Category: Let's talk
This is a question I been thinking on, so felt I’d post it.
How conservational or conservationist are you?
I have read post here where people talk about shaving in the shower and all sort of other water wasting concepts.
I’ll admit, I am not perfect and could do more, but for years, I’ve mentally worked to save as many resources as possible.
I don’t use packaged food as much as possible.
I don’t use trash bags, and wrap things like coffee grounds in newspaper.
When I’m alone I don’t use things like paper towels or disposable items.
Come times company will dictate you offer it however, but my first offer is always a linen towel, or something I can wash.
When I shower, I do it as quickly as possible, and I due to being blind never turn lights on unless again, I have sighted company that require it.
I do all in my power to save things.
So, what do you do, and do you even care?
One of us recently spent some time in a region that doesn’t have clean water. I hope she post her experience with that.
We wake up, turn on the faucet, and brew a cup of coffee. We don’t worry about our water quality.
What if that were removed even for a short time?
I should do more. We recycle, but Portland makes that easy. I am one of those guilty ones who shaves in the shower with water and soap. I have been in Mexico before, though, where you turn on the shower, get wet, turn it off, soap up, then turn the water back on to rinse off. At least where we were that was how things went.
Conserving, and then meaningfully conserving, can be two different things. Cue the show Hoarders, or our grandparents who grew up in the depression and would save moldy food in the refrigerator.
My daughter's very into it though. And we now have those reusable plastic ziplock type bags for the fridge instead of just regular plastic Ziplock bags.
I'm another who shaves in the shower, though once I've done the necessary preparations I'll usually turn the shower off to save water, unless my back is hurting and the water's feeling really relaxing. I do try to reuse as many freezer ziplocks as I can. I'll wash them the way I would any dish, unless they've had raw meat or something equally vacterial. I'd prefer to buy stuff that lasts rather than by cheaper stuff I'll just have to buy again. I've so far kept each major electronics purchase for several years, rather than upgrading to the latest and greatest. That's probably more a money issue, but I'm taking it. With all the Norwex cleaning supplies my wife and I have invested in, I think we're using far less paper towel and other cleaning supplies. I'm sure I do waste a lot of stuff without meaning to, but I do try to be somewhat conscientious. Could I do better? Of course. We all could. Only thing I don't do that I know I really should is compost. We used to compost back when we had a service that took it (it was a requirement, and a good one), but since we moved to our condo they don't anymore, and we haven't the space to do our own heap.
recycling is ivital. if we all don't really try to do it, our kids will be drowning in dirty diapers and kitty litter.
wa-a-a-a-a-y back in the '80s, college park, md, where we lived at the time, developed and implemented the first recycling program in that area. it's been a model many have used.
when we moved to wshington state back in '13 I was overjoyed to think that we'd be right at hoe in recycling land. well our apartment complex no longer does it. due to the fact that people couldn't and wouldn't follow the simple instructions, and the land lord kept getting fined, it was discontinued. every time I toss a coke can in the trash, I feel like apologizing to someone.
anyway, we carefully wash and reuse food containers like Chinese soup ones and jars.
when I go to the grocery I bring my own bag(s). if I forget, we are only allowed to use paper ones.
trash bags and such aare biodegradable in our home. I limit the use of paper towels.
I take public transportation or walk.
we don't use air conditioning.
as for shaving in the shower, I still do this. also leave the water on while washing my hair. I grew up in a home where taking a navy shower, where you have to turn it off to do all that stuff was required. so I rebel even at age 60 by taking a Hollywood shower where I leave it on.
I never thought of reusing refrigerator or storage bags. I will have to think about this. the only things I store in them is meat and I don't feel comfortable.
oh one thing to keep in mind, if reusing bread bags, which I do, be sure not to turn them inside out. the printing is often in lead based ink.
oh when I cook In the winter, after the oven is done, I turn it off and open the door. saves on heat and energy.
we keep our house at 66. it's easier to put on a sweater then to waste electricity.
I know I'm forgetting stuff. thanks for a good thought provoking post. i'll look back to see what I can learn. enjoy your day.
I don't go out of my way to waste stuff or save stuff. I am not really in to it
though. If I do it has something to do with monetary value. I am very careful
with my money.
I purchased these shopping bags for my grocery and just anything else I go buy.
Because I carry a shoulder bag most of the time, if I think I might stop by a store of any sort while out, I just slide one in there. I refuse the plastic, paper or whatever whenever possible, and try to get anything I can unpackaged.
That has gotten harder. We use to have stores you could get beans, peanuts, grains, whatever out of a bin and put them in your own bag, but not anymore.
Then I used paper sacks, and still do when getting coffee. I only toss it when it gets to messy, and that takes a while if you are just getting coffee in it.
Has to get torn.
Reusing storage bags I don't. I try not to even use them at all.
I got glass and stainless steel containers, so these should last until I drop the glass, and I have no idea if you can ever ruin a stanless steel container or bowl.
No plastic.
For non stick pans, I use woodspoons and such.
I don't use air either unless I have company that insist. I never really liked it and feel opening windows early cools the place down just fine.
If not, I just go out and find some shade, or ride the air conditioned bus or train.
JK. I do go sit in the shade though.
I guess just thinking about ways to not use stuff is how I live. I believe if we all make a smaller print on the earth it stays healthy.
We've got plenty of natural things that can be used if it was made a way of life as it once was.
Saves money too if that is a selling point for the last poster.
I keep plastic grocery store bags for bathroom waste basket liners.
Yes, they work very well that way. One area I admit I don't skimp is air conditioning. Not a big deal now where I'm in a condo and the only huge window is blocked from the son by trees and another building, but the place before, we had an upper story of a house with two huge windows both facing east. That air conditioner was on I tell you. Doing otherwise akin to living in a green house.
My room stays hella warm even in the winter because it faces the sun.
You can actually cool a large house with ceiling fans if you open the windows early in the mornings.
with the tempratures fluxing so badly, the other day we had the heat on, today we have the AC on. I don't turn my water off in the shower though I do shave while I''m in it, I leave lights on all night, 4 of the 5 computers in my house are always running, and well, I don't try to waist, but I'm n ot forgoing trash bags. not doing it.
Thanks for all the post.