What do you do to help the environment?

Dolly · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 170

Just thought I'd ask.

I'll kick off with:
Recycling tin cans, plastic bottles.
I don't have a newspaper.

Cotton and wool clothes go on the compost heap together with anything else suitable.

Eerie · Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 60

I'm a vegetarian.

ejane · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 15

not sure if this fits, but I know of a man that lives near me that actually runs his car on vegetable oil, not gasoline.

Dolly · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 170

There were a few people here that were doing it, ejane, but the government have clamped down on it really hard. They don't like people to have an alternative and lose all those nice taxes.

It really does work though!

Eerie · Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 60

Vegetable oil?

Unfortunately, it's probably more expensive then gasoline here.

Dolly · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 170

Actually, you are probably right.

For all the fuss being made over fuel prices, yours are probably still some of the cheapest in the world, even though they have been rising.

I'll have to get my conversion head on, but we pay about ?1 litre here now.

rattitude · Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 101

Until recently I didn't even have a car, but now I just live to far from my work which is in the countryside with no rental accomodatiuon nearby. But I still do any small thing I can. Anything within 3-4 miles I walk to. Around town I use a small scooter not my car. I use a clothes washer but not the dryer, I use a clothes line. I buy local foods from the farmers market not vegetables that fly in from Zimbabwe or Spain. It's the little things that add up.

Dolly · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 170

I'm always amazed at people who use tumble driers in the middle of summer.

Mind you, I have heard in some areas that people aren't allowed to hang their washing out because it makes the area look untidy??!!

Some folk don't have much going on in their lives, do they Laughing

ejane · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 15

I know where we live no one even has those old clothes lines. We don't have a tree near us or I would've stuck to drying my clothes outside. i like the way the smell. Instead I use a dryer. Sad

Which I've learned can get too hot and start a fire. Don't ask!

Yes, oil out her (vegetable oil) is a lot cheaper than gas. At least at the moment. I can see why they'd shout no since their gas isn't being used. Like a control factor and they love it. Last year when they started raising prices many of us bought bikes, prices dropped. Of course it didn't last long, people went back to driving. Things are just easier and they know you can hike up things that make life easier and we are going to pay.

rattitude · Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 101

I am in an apartment with no trees but i put a wire 'clothes horse' out on my balcony--at the current temps (90s) it only takes 20 minutes for each 'load'.

Dolly · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 170

Well, we've got those temps at the minute.

And I do mean at the minute Confused

This is Scotland, I've seen all types of weather in one day - seriously. Wind, snow, sunshine and hail.

They say the weather here changes on your back swing (golfing term apparently.)

I try not to use a load of cleaning products. I make my own washing liquid/floor cleaner. Anything commercial now nearly makes my head spin with the fumes!

rattitude · Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 101

I was basically called a slob at work when I said I do not use washing powder on light loads of clothes I wear around the house. But it really isn't needed, or just a very small amount.

Scotland eh? Is that the Dolly reference? I was part of a project that involved the Roslin institute a few years ago.

Dolly · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 170

I only use soda crystals on light loads and when I add washing powder it's only a third of the recommended usage.
Amazing how much money it saves you and the clothes aren't any different.

I wouldn't be tellig them at work anymore. Let 'em chuck their money down the drain!

No, the Dolly thing, is about Dolly the Sheep. I keep sheep!

ejane · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 15

I'll admit, if I have a light load I use very little soap. Our costs aren't as expensive as yours but it can still get pretty high on the pocketbook if it's already tight.

I wish I could put up a clothes line. No spot in the yard though, they've done away with those.

Dolly · Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 170

Well if it makes you feel any better, up here a clothes line can be hazardous to your health!

The clothes tend not to stay on it for very long, but not to worry just generally speaking the barbed wire fencing catches it more often than not!