I've been a vegetarian for well over half my lifetime. It's something I usually keep quiet about because it is a personal choice for me and I don't like flaunting it. I was lucky to be born into a...
I've been a vegetarian for well over half my lifetime. It's something I usually keep quiet about because it is a personal choice for me and I don't like flaunting it. I was lucky to be born into a culture whose non-meat cuisine is excellent and provides plenty of options.
I've also used buses for as long as I could and am carpooling to get to work now. We are generally pretty frugal with our consumption, primarily because we can't make up our minds about things. And we pay a premium to make sure our power is generated by renewable sources.
While I think climate change is the single most important threat we as humans should be working to solve right now, I am reluctant to put all the responsibility all at the feet of individuals. As is often pointed out, only 100 corporations are responsible for 71% of global emissions - and while working to curb our individual consumption is important, the bulk of our actions should be geared towards curbing and regulating those corporations. We can all be lobbyists
Hey, thanks for signing up! I completely agree - we do need multi pronged approach. But while I don't blame Exxon Mobil for supplying gas, I do blame them and their industry for catastrophic oil...
Hey, thanks for signing up!
I completely agree - we do need multi pronged approach. But while I don't blame Exxon Mobil for supplying gas, I do blame them and their industry for catastrophic oil spills and lobbies to further decrease regulation. I blame them for mudding the water and feeding the climate skeptic movement. And let us not forget that the company that became Exxon - Standard Oil - has defrauded the public for 50 years with their pet scientist Kehoe's "leaded gas is safe", while tens of thousands died to it. They are using the exact same tactics right now to feed climate skepticism, with great success
I have been slowly switching to a vegan diet. I went vegetarian over a year ago after learning about how much the livestock industry contributes to climate change. Now I am slowly switching to...
I have been slowly switching to a vegan diet. I went vegetarian over a year ago after learning about how much the livestock industry contributes to climate change. Now I am slowly switching to vegan by cutting things out gradually. Whilst one person can't change the whole issue on their own, I believe it still can have an impact.
Do you have some papers that show "how much the livestock industry contributes to climate change"? I have only heard it on a documentary and it had no sources. I'd like to read more about it.
Do you have some papers that show "how much the livestock industry contributes to climate change"? I have only heard it on a documentary and it had no sources. I'd like to read more about it.
Was the documentary cowspiracy? If not, it's worth a watch. They have compiled all the research they used in the documentary including a report by the UN, plus new reports that have come available...
Was the documentary cowspiracy? If not, it's worth a watch. They have compiled all the research they used in the documentary including a report by the UN, plus new reports that have come available since they made it. You can find it all here - http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts
Have you found ditching eggs easier than dairy? I have, partially because the videos of what happens in egg farms is actually abhorrent, and partially because cheese is just so effective in...
Have you found ditching eggs easier than dairy? I have, partially because the videos of what happens in egg farms is actually abhorrent, and partially because cheese is just so effective in vegetarian meals.
Yes, definitely. It's not just about climate change but also the mistreatment of animals in mass farming. I'm the same, removing eggs was probably the easiest step for me. I have never liked many...
Yes, definitely. It's not just about climate change but also the mistreatment of animals in mass farming.
I'm the same, removing eggs was probably the easiest step for me. I have never liked many dairy products (milk and butter) so those aspects of dairy have been easy enough for me to replace. However, finding a suitable replacement for cheese has been the hardest. I live in Europe at the moment and the selection for alternatives is hard to come by and the options that are available can't compare to the versatility and tastiness of cheese.
Regardless of how much impact one person's actions can have, it does feel better: even though it probably can't even make a dent in the problem it feels good to be environmentally considerate...
Regardless of how much impact one person's actions can have, it does feel better: even though it probably can't even make a dent in the problem it feels good to be environmentally considerate which is good for the state of mind. Constantly hearing the negative news is pretty darn depressing(though it's reality and absolutely needs action, but there's only so much I can do).
What I'm doing: avoid turning on lights and heating until I need them, separate waste, cycle instead of carring(words are fun), and, more impactful: practise environmentally friendly design(I currently intern for a company that sells products made of recycled plastic) and I fix appliances until they're totally broken, instead of buying a brand new one when the fuse burns out(people do that).
I'm also trying to live more minimalistic: own less things. That's partially from a "gotta feel good" mindset since clutter easily distracts me from work.
I love this point of view! A similar small thing I started doing is turning off background noise. I am the person that always has music or TV on in the background, and lately I've been trying to...
I love this point of view! A similar small thing I started doing is turning off background noise. I am the person that always has music or TV on in the background, and lately I've been trying to save a little energy and just enjoy the quiet.
Old version of this topic (https://tildes.net/~enviro/7bo/what_are_you_doing_to_reduce_your_impact) in case anyone wants to read it. I'm eating less beef than ever and trying to cook more...
We moved out of the city. I've spent the last decade working towards full time telecommute roles. It took a bit, and some company-hopping, but I'm now in a position to work anywhere. At the same...
We moved out of the city.
I've spent the last decade working towards full time telecommute roles. It took a bit, and some company-hopping, but I'm now in a position to work anywhere.
At the same time, my partner has been focused on learning small scale market gardening techniques.
About 4 years ago, we moved away from the city, selling our condo and buying 12 acres.
The community we're in is geographically isolated, on a peninsula. Garbage, and what happens to it, is a major concern - everything must be shipped out of the area. It costs $2.50/bag in the municipality, and the fee is by weight for us. Recycling is free, so we recycle and compost everything we can.
With our property, the previous owner was a logger, and took down most of the large trees. We're sustainably harvesting the smaller trees, letting them regrow while we use them for firewood in the winter. Currently, we'll go through 2-3 cords of wood, which is way better (and cheaper) than using hydrocarbons. The specific microclimate we're in (valley, with tall trees around our property) means that most of the wood smoke settles on our land vs spreading to the surrounding forest.
We had to do some renovations on the house when we purchased it, and we went for a 25 year metal roof (vs asphalt shingles) and double-pane windows for better insulation. Unfortunately, we could not afford to reinsulate the entire house to a higher standard, so it does leak a bit of heat in spots. In the next few years we'll re-insulate the attic, replace the front door, and replace the extra fireplace with an insert - our three biggest sources of heat loss.
We're growing as much of our food as we can, on our own property. Everything is produced as sustainably as possible - currently we need extra feed for the chickens & ducks, but they forage for almost all of their food in the summer. We've found commercial clients looking to purchase our fowl, and are expanding our produce offerings each year - because of the geographical situation, any food that's not locally grown must be trucked in via ferry from up to several hundred miles away.
Besides riding my bike to commute everywhere (where feasible), I've given up red meat (beef & lamb) after reading this BBC article, and also stopped using paper towels, instead using re-usable...
Besides riding my bike to commute everywhere (where feasible), I've given up red meat (beef & lamb) after reading this BBC article, and also stopped using paper towels, instead using re-usable rags or cloths to cleanup.
Is this much? It's certainly the easiest stuff I could cut without having a significant impact on my life - when I went vegan I ended up feeling like shit as a result (after around 4 months), clearly I wasn't having the best diet because of it, and I didn't have the time to improve it.
I bike to and from work. It started when the truck drivers of the entire country went on a strike and refused to work. There was not enough fuel and the prices were absurd. It ended, but i kept...
I bike to and from work. It started when the truck drivers of the entire country went on a strike and refused to work. There was not enough fuel and the prices were absurd.
It ended, but i kept using the bike. It saved me a lot of money and i was exercising. Sadly these last 4 weeks been raining every day and i lost the habit.
I moved in with my girlfriend who is vegetarian. So I went from eating meat pretty much every day to maybe once or twice a week. This might seem like not a lot for most vegetarians, but it was a...
I moved in with my girlfriend who is vegetarian. So I went from eating meat pretty much every day to maybe once or twice a week. This might seem like not a lot for most vegetarians, but it was a big change for me.
Nice. I've been a little surprised at how small-scale network effects can create change rather quickly. Maybe soon you'll be fully vegetarian, and then your friends + family will start having more...
Nice. I've been a little surprised at how small-scale network effects can create change rather quickly. Maybe soon you'll be fully vegetarian, and then your friends + family will start having more vege meals when you're with them. You'll have direct impact and also potentially lots of indirect impact by being a leader.
Stopped buying plastic bags and started to bring my own durable cotton bag instead. Don't drive a car, so I use my bike or commuter services. Bathe once a week if possible (some times twice, if I...
Stopped buying plastic bags and started to bring my own durable cotton bag instead.
Don't drive a car, so I use my bike or commuter services.
Bathe once a week if possible (some times twice, if I stink)
Cloth diapers, which we got used. They are fantastic and honestly pretty much the same in use as disposables. Of course we have to wash them, but we have a washing machine... It's not like we're...
Cloth diapers, which we got used. They are fantastic and honestly pretty much the same in use as disposables. Of course we have to wash them, but we have a washing machine... It's not like we're hand washing so I don't really find that an issue.
We're close to making that decision ourselves. Though I think cloth is probably better but harder, could you share your experiences in using those? What are some pain points? How do you mange?...
We're close to making that decision ourselves. Though I think cloth is probably better but harder, could you share your experiences in using those? What are some pain points? How do you mange? What are some pro tips?
[I realize this is offtopic, so feel free to remove it if necessary]
Cloth has definitely been better for our baby. He has pretty sensitive skin and when we switched completely to cloth his skin was great, no rash or even really any redness. Pain points (and...
Cloth has definitely been better for our baby. He has pretty sensitive skin and when we switched completely to cloth his skin was great, no rash or even really any redness.
Pain points (and hopefully I won't scare anyone off because they probably sound worst than they are):
Blow outs
Awkward sizing
Smell
Bulkiness
We are currently using pocket ones, and have size specific and one-size ones. Our baby was born less than 7 lbs, so these were actually too big for him. We started with profolds that you pin or slip a waterproof cover over and those lasted about a week. He out grew the capacity before the size, which has been a general pattern with him. So we were seeing blow outs. Couldn't really up him to the next size, because even if the legs and waist fit, there was just too much cloth and he basically couldn't lay flat. So we did newborn disposables for a couple weeks until he grew into the pocket diapers.
Our pocket diapers are snaps and we do seem to always have a bit more of a gap as compared to a disposable, which may result in a blow out or leak. Having mentioned that, I can count the number of diaper failures and they have been my fault. Once, I forgot an insert altogether, and the other times, either adjusted the elastic too loose when he went up a size or I was trying to go with a lighter liner insert that I knew was on the border.
The diapers can be pretty smelly. We spray them down with viniger and drop them into a bucket with a screw on lid (grout mixing one from hardware story type).
Diapers must be changed more often because 1) he hates the wetness and will let us know and 2) it does smell more. This actually doesn't bother me at all because we honestly don't want him sitting in it.
Bulkiness up make dressing him a little awkward sometimes. Sleepers, oneies are fine, but pants we end up going up a size to accommodate the diaper. These are pretty minor in my view. The biggest issue I sort of have with the bulkiness is when I go out. I am really paranoid about a dirty diaper getting loose in my bag, so I fold it so dirty side faces into itself, put it in a compostable bag (which I do reuse if it doesn't get wet) and then into a wet bag. Probably overkill...
Lastly, insert liners can take forever to dry, whether hanging or machine. Luckily they are pretty cheap and it seems like everyone gets a tonne. I got my cloth diapers used and everyone was happy to just give me all their liners.
That's it off the top of my head. Hardly an expert, but feel free to ask me any questions you might have. I'm open to sharing my experience with them so far.
And I honestly love not filling up garbage cans with diapers, which I did find smelled too.
Overall I'm trying to just not buy stuff. Can I make do with what I have? Can I get this thing I think I need secondhand? Can it just wait a couple weeks and see if I still want it? I pack a...
Overall I'm trying to just not buy stuff. Can I make do with what I have? Can I get this thing I think I need secondhand? Can it just wait a couple weeks and see if I still want it?
I pack a reusable bag, a coffee cup, a set of wheat-material cutlery and a collapsible container around in my purse, which prevents me from using to go cups, to go containers, doggie bags, plastic cutlery, and plastic bags. Is surprisingly easy to do and not particularly heavy. I think all the things together weigh less than my power bank for my phone. Also doing this has just reminded me that since I'm supposed to be taking my thermos with my anyways, I might as well put coffee in that sucker, and I've spent like $0 on coffee in 6 months which is very good savings for me.
We recently bought a quarter of a ranch-raised cow because I cannot (kind of will not if I'm honest, but I did really bad as a vegetarian when I tried it.) give up eating red meat, but this way we are supporting more humane ranching practices and also avoiding the massive amount of styrofoam and plastic that grocery store meat comes in.
I love your list! I recently started carrying metal utensils wrapped in a beeswax cloth (that doubles up as a quick plate or wrapper), and honestly find I really enjoy eating with proper utensils...
I love your list! I recently started carrying metal utensils wrapped in a beeswax cloth (that doubles up as a quick plate or wrapper), and honestly find I really enjoy eating with proper utensils instead of plastics ones.
do you use conditioner? I've found a shampoo bar I like, but the conditioner bars I've tried have all left a lot to be desired, so if you have any recommendations that would be great!
do you use conditioner? I've found a shampoo bar I like, but the conditioner bars I've tried have all left a lot to be desired, so if you have any recommendations that would be great!
When I moved out I let my mother have my old car because of all the help she has given me over the years. I bought a bike instead of a run down junker. Cant really go anywhere when it snows but I...
When I moved out I let my mother have my old car because of all the help she has given me over the years. I bought a bike instead of a run down junker. Cant really go anywhere when it snows but I live close to everything I need.
Take the train as my commute every day, reusable bags for groceries and produce and shampoo and conditioners. Energy friendly lights and surge protectors and shower head. Shorter showers.
Take the train as my commute every day, reusable bags for groceries and produce and shampoo and conditioners. Energy friendly lights and surge protectors and shower head. Shorter showers.
Bike to and from work (and pretty much everywhere else) Don't buy bottled water (I prefer non sparkly anyways, so I just buy tap water) I bring my own bags when I go shopping Every light in my...
Bike to and from work (and pretty much everywhere else)
Don't buy bottled water (I prefer non sparkly anyways, so I just buy tap water)
I have been riding my bike to work for the last year. Its been so good for my health as well as the environment. I'm currently working on going vegetarian but its been a bit of a slow process :/ I...
I have been riding my bike to work for the last year. Its been so good for my health as well as the environment. I'm currently working on going vegetarian but its been a bit of a slow process :/
I recently got a solar panel and battery so I can run my home server on solar. When I have my own house I'll do the full solar setup.
My main problem now is how much waste buying lunch creates. I just can't be bothered making lunch before work but I hate how I throw out a plastic container every day.
We recently switched our home's electricity plan to one powered by 100% renewable energy. Fortunately, Texas has a very large wind-based grid, so the cost didn't increase that substantially.
We recently switched our home's electricity plan to one powered by 100% renewable energy. Fortunately, Texas has a very large wind-based grid, so the cost didn't increase that substantially.
I live off grid and generate my own electricity through solar panels. I have a diesel generator as backup but in the past year I have spent less than £150 in diesel costs. I consume little in the...
I live off grid and generate my own electricity through solar panels. I have a diesel generator as backup but in the past year I have spent less than £150 in diesel costs. I consume little in the way of electricity.
I couldn't think of anything to contribute to this thread until I read @Catt's posts about diapers and was reminded that I recently took the plunge and switched to cloth pads, which has been an...
I couldn't think of anything to contribute to this thread until I read @Catt's posts about diapers and was reminded that I recently took the plunge and switched to cloth pads, which has been an interesting experience. They're more comfortable than disposable, but since I didn't buy enough to cover my entire period planning the times to wash them can be a bit awkward. They're also not as long, so I had a few leaks for the first time in years. But I think overall it's been a good choice; it just took me a decade to get there.
I am thinking about cloth pads myself. Glad to hear they are working out for you. I normally use a silicone cup, but do pair it with a liner as a back up for leaks. I want to switch them to...
I am thinking about cloth pads myself. Glad to hear they are working out for you.
I normally use a silicone cup, but do pair it with a liner as a back up for leaks. I want to switch them to reusable too, but got stuck debating if I should make or buy them...any tips based on what you got?
I got stuck on the same thing, haha. Told myself for years that I should make them since they get quite pricey, but finally realized that I was never going to even if other folks manage it (I...
I got stuck on the same thing, haha. Told myself for years that I should make them since they get quite pricey, but finally realized that I was never going to even if other folks manage it (I procrastinate).
I got Lunapads performa for pads, but of the two brands I've tried, my favorite liner is the pantyliner plus from Gladrags (they have a discount for your first purchase - $6 and free shipping). I like that it's longer than the Lunapads liner I have.
I had a cup for a while, and I wish I could have stuck with it (it's cheaper!). But (tmi) I got BV from using the wrong soap once, and since then my flora has seemed more sensitive to disruption. I don't fancy a repeat of those antibiotics. :(
This is not a good argument, a kid is no replacement to a 8 cylinder gas guzzler or frequent flying, not even the same category. The danger with this argument it is now once you've decided you're...
This is not a good argument, a kid is no replacement to a 8 cylinder gas guzzler or frequent flying, not even the same category. The danger with this argument it is now once you've decided you're saving the planet by avoiding reproduction you permit yourself anything. We can do without flights and 8 cylinder petrol cars but no children and this human experiment ends here.
I never said that once you decided to never have children you should then permit yourself to do whatever. The thing about kids is that they will grow up and make more kids. And more. And more. And...
I never said that once you decided to never have children you should then permit yourself to do whatever.
The thing about kids is that they will grow up and make more kids. And more. And more. And I dont see how a theoretically inifinite amount of children (assuming the sun doesnt explode and kill us all) can be better than anything else I could do in my lifetime.
Of course that by no means means that it gives you a free excuse to do whatever. I said single best thing, not only thing you can do.
Sorry if I came of a bit strong I meant it more in general terms. Who is to say that you (or anyone) not having children means someone else wont, what if your choice to not have children puts more...
Sorry if I came of a bit strong I meant it more in general terms.
Who is to say that you (or anyone) not having children means someone else wont, what if your choice to not have children puts more pressure – on your siblings and the rest of the community – tipping someone else over to deciding on children. This whole notion feels way too clickbaity, more as a talking point vs a practical solution.
An individual abstaining from having children does not necessarily block a new generation from being born. Others will step in and fill the void, it's what evolution is based around.
Couple that with it the potentially more effective measures which get replaced by this. And that is inevitable, co2 emissions are looked at like a balance sheet. You add up what you think your effect is then take measures to mitigate. Pay co2 absolution money, ride a bike, whatever. Having all the co2 from millions of your unborn progeny off you back sure is going to make you feel like you're making an impact, perhaps enough to drive to work today. This effect has a name but for the life of me I can't recall it, I remember it being mentioned in a Freakanomics podcast about solar panels and electric cars.
I think especially the people that are so environmentally minded that they don't want children are the ones that really should reproduce and spread the knowledge and mindset to their kids. Maybe...
I think especially the people that are so environmentally minded that they don't want children are the ones that really should reproduce and spread the knowledge and mindset to their kids. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just feel like I'd rather have a person that consciously does something for the greater good, if the alternative is that person not existing?
I am labelling this as off-topic because I don't believe you have answered the topic question. And the statement you've made, especially the "Adopt if you really want one" part doesn't contribute...
I am labelling this as off-topic because I don't believe you have answered the topic question. And the statement you've made, especially the "Adopt if you really want one" part doesn't contribute to good discussion as it grossly oversimplifies the process.
You maybe interested in joining the discussion here instead.
I've been a vegetarian for well over half my lifetime. It's something I usually keep quiet about because it is a personal choice for me and I don't like flaunting it. I was lucky to be born into a culture whose non-meat cuisine is excellent and provides plenty of options.
I've also used buses for as long as I could and am carpooling to get to work now. We are generally pretty frugal with our consumption, primarily because we can't make up our minds about things. And we pay a premium to make sure our power is generated by renewable sources.
While I think climate change is the single most important threat we as humans should be working to solve right now, I am reluctant to put all the responsibility all at the feet of individuals. As is often pointed out, only 100 corporations are responsible for 71% of global emissions - and while working to curb our individual consumption is important, the bulk of our actions should be geared towards curbing and regulating those corporations. We can all be lobbyists
Hey, thanks for signing up!
I completely agree - we do need multi pronged approach. But while I don't blame Exxon Mobil for supplying gas, I do blame them and their industry for catastrophic oil spills and lobbies to further decrease regulation. I blame them for mudding the water and feeding the climate skeptic movement. And let us not forget that the company that became Exxon - Standard Oil - has defrauded the public for 50 years with their pet scientist Kehoe's "leaded gas is safe", while tens of thousands died to it. They are using the exact same tactics right now to feed climate skepticism, with great success
For some reason your first link just sends me back to this page?
Try this: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/jul/10/100-fossil-fuel-companies-investors-responsible-71-global-emissions-cdp-study-climate-change
My bad, had an extra [ in there. Fixed now
I have been slowly switching to a vegan diet. I went vegetarian over a year ago after learning about how much the livestock industry contributes to climate change. Now I am slowly switching to vegan by cutting things out gradually. Whilst one person can't change the whole issue on their own, I believe it still can have an impact.
Do you have some papers that show "how much the livestock industry contributes to climate change"? I have only heard it on a documentary and it had no sources. I'd like to read more about it.
Was the documentary cowspiracy? If not, it's worth a watch. They have compiled all the research they used in the documentary including a report by the UN, plus new reports that have come available since they made it. You can find it all here - http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts
Have you found ditching eggs easier than dairy? I have, partially because the videos of what happens in egg farms is actually abhorrent, and partially because cheese is just so effective in vegetarian meals.
Yes, definitely. It's not just about climate change but also the mistreatment of animals in mass farming.
I'm the same, removing eggs was probably the easiest step for me. I have never liked many dairy products (milk and butter) so those aspects of dairy have been easy enough for me to replace. However, finding a suitable replacement for cheese has been the hardest. I live in Europe at the moment and the selection for alternatives is hard to come by and the options that are available can't compare to the versatility and tastiness of cheese.
No, I have no idea what that is.
...
Oh! it's non-cheese. I've probably had it at restaurants, but not sourced it for myself.
Regardless of how much impact one person's actions can have, it does feel better: even though it probably can't even make a dent in the problem it feels good to be environmentally considerate which is good for the state of mind. Constantly hearing the negative news is pretty darn depressing(though it's reality and absolutely needs action, but there's only so much I can do).
What I'm doing: avoid turning on lights and heating until I need them, separate waste, cycle instead of carring(words are fun), and, more impactful: practise environmentally friendly design(I currently intern for a company that sells products made of recycled plastic) and I fix appliances until they're totally broken, instead of buying a brand new one when the fuse burns out(people do that).
I'm also trying to live more minimalistic: own less things. That's partially from a "gotta feel good" mindset since clutter easily distracts me from work.
I love this point of view! A similar small thing I started doing is turning off background noise. I am the person that always has music or TV on in the background, and lately I've been trying to save a little energy and just enjoy the quiet.
Old version of this topic (https://tildes.net/~enviro/7bo/what_are_you_doing_to_reduce_your_impact) in case anyone wants to read it.
I'm eating less beef than ever and trying to cook more vegetarian meals.
We moved out of the city.
I've spent the last decade working towards full time telecommute roles. It took a bit, and some company-hopping, but I'm now in a position to work anywhere.
At the same time, my partner has been focused on learning small scale market gardening techniques.
About 4 years ago, we moved away from the city, selling our condo and buying 12 acres.
The community we're in is geographically isolated, on a peninsula. Garbage, and what happens to it, is a major concern - everything must be shipped out of the area. It costs $2.50/bag in the municipality, and the fee is by weight for us. Recycling is free, so we recycle and compost everything we can.
With our property, the previous owner was a logger, and took down most of the large trees. We're sustainably harvesting the smaller trees, letting them regrow while we use them for firewood in the winter. Currently, we'll go through 2-3 cords of wood, which is way better (and cheaper) than using hydrocarbons. The specific microclimate we're in (valley, with tall trees around our property) means that most of the wood smoke settles on our land vs spreading to the surrounding forest.
We had to do some renovations on the house when we purchased it, and we went for a 25 year metal roof (vs asphalt shingles) and double-pane windows for better insulation. Unfortunately, we could not afford to reinsulate the entire house to a higher standard, so it does leak a bit of heat in spots. In the next few years we'll re-insulate the attic, replace the front door, and replace the extra fireplace with an insert - our three biggest sources of heat loss.
We're growing as much of our food as we can, on our own property. Everything is produced as sustainably as possible - currently we need extra feed for the chickens & ducks, but they forage for almost all of their food in the summer. We've found commercial clients looking to purchase our fowl, and are expanding our produce offerings each year - because of the geographical situation, any food that's not locally grown must be trucked in via ferry from up to several hundred miles away.
Besides riding my bike to commute everywhere (where feasible), I've given up red meat (beef & lamb) after reading this BBC article, and also stopped using paper towels, instead using re-usable rags or cloths to cleanup.
Is this much? It's certainly the easiest stuff I could cut without having a significant impact on my life - when I went vegan I ended up feeling like shit as a result (after around 4 months), clearly I wasn't having the best diet because of it, and I didn't have the time to improve it.
I bike to and from work. It started when the truck drivers of the entire country went on a strike and refused to work. There was not enough fuel and the prices were absurd.
It ended, but i kept using the bike. It saved me a lot of money and i was exercising. Sadly these last 4 weeks been raining every day and i lost the habit.
I moved in with my girlfriend who is vegetarian. So I went from eating meat pretty much every day to maybe once or twice a week. This might seem like not a lot for most vegetarians, but it was a big change for me.
Nice. I've been a little surprised at how small-scale network effects can create change rather quickly. Maybe soon you'll be fully vegetarian, and then your friends + family will start having more vege meals when you're with them. You'll have direct impact and also potentially lots of indirect impact by being a leader.
Cloth diapers, which we got used. They are fantastic and honestly pretty much the same in use as disposables. Of course we have to wash them, but we have a washing machine... It's not like we're hand washing so I don't really find that an issue.
We're close to making that decision ourselves. Though I think cloth is probably better but harder, could you share your experiences in using those? What are some pain points? How do you mange? What are some pro tips?
[I realize this is offtopic, so feel free to remove it if necessary]
Cloth has definitely been better for our baby. He has pretty sensitive skin and when we switched completely to cloth his skin was great, no rash or even really any redness.
Pain points (and hopefully I won't scare anyone off because they probably sound worst than they are):
We are currently using pocket ones, and have size specific and one-size ones. Our baby was born less than 7 lbs, so these were actually too big for him. We started with profolds that you pin or slip a waterproof cover over and those lasted about a week. He out grew the capacity before the size, which has been a general pattern with him. So we were seeing blow outs. Couldn't really up him to the next size, because even if the legs and waist fit, there was just too much cloth and he basically couldn't lay flat. So we did newborn disposables for a couple weeks until he grew into the pocket diapers.
Our pocket diapers are snaps and we do seem to always have a bit more of a gap as compared to a disposable, which may result in a blow out or leak. Having mentioned that, I can count the number of diaper failures and they have been my fault. Once, I forgot an insert altogether, and the other times, either adjusted the elastic too loose when he went up a size or I was trying to go with a lighter liner insert that I knew was on the border.
The diapers can be pretty smelly. We spray them down with viniger and drop them into a bucket with a screw on lid (grout mixing one from hardware story type).
Diapers must be changed more often because 1) he hates the wetness and will let us know and 2) it does smell more. This actually doesn't bother me at all because we honestly don't want him sitting in it.
Bulkiness up make dressing him a little awkward sometimes. Sleepers, oneies are fine, but pants we end up going up a size to accommodate the diaper. These are pretty minor in my view. The biggest issue I sort of have with the bulkiness is when I go out. I am really paranoid about a dirty diaper getting loose in my bag, so I fold it so dirty side faces into itself, put it in a compostable bag (which I do reuse if it doesn't get wet) and then into a wet bag. Probably overkill...
Lastly, insert liners can take forever to dry, whether hanging or machine. Luckily they are pretty cheap and it seems like everyone gets a tonne. I got my cloth diapers used and everyone was happy to just give me all their liners.
That's it off the top of my head. Hardly an expert, but feel free to ask me any questions you might have. I'm open to sharing my experience with them so far.
And I honestly love not filling up garbage cans with diapers, which I did find smelled too.
Overall I'm trying to just not buy stuff. Can I make do with what I have? Can I get this thing I think I need secondhand? Can it just wait a couple weeks and see if I still want it?
I pack a reusable bag, a coffee cup, a set of wheat-material cutlery and a collapsible container around in my purse, which prevents me from using to go cups, to go containers, doggie bags, plastic cutlery, and plastic bags. Is surprisingly easy to do and not particularly heavy. I think all the things together weigh less than my power bank for my phone. Also doing this has just reminded me that since I'm supposed to be taking my thermos with my anyways, I might as well put coffee in that sucker, and I've spent like $0 on coffee in 6 months which is very good savings for me.
We recently bought a quarter of a ranch-raised cow because I cannot (kind of will not if I'm honest, but I did really bad as a vegetarian when I tried it.) give up eating red meat, but this way we are supporting more humane ranching practices and also avoiding the massive amount of styrofoam and plastic that grocery store meat comes in.
I love your list! I recently started carrying metal utensils wrapped in a beeswax cloth (that doubles up as a quick plate or wrapper), and honestly find I really enjoy eating with proper utensils instead of plastics ones.
Bars of shampoo soap as opposed to bottles, I highly recommend them.
do you use conditioner? I've found a shampoo bar I like, but the conditioner bars I've tried have all left a lot to be desired, so if you have any recommendations that would be great!
Unfortunately I have yet to find a satisfactory conditioner and must use one from the bottle still :(
When I moved out I let my mother have my old car because of all the help she has given me over the years. I bought a bike instead of a run down junker. Cant really go anywhere when it snows but I live close to everything I need.
Take the train as my commute every day, reusable bags for groceries and produce and shampoo and conditioners. Energy friendly lights and surge protectors and shower head. Shorter showers.
I have been riding my bike to work for the last year. Its been so good for my health as well as the environment. I'm currently working on going vegetarian but its been a bit of a slow process :/
I recently got a solar panel and battery so I can run my home server on solar. When I have my own house I'll do the full solar setup.
My main problem now is how much waste buying lunch creates. I just can't be bothered making lunch before work but I hate how I throw out a plastic container every day.
We recently switched our home's electricity plan to one powered by 100% renewable energy. Fortunately, Texas has a very large wind-based grid, so the cost didn't increase that substantially.
I live off grid and generate my own electricity through solar panels. I have a diesel generator as backup but in the past year I have spent less than £150 in diesel costs. I consume little in the way of electricity.
I couldn't think of anything to contribute to this thread until I read @Catt's posts about diapers and was reminded that I recently took the plunge and switched to cloth pads, which has been an interesting experience. They're more comfortable than disposable, but since I didn't buy enough to cover my entire period planning the times to wash them can be a bit awkward. They're also not as long, so I had a few leaks for the first time in years. But I think overall it's been a good choice; it just took me a decade to get there.
I am thinking about cloth pads myself. Glad to hear they are working out for you.
I normally use a silicone cup, but do pair it with a liner as a back up for leaks. I want to switch them to reusable too, but got stuck debating if I should make or buy them...any tips based on what you got?
I got stuck on the same thing, haha. Told myself for years that I should make them since they get quite pricey, but finally realized that I was never going to even if other folks manage it (I procrastinate).
I got Lunapads performa for pads, but of the two brands I've tried, my favorite liner is the pantyliner plus from Gladrags (they have a discount for your first purchase - $6 and free shipping). I like that it's longer than the Lunapads liner I have.
I had a cup for a while, and I wish I could have stuck with it (it's cheaper!). But (tmi) I got BV from using the wrong soap once, and since then my flora has seemed more sensitive to disruption. I don't fancy a repeat of those antibiotics. :(
Thanks. I was looking at gladrags too.
And sorry to hear about the cup. That really sucks.
I think the single best thing to do for the environment would be to not have kids. Adopt if you really want one.
This is not a good argument, a kid is no replacement to a 8 cylinder gas guzzler or frequent flying, not even the same category. The danger with this argument it is now once you've decided you're saving the planet by avoiding reproduction you permit yourself anything. We can do without flights and 8 cylinder petrol cars but no children and this human experiment ends here.
I never said that once you decided to never have children you should then permit yourself to do whatever.
The thing about kids is that they will grow up and make more kids. And more. And more. And I dont see how a theoretically inifinite amount of children (assuming the sun doesnt explode and kill us all) can be better than anything else I could do in my lifetime.
Of course that by no means means that it gives you a free excuse to do whatever. I said single best thing, not only thing you can do.
Sorry if I came of a bit strong I meant it more in general terms.
Who is to say that you (or anyone) not having children means someone else wont, what if your choice to not have children puts more pressure – on your siblings and the rest of the community – tipping someone else over to deciding on children. This whole notion feels way too clickbaity, more as a talking point vs a practical solution.
An individual abstaining from having children does not necessarily block a new generation from being born. Others will step in and fill the void, it's what evolution is based around.
Couple that with it the potentially more effective measures which get replaced by this. And that is inevitable, co2 emissions are looked at like a balance sheet. You add up what you think your effect is then take measures to mitigate. Pay co2 absolution money, ride a bike, whatever. Having all the co2 from millions of your unborn progeny off you back sure is going to make you feel like you're making an impact, perhaps enough to drive to work today. This effect has a name but for the life of me I can't recall it, I remember it being mentioned in a Freakanomics podcast about solar panels and electric cars.
I think especially the people that are so environmentally minded that they don't want children are the ones that really should reproduce and spread the knowledge and mindset to their kids. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just feel like I'd rather have a person that consciously does something for the greater good, if the alternative is that person not existing?
I am labelling this as off-topic because I don't believe you have answered the topic question. And the statement you've made, especially the "Adopt if you really want one" part doesn't contribute to good discussion as it grossly oversimplifies the process.
You maybe interested in joining the discussion here instead.