Forget about Gore, what have you done for global warming?

[Fresh_Start]

There's 100,000 DU'ers, how many are actually living their principle

[abluelady]

1. Many of the Above

But my little Hybrid is my favorite. :>)

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. line dry washing (no drier or washing machine)

recycle, keep thermostat at 60F wear lots of layers, walk not drive.

[Buzz Clik]

6. No washing machine? So... you don't wash your clothes?

[TechBear_Seattle]

16. Did people not wash clothes before the invention of the electric washing machine?

I don't think I could give up an electric machine, but I know people who have gone back to hand-washing everything. Or one could switch to a front-loader machine, which uses about a third of the water and less detergent than the typical top-loader.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

20. One day we all may have to

go back to the scrubbing board and hand (what's it called a mangle?).

[TommyO]

72. I did switch to a front loader for these reasons

That, and it's a combo machine that can dry in the same unit if I choose. Not only is it great and efficient at cleaning clothes, it takes up less space in my laundry area allowing for some storage space.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

18. in the sink

small amount of soap, warm water soak. I haven't got too many clothes to wash per week.

[Buzz Clik]

39. Thanks.

Your "dry line wash" had me confused -- it wasn't clear how or even if the clothes were being washed. It's clear now that you were merely referring to drying clothes on a line.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

63. yes!

[Midlodemocrat]

3. I replaced all my major appliances with energy efficient ones.

Compact florescents in most if not all the lamps.

I drive as little as possible, although I do have a minivan.

Recycle.

[TheLeftyMom]

14. Ditto

Although we don't have a minivan. One of our plans when we bought our current home was to make our life small. No suburbs with a long commute like my parents always had -- we live in midtown and each have a five minute drive to work. Church, restaurants, shopping and my daughter's school are all within walking distance when it's nice out. (Although in Kansas, when you're walking somewhere without a dog, people still do tend to look at you funny. Cars are still king here.)

[Midlodemocrat]

24. I work from home and my husband also has an office in our house.

Although he has to travel.

I 'need' a minivan because of car pools, etc. and for a while, there were seven people living in my house until my FIL passed and my daughter's friend moved out.

[Buzz Clik]

4. No way of indicating multiple changes.

We've made several changes in our lives. You also made no mention of recycling.

[Fresh_Start]

19. recycling was deliberate because its mandated

in many communities around the country.

I was looking for non-mandated effort.

[Dr.Phool]

5. Limited my methane emissions.

No more beans for me!

[Fresh_Start]

34. try beano

and continue to live

[ms liberty]

7. Polls only allow for ONE vote...

I got a hybrid (in 2000), my in-laws have hybrids (bought in 2004 & 2005), I've changed my bulbs - like 2 or 3 years ago - (that's where I put my vote), my home is very energy efficient, and the thermostat stays on 68 in winter, 74 in summer. I've been recycling EVERYTHING for years. mr liberty rides his motorcycle to work when the weather's decent. Our 4 wheel drive pickup was driven less than 800 miles last year (mulch, mower to shop, stuff that make it necessary). That's just off the top of my head.

[Fresh_Start]

12. I didn't see a multianswer option on the poll, did I miss it?

I'm also wishing there were more room for choices including the ugly....nothing yet option.

I've done 7 of those items so far. And will be doing heating/cooling upgrades this year. Wish there was a good solar option but they seem to be pollution problems and I'm trying to manage both.

[ms liberty]

17. Best bet would have been...

to add one option that said "several of the above" or something like that. I've never started a poll, so I'm not sure how they're set up.

[Fresh_Start]

22. ok, live and learn

next time use poll space more wisely....or maybe ask mods to allow multi-choice polls

[swag]

8. 1. Had a vasectomy

2. Got a hybrid
3. Started taking the bus more
4. Started biking more
5. Started walking more
6. Started buying more produce grown in my local area

[Fresh_Start]

33. I'd love to understand your vasectomy answer

(and then have you talk to my husband).....

[swag]

36. What better way to reduce your carbon footprint (and overall ecological impact)

than not to procreate, particularly in this country where per capita consumption of fossil fuels (not to mention other natural resources) is number one in the world?

on edit: unsplit split infinitive.

[Fresh_Start]

40. I guessed that's what you're talking about

but I have no idea if you have 0-12 children already of course theres always room in the heart for one more.

We planned our family size but it wasn't primarily for global warming reasons.

[swag]

42. I read "State of the World, 1987" in 1987 from World Watch Institute and

decided that 6 billion people was a large enough population. So I stopped at zero.

[Fresh_Start]

45. we went for replacement quantity only

but we talked about zero so I understand your thought process.
But it has some unintended consequences here's a snarky take about consequences.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x16842

[swag]

50. Yeah, thought about that too. I think we're already there.

Good for you on replacement quantity.

on edit: I think it would have been presumptuous of me to imagine that any genes and environment I could provide to a child would be somehow superior to those that others who choose to breed would provide. I know lots of smart assholes whose kids are SUV-driving, littering, resource-consuming dumbfucks. Or just plain dumbfucks.

[JNelson6563]

9. As much as possible

My favorite thing is that I drive a tiny little 93 Honda Civic that sips gas. I marvel at the behemouths I am surrounded by on the roads.

Also do things like change the bulbs, keep the heat way down, line dry when it's not freezing, share rides, recycle, etc.

:toast: I'm right with President Gore on saving the planet.

Julie

[The2ndWheel]

10. Walk to work

Uphill both ways. I'm 28, I thought my parents lied about that stuff. Weird.

Anyway, walk to and from work(hour and a half each way). It's a very small business. I don't make much, but I don't want much. I put a sweater on if its cold(although I love cold weather). I deal with the heat in the summer(although I hate hot weather). I have no kids, no wife. I don't turn the lights on much. I never had a car, so I never had to get rid of it. If I hadn't grown up with TV's and computer's at home and in school, I probably wouldn't have those either. But I'm part of this information age, and just as addicted to information as anyone else. Might be a reason we're all nuts, there's just so much information, don't even know what to do with it. Wish I was better with food, but I never said I was perfect.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Again???

Another litmus test? This is getting old. Five times in one week. The horse is dead. You can stop beating on it.
The Professor

[Fresh_Start]

13. I'm sorry I didn't see the poll, can you link to it

and I'll ask mod to remove this?

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Nah. Sorry About That

This has been beaten to death lately here in GD. The problem i'm having is that it takes on the aura of a purity test. "How real of a liberal environmentalist are you?"

Monday, one poster had the gall to tell someone who just didn't have the money to switch to CFL's that he wasn't trying hard enough and must not have been spending wisely. I found that galling. Now one can't be a liberal without having some sort of merit badge to prove how frugal, environmentalist, and anti-corporate one is? Silliness. Other migraine sufferers find them annoying and a potential trigger. Other "holier than thou" types said they were making it up! More silliness. (BTW: About 75% of our bulbs are CFL's. Those that aren't are probably on less than 100 hours per year.)

Of your choices there are a lot of presumptions. I'm not hammering you for this. But, some people can't just convert to CFL's all at once. Some folks (like me) have ZERO access to public transportation, have MS, live 11 miles from work, and have to take a divided highway all the way. I would be risking my life to ride a bike, and wouldn't make it walking.

See what i mean? People can only do the little things they can do. Attempting to put people on the spot for not doing more seems unproductive and alienating. There shouldn't be any tests of who's "liberal enough". We're supposed to be the big tent people.
The Professor

[Fresh_Start]

28. I don't recall adding a liberal scale to the poll

We all share many of the same obstacles. For example, many people can't use 100% CFLs because not all electrical appliances allow them.

You're right, people can only do what they can do. No disagreement with you there.

But its not wrong to ask people to think about whether they're doing what they can do.

[ProfessorGAC]

29. The Whole Thing Smacks Of A Purity Test To Me

That's just me. I'm just venting. Sorry.
GAC

[Fresh_Start]

32. there's a lot of emotion on DU

Gandhi:"it has been my experience that I am always true from my point of view and often wrong from the point of view of my honest critics. I know that we are both right from our respective points of view, and this knowledge saves me from attributing motives to my opponents or critics. The seven blind men who gave seven different descriptions of the elephant were all right from their respective points of view. I very much like this doctrine of the manysideness of reality. It is this doctrine that has taught me to judge a Muslim from his own standpoint and a Christian from his. Formerly 1 used to resent the ignorance of my opponents. Today 1 can love them because I am gifted with the eye to see myself as others see me. . . .

[wuushew]

49. I will still cut the check

or make a donation to DU. Don't tell me I don't put my money where my mouth is.

[ProfessorGAC]

71. What?

I didn't even remotely understand your reply from yesterday. I never said you didn't put your money where your mouth is. Never even came close.

My comment is about castigating those who can't. Those that don't want to even bother aren't likely at DU.

So, i'm objecting to the "purity test" aspect to these sorts of issues and polls.

You're accusing me of accusing you of something i did not.
GAC

[TechBear_Seattle]

15. No multiple choice options

I do not own a car. I either walk, bike, take public transit (buses in Seattle are either electric or run on bio-diesle) or on rare occasions, borrow a car from the FlexCar co-op.

I have replaced all the lightbulbs in my apartment with flourescent bulbs.

I have worked with my apartment manager and the owner of my building in replacing my heaters and water heater to more energy efficient models.

[lectrobyte]

21. Many of the above. We live in a smaller house than we did 3 years

ago. I replaced my 25MPG car with a Prius. We use CFLs and installed a programmable thermostat.

[Selteri]

25. My other

Bouth a Hybrid Car Prius
Changed to compact flouros or other high efficiency light bulbs wherever possible
Use energy efficient appliances that I can replace
Moving to a more energy efficient living space when I can find one that suits my needs
Recycle Glass and cardboard
(on edit) Also winterize / sumerset my living space for efficiency.

[magellan]

26. Several things

1) Changed out most of our bulbs to CFL
2) Installing Energy Star ceiling fans in four rooms so we can keep the a/c off longer in summer
3) Work from home so rarely use our jeep; average 2-3 weeks between refills, and we keep it tuned
4) Looking at replacing our electric water heater with a tankless one
5) Planting trees to shade our home from the sun (it's a mobile home so the insulation generally sucks)
6) Will be replacing major appliances with Energy Star ones as we can afford it

[WePurrsevere]

27. I had to vote "Other" since we've done more then one & are

hoping to do more in the next few years (hopefully sooner) if we can get the funds together to do so (we're live on a fixed/low income so money is very tight). :)

We have:
1) improved insulation of home including windows (done a lot but want to do more to this old house)
2) purchased energy/water efficient appliances (we have always replaced old with ES.)
3) replaced heating/cooling systems to reduce energy consumption (we're 1/2 way through that switch)
4) changed to compact fluorescents - we've had them long before it was "cool". :) Currently all but two older spot lights are CFL's and that's only because within the net 2 months we're going to replace the old fixture with a new one we can use CFL's in (until very recently there weren't CFL's available for the old one & they're $30. each so far).

If things work out as we hope with our old house (our DD is living in) we'll be adding on an alt energy source with the goal of being energy independent. My DH (a long time member of the SAE) is working on a plan to eventually take my old classic Plymouth Arrow and turn it into an electric car for short jaunts. We'll probably keep the Santa Fe only for transporting furkids, groceries, hauling supplies and long trips... he's already tweaked it to get better mileage. :)

Since we're rural we don't have mass transit here and it's too far to walk... (if I could with the MS). OTOH horses are common and we intend on having two eventually which we can ride anywhere up here (we have a rather large Amish population).

Our home itself isn't all that large for us and all the furkids do there's no need to downsize.

~*~

So.. what have you done or planning to do?
:)

[Fresh_Start]

31. many of them

downsized house
downsized car
I used mass transit for 12 years now work at home and honey works at home 3 days per week
replaced old ineffective attic insulation with higher R-factor insulation
all new energy star appliances
CFL's in every appliance that will take them
added solar heating for pool
improved setback thermostats
added insulated covering to double insulated windows
added a clothesline and use it
replaced roof and added insulation to the roof
recycling is mandatory and we're diligent
reduced our fireplace usage even though we love the fireplace

I need to replace heating/cooling and will do so within the year. I will use energy efficient ones.
I voted to increase my taxes to improve my states alternate energy development.
We're torn about adding solar panels because they've pollution negatives which we're wary about.

But most of these were done because I had an option to do so and I recognize that not everyone else has the option.
If the roof had been in good condition, we wouldn't have ripped it off just to improve the energy profile. But given we were replacing the roof we looked for a contractor to add the improvements we wanted (which are uncommon in our locale).

But I didn't intend this to be oneupmanship. More to make people talk about what they are doing.

[WePurrsevere]

43. Thanks.. when someone asks a question like this I'm always curious

what they've done/opinion is. :) It sounds like you're doing as much as you can and I didn't think you meant it to be a oneupmanship... it's always good to discuss this topic and hopefully some folks will pick up tips they hadn't thought to try... I know that I've run across tips in these types of threads over the years and always appreciate learning new things. :)

Set back thermostats are well worth the money they cost and I love my clothesline in the nicer weather. I've been after my DH to put on down in the basement for him to use during the Winter or rain as well (I can't always do stairs). Dryers are handy but they really chew up the kwhs. :)

It sounds like you're in NY or at least in the north where we have to heat our homes in the Winter. If you love your fireplace (we have one and love it as well) there are ways to use it and not lose as much heat or even have it help. If you don't have a good glass door on it, I highly recommend them. You can also buy a set up that you use in place of the wood grid (I think it's called a heat exchanger or heat-a-lator but?) that will take the heat and push it into your room. Actually my husband's more savy on this then I. He's retired due to pain and alt energy is one of his passions. :)

Anyway, thanks for posting this.. I'm enjoying reading the responses. :)

[Fresh_Start]

46. the fireplace concern is two fold

air pollution and carbon explicitedly.
When you burn wood, you release the carbon into the air (sigh).

[WePurrsevere]

57. Let me talk to my DH...

I seem to remember that there's a product he wants to buy that addresses this. If he can drag it out of the ole memory banks I'll post what it is here. :)

Our FP is set up and only used on special holidays and as heat back up source since it actually will heat the room the way we have it set up. The glass is great for keeping down drafts out of the house when it's not in use.

[Fresh_Start]

65. fireplace used to be an evening tradition

winding down from the workday.

But we've gave it up primarily for air pollution concerns. But now I see that its also a GW concern.

[Fresh_Start]

48. we have children

so we've been worried about environment and earth for a long time.
Our daughter actually helped make us diligent about recycling.

[WePurrsevere]

56. That's great! Children are wonderful motivators aren't they?

:)
My daughters are now grown & have daughters of their own. They were brought up with me being slightly fanatical about taking care of the Earth the Mother of us all. What got me going on it was the first Earth Day many years ago... our school was very big on it and I was fascinated by it even back then. My DH wasn't much different. :)

We reuse and recycle as well although. As a glass artist I use old glass quite a lot. We even use compostale cat litter. :D There are things I'd like to improve on and learn more about and unfortunately some changes will take a while and some are "dreams" that would take us winning Publishers Clearing House. :D

[Fresh_Start]

52. grew up and lived until recently

NY (had heatilator and glass doors)

now live where Mark Twain was inspired "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."

You'd have to experience it to understand the comment.

[LWolf]

30. Other: some of the above. n/t

[Quantess]

35. Reforestation

Restoration of natural areas. Just planted a whole bunch of trees, and watered them in the summer to make sure they survived.

I volunteered with this organization when I lived in the Portland area:
http://www.friendsoftrees.org/home/index.php
Every community should have something like them!

[WePurrsevere]

51. Very cool... and thanks for the link! This is something

that my DH and I have discussed doing up here. We live in a mostly rural farming area. There are many areas that are no longer worked as farms for cash crops that could be reforested (even fruit and maple trees would be great and yet still bring in funds for the farmers) and we'd like to see and perhaps even help that to happen.

We'll be starting with our home which is part of an old farm. In most of the fields where cows once grazed we'll be planting trees (we'll be getting 2 horses eventually but they'll e fine with the trees), we'll be planting a garden in the one nearest us so we'll have fresh food and organically grown (it's even already fertilized and we have a "cell" full more they left behind). We'll also be using a mix of deciduous and evergreens around the house to passively help cool the house in the Winter and protect it from the winds in the Winter. :)

Thanks again for the link. :thumbsup:

[Fresh_Start]

54. reforestation is one of the carbon offset options

but it can't be done everywhere.

I live in a desert climate and water usage is another valid concern.

[Quantess]

68. Here's another link that may be useful

http://www.arborday.org/programs/volunteers/States.cfm

I can't believe there's nothing for WA. Guess I'll have to do some rogue tree planting on my own.

[MilesColtrane]

37. 100% wind supplied electricity....

...but, I have to drive an SUV in my business, and unfortunately I can't afford a new hybrid, so it's a wash.

[Fresh_Start]

41. I'm in envy

I would love to have a wind turbine (and live in a great location for it). But it's not allowable by zoning and I can't afford to fight the zoning battle right now.

[MilesColtrane]

53. Carbon Footprint Calculator

...for those who are interested.

http://www.greenmountain.com/pollutionfree/carboncalculator.jsp

[Fresh_Start]

55. Good addition

wonder if mods would consider adding as a regular link/resource....

[prairierose]

38. Why is there only one choice in each area of the poll?.....

I try to practice many types of energy efficiency. I drive less and insulated walls and windows. I have replaced all light bulbs in my house with compact fluorescents, I line dry clothes. I recycle and reuse. I cook as efficiently as possible.

I was young and impressionable when global warming was first discussed in the 70's. I have lived this way all of my adult life. I have never owned a big gas guzzling car and I try to drive more efficiently too.

[Fresh_Start]

47. because I didn't see any way to allow multiple answers

other than other.

[dkofos]

44. 90% of my bulbs are CF and my electricity is 100% wind generated

I will be replacing windows and adding insulation this year.

[InvisibleTouch]

58. Lightbults & more:

Changed to fluorescents years ago. I line-dry most of my laundry, even in winter (I have a drying rack in the basement), and use no air conditioning in the house, ever, and very limited use in the car. (Of course, I kinda cancel that out because I need quite a bit of heat in the winter. :( ) Recycling and composting. I do make several cross-country drives per year to conventions and dog shows, but otherwise I work from home, so there are times when I only take a quick local drive to the store or post office once a week. As major appliances break, they'll be replaced with more energy-efficient ones.

[slackmaster]

59. Changed to CFs years ago, also...

Fanatical recycler and reuser.

I also compost.

[Hand]

60. Bunch of things

Compact fluorescents in most of our fixtures, insulated the house, replaced the leaky windows with modern double-paned gas-filled ones, low-flow shower head, new and more efficient furnace, etc., etc. Eventually we want to get a wood-burning insert for the fireplace.

[JacksonWest]

61. I only drive my SUV to organic food stores.

I've clear cut a lot of forest, cause I heard there were endangered species within. No forest is going to endanger a species on my watch! I have a solar powered machine that makes styrofoam, which I burn for warmth. I recycle all of my own clothes. Sometimes I'll wear the same pair of socks three or four times. I've replaced all of the lights in my house with butane torches linked to a gas powered generator.

[Fresh_Start]

62. lol

did u miss the earlier post about cutting methane by giving up beans?

[JacksonWest]

66. Yeah. Good point. I'm pretty sure my co-worker is Michigans largest source for natural gas.

I'll speak with him.

[Beaverhausen]

64. Hybrid, recycling, CFLs - lots of stuff

I take my own shopping bags to stores.

[ileus]

67. downsized home from 1850 to 1600 and...

All or new appliances are Energy Star compliant, also installed CF's in several areas. I drive a 34mpg accord as my DD while my Jeep sits in the driveway (4 tanks of fuel in the past 2 years)
My wife took a job 5 miles from our home instead of 25.

[regularguy]

69. I've almost completely stopped driving.

No matter though, my fellow citizens have picked up the slack. :(

[sakabatou]

70. More than one of the above.

[Hunky Dunky]

73. There are other ways too, gang.

Even simple things such as recycling, and personal lifestyle changes: bike or walk to the grocery store, efficient thermal clothing, backyard gardens. Every little bit helps!

[joshcryer]

74. I got a motorcycle and changed to CFLs before it was even cool!

This was back in 2004. I decided I wanted to more efficiently utilize my gas usage (being a heavy traveller), so I got a lightweight motorcycle (old Honda CB350, 50-55MPG!). My lightbulbs were actually CFL long before that. Heck, one of them recently burned out and it had a warrenty of 7 years (I brought it in 2001!). I couldn't believe it actually lasted that long, either.

[GliderGuider]

75. I've done all of them, plus had a vasectomy

Downsized Home: Three years ago I sold a 3500 square foot, triple-garage suburban McMansion and moved to a 1600 square foot urban bungalow that is half the distance from my work.

Heating and cooling system: When we moved in we replaced the existing medium efficiency furnace and A/C with high-efficiency units. We keep the thermostat up two degrees in the summer and down two in the winter.

Energy Efficient Appliances: We bought an EnergyStar refrigerator.

Insulation: We had an energy audit done on the house, replaced a bad window, and installed weather stripping. Further insulation upgrades are in the plans.

Downsized Car: Two years ago I traded in my BMW 540i/6 on a 2001 VW Jetta TDI that I fuel with biodiesel.

Mass Transit: I now take the bus to work every day instead of driving, so my annual automobile mileage is about a quarter of what it was.

Compact Fluorescents: Every light in our home that is not on a dimmer is a CFL.

Offsets: We have changed our electricity supplier from the standard nuke and gas supplier to a green energy cooperative whose generating capacity produces no GHGs whatsoever.

Other: We have turned all our flower beds into vegetable gardens which we water from rain barrels and fertilize with compost. I'm planning on donating half my lawn to the vegetable garden effort next year (more food, less mowing). I don't fertilize my lawn and I mow it with a reel push mower.

Other: We use a clothesline instead of a drier during the summer.

Other We eat a lot of local food that doesn't need to be transported long distances.

Other: We eat a third of the meat we used to, and very little fish (the oceans are emptying too...)

Other: Rather than wait around for our governments to do anything, we're both trying to change the governments, by getting involved in politics at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. Progressive parties and candidates only need apply.

So, there's lots that individuals can do.

[RestoreGore]

76. All of the above as well as spreading the word, and thanks for this thread n/t

[Tyrone Slothrop]

77. Several

I've switched to CF bulbs, I've better insulated my apartment's windows and I haven't owned/driven a car for 5 years. (I walk or take public transportation.)