Friday February 17, 2012

What do you do in your day-to-day life to conserve energy and protect the environment?

Have Your Say ( 48 )

Back to top

Order by Time Order by Popularity

48 Comments

Login to comment

  • 0

    rjd_jr

    Nothing really. Let the celebrities and politicians pontificate about going green and saving the whales.

  • 0

    smartacus

    I take my own shopping bag whenever I remember. I'm also trying not to use air conditioning as much this summer, but it is hard, especially at night.

  • 0

    some14some

    I follow Al Gore and give speeches about global warming although nobody listens to me :)

  • 0

    USARonin

    I'm one of them that's listened. No sale.

    USAR

  • 0

    imagawa

    I sleep a lot, well, as much as I can get away with. I'm married.......

  • 0

    bamboohat

    There is a psychological danger in going "green". The whole environmental concept requires that everybody participate. So when you go green, all of a sudden you look around you, and BAM everybody in the world that is NOT particiapting with you to save the planet is some kind of unenlightened selfish cretin. That's too big a burden for me, sorry to say. I'd rather not have to judge all these people I've never met.

    But this headline seems to have been written by somebody that has been brainwashed into thinking that the environment NEEDS protecting, and that everyone is ALREADY onboard with him/her. It is a foregone conclusion, that everyone is thinkin "what can I do to save the environment".

    I prefer not to live in world where I am giving in to the social pressures of people in my imagination.

  • 0

    Statistician

    Well, here's a conservation choice. Travel less - or pay more.

  • 0

    westurn

    "What do you do in your day-to-day life to conserve energy and protect the environment?"

    Same as I always have... "waste not want not !"

  • 0

    tclh

    Walking instead of using car ;combining purposes when using car;catching rain water to use for fruit trees,herbs...;turning of lights,electrical equipments when not in use;not using heater in winter(only when it is too cold,few times a year);not using air conditioning (only when it is too hot,again few times a year) ;holidays in Australia as much as possible instead of overseas...etc all commonsense stuffs.

  • 0

    westurn

    "catching rain water to use for fruit trees,herbs..."

    In Japan ? With all that acid rain falling here I'd reconsider.

  • 0

    tclh

    It all depends on individual circumstances ...if you live in an apartment in Tokyo ,you have no land to grow anything anyway so no need for rain water..haha

  • 0

    Bovinus

    I have a 'no junk mail' sticker on my door, don't eat meat, have a K car and only use it sparingly, energy efficient applicances and lights, try not to use the air con much, bring my own bag to supermarkets, separate my trash and recycle it, use both sides of pieces of paper, basically reduce, reuse, recycle (and refuse - they have 4 r's here).

    When I buy my own house in a few years I will be sure to have water tanks, good quality insulation and solar panels. Looking forward to that.

  • 0

    Patto

    Organic farming, home cooking, reducing use of car, hiking for fun, bringing my own shopping bags and chopsticks, unplugging and reducing usage of electronics, installing windows in ceiling to eliminate need for lighting during day, sleeping and rising early. These are all common sense, and as prices rise, more people including reactionaries will do them to save money. Only the very rich will continue to guzzle. I have never owned a TV or air conditioner. Westurn, if you are concerned about acid rain, it affects the western parts of Japan more. Get some pH strips to check it. If you don't have access to a safe well or spring, investing in a rain collection system may be to your advantage in the long run.

  • 0

    westurn

    "Westurn, if you are concerned about acid rain, it affects the western parts of Japan more."

    More than what ??? I always love these arbitrary comments. Maybe I can read this as... "In western Japan acid rain will literally burn the hair from er scalp"... in the east though... just a simple scalding !!!"

    Great !

  • 0

    borscht

    Eight years ago I bought a hybrid car (Prius, of course) and am glad, as the price of gas soars, I did. This year, I'm driving it in hyper-mode (ultra good gas mileage but requires the driver to think more so I'm sure it won't catch on) which means more savings for me. (and the environment.)

    Four years ago we built our house using the environment to warm it and cool it: skylights, southern facing, plants, etc. This year, we're very glad we did and have started a vine that will shade us in the summer and lose its leaves in the winter, allowing the sun in. This results in more savings for us (and the environment but as rjd_jr points out: this is all about me.)

    We usually refuse bags at stores (I especially find it odd to be offered a bag for my bag of garbage bags; even if it is the only item I'm buying, I'm offered a bag for my bag of bags.) This results in less garbage for us to recycle = less work for me. (And the environment but please, this is about me.)

  • 0

    cleo

    Home-grown veggies & herbs, no meat, cloth shopping bags, turning unnecessary lights etc off, using the bath water to wash clothes, using the fish-tank water to water the garden (and veggies), separate rubbish & recycle, cycling or walking instead of using the car whenever possible, using a dishwasher instead of washing by hand.

  • 0

    sailwind

    Only order draft beer so no bottle or can waste is generated and my favorite way to protect and conserve our precious natural resources, shower with a friend.

    Ahh, the sacrifices I must endure to be green.

  • 0

    kimigano

    I do absolutely nothing. I'm letting others take the lead here.

  • 0

    hobart_mark

    I don't do a damn thing. When Al Gore moves out of his 20 bedroom mansion, and stops driving his several gas guzzling SUVs...I will think about it. Being green is preached as a requirment for the masses and a choice for the rich hypocrits who supposedly buy carbon credits to make it look like they are preserving the environment. And, global warming is a myth perpetuated by liberals with money. No, I am not poor...I am quite well off thank you. Just don't tell me how to live my life, and I won't tread on your waters too.

    Moderator: Readers, please don't turn the discussion into a debate on global warming. That's not what the question asks.

  • 0

    presto345

    I will try to ignore the comments of those who apparently do nothing and try to project themselves as comedians, which in fact they may be and just that, and those who reject the necessity of conservation and leave a place to live for our descendants. I am pleased to say I do all the things Cleo and Patto do, except I do eat meat occasionally. I wash the car only 2 or 3 times a year. Furthermore, the house I built 30 years ago provides 50% of the required electricity with solar panels and about 50% of the heated water with solar boilers as well. We save energy by setting the thermostat higher in summer and lower in winter As a skillful DIY-er I repair and re-use appliances as long as possible, including kitchen equipment, AV appliances and computers & peripherals. It is a standard rule in my house that food never gets wasted.

  • 0

    presto345

    And, global warming is a myth perpetuated by liberals with money.

    Is it really? And why do you get so excited? Do you feel targeted? It is just a simple question you are asked. Don't do a damn thing? Your choice, my friend. Your children and grandchildren will remember you for your sensible choice, I am sure.

  • 0

    timeon

    I work.

    and I don't believe the usual person can do anything meaningful to conserve energy and protect the environment, it's just a fad that's popular nowadays, the "eco" brand name

  • 0

    kokuryu

    I use 4watt and 7watt CFL replacements for my lightbulbs. I drive a car that gets 40-45mpg highway and 30-35mpg city. Wherever I live, I try to make sure that the power is provided by a nuclear power plant, rather than any other type of provider.

  • 0

    presto345

    timeon You are so wrong. But I suppose it's because your vision is clouded by what occupies you always. Like you say 'I work'. For what I wonder? Ever asked yourself?

  • 0

    presto345

    I try to make sure that the power is provided by a nuclear power plant, rather than any other type of provider.

    That narrows down your choice, doesn't it. But you do say 'I try'.

  • 0

    sailwind

    timeon,

    and I don't believe the usual person can do anything meaningful to conserve energy and protect the environment, it's just a fad that's popular nowadays, the "eco" brand name

    Not true, the easiest way you can conserve and protect the evironment that hardly would change your current lifestyle at all is to buy products that ISO 14001 compliant.

    ISO 14001 is an International Standard that certifies that the organization has implemented an EMS system (Environmental Management System) and is pretty complex to explain in a short post, but the jist of it is the company or organization has put into a place an internationally recognized management system that is auditable by outside agencies as to compliance once in place. The system indentifies environmental impacts that the comapny or organization has, the aspects that cause the impact and sets realistic targets and objectives to lessen the impact, in a process of continious improvement to reduce the company or organizations 'Environmental Footprint'.

    Short example, impact might be waste water generated. Aspect might be from cleaning operations. Objective is to reduce waste water generated (recycle the water, use less in the process etc) Target might be reduce waste water generated by say 10 percent in 2009.

    So in short buy products that are ISO 14000 and 14001 complaint. The company has already did the work for you in helping the environment and conserving energy, all you have to do is change your shopping habits a bit. By the way also the more people buy ISO complaint products the more other companies will see EMS as the way to get and keep customers and will also institute EMS as a good business decision instead of one forced on them by big daddy Government. Sony, IBM are just a few companies that have EMS in place and have certified their products to the ISO standard.

    Also the shower with a friend idea I proposed earlier is also a good way to help.

  • 0

    timeon

    I work in research for alternative sources of energy. I think a bold [significant] bold change can come only from policy makers and research breakthroughs. Don't get me wrong: I don't say that eco lifestyle is meaningless, because it's not. but its impact is on a rather small scale

  • 0

    Pukey2

    Some of you posters at the top (like rjd and kimigano, surprise surprise) are damn lazy and selfish. As the moderator said, this has nothing to do with global warming. I personally believe that warming is occuring due to anthropogenic effects, but that is besides the point. Landfills are becoming scarce, pollution is getting worse and rainforests are being destroyed, and none of these are being cause by global warming. Use less resources, recycle as much as possible, use aircon only when necessary (I personally use the electric fan), don't eat or cut down on meat, reuse plastic bags and never ask for them if you alrady have some. And I don't use or need a car.

  • 0

    presto345

    but its impact is on a rather small scale

    Wrong answer, again. It's all the little things added up that make an impact.

  • 0

    Eizenhauer

    Guys, rethink again, its about our biological footprint that we leave on this dying planet. Everything matters. I've changed all my light bulbs. Drive my car only when its absolutely necessary, turn off the water when applying soap in shower, i don't travel my air, we use biologically degradable and environment friendly dish soaps, eat far less meat than before (feeling far better because of it too). Now folks, imagine the positive impact on the planet of we would all do something, whatever is in our power to contribute to cleaner planet...People like Hobart Mark are to be pitied and felt sorry for just for their "don't give a damn" kind of attitude.

  • 0

    NICOLE77

    try to take my shopping bags with me / ride my bike or use public transport / turn off lights when not in the room / take the meat trays back to the supermarket for recylcing / use the airconditioner at a higher temperature than before / turn the tap off while brushing my teeth,washing the dishes, ....

  • 0

    Sarge

    To conserve energy I lie on my futon all day and sip iced tea.

    To protect the environment I've given up eating baked beans - I pass much less gas now.

    Seriously, I do a lot of the things Eizen does, though I haven't changed my lightbulbs. I simply don't like to waste stuff. And to one-up Eizen, I don't even drive a car.

    Eizen - It must really grind your gears to do all these things to conserve energy and contribute to a cleaner planet and see race car drivers burning up as much gasoline as they can, Hollywood burning up all that gasoline and cars in their movies, and all these politicians and rich people jetting around the world burning up jet fuel...

  • 0

    presto345

    Eizen - It must really grind your gears to do all these things to conserve energy and contribute to a cleaner planet and see race car drivers burning up as much gasoline as they can, Hollywood burning up all that gasoline and cars in their movies, and all these politicians and rich people jetting around the world burning up jet fuel...

    Eizen has not replied yet, but I say first that he and I think our gears work differently (from yours?). We realize that the ecological villains are a very small minority. It's the masses, with normal gear ratios, that can make the difference.

  • 0

    Sarge

    presto - "If you don't fall in line, we won't do anything either"

    Har!

    So, you're not upset about all the waste by the rich and famous, and you think the masses must lower their standard of living to save the planet, eh?

  • 0

    kimigano

    Eco is a joke, it's nothing more than marketing. I have seen no proof that things are bad at all. Does anyone have actual proof that the environment is in any trouble?

  • 0

    kimigano

    So, you're not upset about all the waste by the rich and famous, and you think the masses must lower their standard of living to save the planet, eh?

    Sarge, no doubt - the masses are going to have to swallow the marketing pill and consume less. We need to make sure that they always have less and less, that they stay in debt and think that frugality is noble. It's the double edged sword that we are selling to them and will continue to do so. We need more resources and riches for ourselves, and we will rig the system against them any way we see fit.

  • 0

    tclh

    "We need more resources and riches for ourselves, and we will rig the system against them any way we see fit."...We don't need the riches and famous to set examples for us.We, the people ,do everything we can to help our planet and feel GOOD about it.No matter how riches they are,basically they still eat that much ,breath that much air,have that much time on Earth;they(riches)just have more printed paper or plastic than most of us.

  • 0

    serindipity

    I have a six cylinder diesel car because it's cheap to run.

    I sleep in my car with the engine and air-con running because it's a good environment for me.

    I only eat whale meat and tuna to keep the oceans clean from those dirty fish.

    I use as many plastic shopping bags as I can to keep the manufacturers in a job.

    I always buy foods that are wrapped at least three times to be sure it's fresh.

    I throw all my cans on the street so the recycling places don't get overrun.

    I kidnap cats and set them free in the forests so they can control the population of native species.

    I release all my exotic fish into the river so they don't clog the toilet.

    I leave all electrical appliances running so the electricity doesn't get backed up and cause a surge.

    Finally, I burn all my rubbish and old tires in an incinerator in my yard to keep my environment free of waste.

  • 0

    Sarge

    serindipity - Good one.

  • 0

    Blackbone

    I do absolutely nothing. The universe will take care of itself. We have enough ignorant people worrying about it for me, so I'll selfishly steal some of that credit while no one is looking. If had the power to control volcanoes and hurricanes, then I might have a different position.

  • 0

    realist

    Like Backbone above, I do absolutely nothing. This whole "Global Warming" and "Gas Emissions" thing to me is total nonsense. The most "Gas Emissions" come from stupid politicians and scientists who believe and peddle this rubbish to those foolish enough to believe in this humbug. The universe is ok - God is on control of it, so I dodnt need to worry my little head about it. I have got a life - and I enjoy it without this midless claptrap.

  • 0

    stanoue

    Don't own a car, share a studio apartment, use recycled paper cat litter (which is flushable - the next step is to eliminate litter altogether and have kitty use the human loo), don't have a bath - shower instead, separate recycling from rubbish, changed the light bulbs, reusable shopping bags. Undecided about - if you eat meat & dairy, you are also responsible for the methane gas emissions in Au/NZ to a degree...lecture yourself as well.

  • 0

    stanoue

    Oh, and I NEVER chuck rubbish out of vehicles or boats.

  • 0

    rajakumar

    Best indicator for good enviroment,is how many species of animals/insects/birds/other biolife you see in your country or in your neighbourhood.

    Many species of all kind, which is saw 10-20 year ago are gone or dwindling. If we can do something or anything to stop the dwindling of species of all kind,we are doing good job with enviroment.

    Variety of species of all kinds living in harmony with people, in our countries/world, is the greatest joy of life for all.

  • 0

    NICOLE77

    its scary to see how many stupid responses are on here...

  • 0

    nisegaijin

    absolutely nothing i don't sort my garbage, i don't turn off lights, i drive (thinking of getting a car with V8, cuz turbocharged is not enough), I have big TV, which is on all the time, my aircon is on all the time, right now it's paird with senpuki to cover larger area, and i tossed a check for paid road that didn't accept ETC out of the window. Why? Cuz I can!

  • 0

    Eizenhauer

    Well Sarge, hope you'll get this message... I know what you mean about the rich and famous and their (to planet) destructive life styles but please try to ponder over just one simple fact alone: forested area of one Britain size is been deforested annually. We, small people don't matter as individuals but we could make a tremendous positive impact if all act as one. Most people are too selfish to even try to change their ways. It was really disappointing to read so many insane and irresponsible comments from so called "civilized" human beings. Talking about the selfishness, how many people would do heck about environment if they had won a lottery? I play lottery every week. IF i ever win i have already decided to spend 80 percent of it on buying barren and deforested land with a purpose of reforestation and making protected national parks. Well, its my dream anyways lol, but if it comes true I promise to God that the money would be spent in reforestation... Cheers to all people of good will, people who can feel the pain of our dying planet and take some sort of action... Eizenhauer :)

  • 0

    serindipity

    Cheers to all people of good will, people who can feel the pain of our dying planet and take some sort of action... Eizenhauer :)

    Yeah, right! As you sit in front of your electricity guzzling LCD screen surfing the internet in your air-conditioned apartment eating pre-packaged food. At least I have the intelligence to admit my lifestyle is far from environmentally friendly. You're kidding yourself mate!

Back to top

Login to leave a comment

OR

Follow us

Facebook
Twitter

More in Have Your Say

View all

View all