.....Be%20Green

A sampling of lazy, cheap ideas include using “outdoor clothes” for young kids (put their dirty clothes on them again before they go out in the mud) to reduce laundry (in my house, most outfits get worn 5+ times before washing); feed your baby regular baby-friendly foods (and skip the store-bought and homemade baby foods); shower less.

Many have to do with lowering your cleanliness standards, I’ll be honest. I have an “easy” label too.
Betsy (Eco-novice)´s last [type] ..Whole Grain Cookies

]]> By: Betsy (Eco-novice) http://www.green-talk.com/2009/05/08/going-budget-green-for-the-home/#comment-19091 Betsy (Eco-novice) Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:50:47 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/?p=2524#comment-19091 Yowza! What a list. I'll need to add this link to some of my posts on budget-friendly changes. Yowza! What a list. I’ll need to add this link to some of my posts on budget-friendly changes.
Betsy (Eco-novice)´s last [type] ..Whole Grain Cookies

]]> By: Dennis http://www.green-talk.com/2009/05/08/going-budget-green-for-the-home/#comment-11641 Dennis Sun, 28 Nov 2010 11:42:16 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/?p=2524#comment-11641 Using expired credit cards as identifiers for seeds does not sound like a good idea! Your credit card #'s are still there for the taking - and they can probably figure out the new expiration date from thebwhat the old expiration date was - with a little trial and error - and be ordering stuff online on your credit card. Using expired credit cards as identifiers for seeds does not sound like a good idea! Your credit card #’s are still there for the taking – and they can probably figure out the new expiration date from thebwhat the old expiration date was – with a little trial and error – and be ordering stuff online on your credit card.

]]> By: Mary Q Contrarie http://www.green-talk.com/2009/05/08/going-budget-green-for-the-home/#comment-5888 Mary Q Contrarie Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:45:02 +0000 http://www.green-talk.com/?p=2524#comment-5888 I am really surprised that you are still using your clothes dryer. I gave mine up two years ago. From what I have read it saves anywhere from 6 - 10% of US domestic energy usage. I live in the midwest so the weather is not always great for line drying. That is why I use a <a href="http://www.bestdryingrack.com" rel="nofollow">clothes drying rack</a> it is portable and flexable. I am really surprised that you are still using your clothes dryer. I gave mine up two years ago. From what I have read it saves anywhere from 6 – 10% of US domestic energy usage. I live in the midwest so the weather is not always great for line drying. That is why I use a clothes drying rack it is portable and flexable.

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