Go Green with an Energy Savvy Senior
As lovers of the outdoors, our family does what we can to keep the environment around us safe and beautiful.
The last couple of years we have recycled in earnest. The lists below reflect what we have done, are doing, and will consider in the future.
We will provide information and tips on how to go green as we continue to move forward.
Please feel free to add your suggestions in the comment section. Thank you!
The last couple of years we have recycled in earnest. The lists below reflect what we have done, are doing, and will consider in the future.
We will provide information and tips on how to go green as we continue to move forward.
Please feel free to add your suggestions in the comment section. Thank you!
Our Current Energy Efforts -
Only the beginning.
1. Weekly recycle bin - includes newsprint, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic.
2. Pop cans - returned to our local grocery store.
3. Purchased reusable grocery bag - we purchased the carryall for 99 cents and receive .05 cents every time we use it.
4. Reverse osmosis faucet at the kitchen sink - also connects with the ice maker on the refrigerator door.
5. Delivered many items to Goodwill during the last two years.
6. Computer is turned off at night.
7. Double side printouts, especially ebooks. Also reuse one-sided when finished with that paper.
8. Motion night-light in downstairs bathroom. Only comes on when someone enters the room.
9. Stopped using bottled water in the last two years.
10. Almost all bills paid on line. We no longer receive most bills by paper.
2. Pop cans - returned to our local grocery store.
3. Purchased reusable grocery bag - we purchased the carryall for 99 cents and receive .05 cents every time we use it.
4. Reverse osmosis faucet at the kitchen sink - also connects with the ice maker on the refrigerator door.
5. Delivered many items to Goodwill during the last two years.
6. Computer is turned off at night.
7. Double side printouts, especially ebooks. Also reuse one-sided when finished with that paper.
8. Motion night-light in downstairs bathroom. Only comes on when someone enters the room.
9. Stopped using bottled water in the last two years.
10. Almost all bills paid on line. We no longer receive most bills by paper.
Protect Our Great Outdoors! Picture by Sue Monroe
Our Next Steps...
What we are working on now...
1. Change to fluorescent bulbs.
2. Go to the library instead of buying books. Books I have purchased are donated to the library for their used book sale fund-raiser.
3. Creatively wrap presents. We have used this many times over the years, but sometimes need a reminder. Actually it is fun!
4. Coordinate errands. We preplan where we are going and by what route to save on gas and time.
5. Cook from scratch. For health and energy reasons, I now make most of our meals at home rather than going to a drive-thru, eating at a restaurant, or using packaged foods from the grocery.
Can you add to this list? What are you doing to go green?
2. Go to the library instead of buying books. Books I have purchased are donated to the library for their used book sale fund-raiser.
3. Creatively wrap presents. We have used this many times over the years, but sometimes need a reminder. Actually it is fun!
4. Coordinate errands. We preplan where we are going and by what route to save on gas and time.
5. Cook from scratch. For health and energy reasons, I now make most of our meals at home rather than going to a drive-thru, eating at a restaurant, or using packaged foods from the grocery.
Can you add to this list? What are you doing to go green?
Great Books on Amazon
Go Green Get Lean: Trim Your Waistline with the Ultimate Low-Carbon Footprint Diet
Release Date: 03/17/2009
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 11/12/2009) 
Go Green, Save Green: A Simple Guide to Saving Time, Money, and God's Green Earth
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 11/12/2009)
Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying
Release Date: 04/08/2008
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 11/12/2009)
Red, Stop! Green, Go!: An Interactive Book of Colors (Bright & Early Playtime Books)
Release Date: 05/25/2004
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 11/12/2009)
Go Green Rating Scale for Early Childhood Settings
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 11/12/2009)
Go Green Poll
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Protect the Grand Canyon! Picture by Sue Monroe
Go Green With These Links!
- Going Green
- This earth-friendly site offers helpful tips and practices you can implement in your household, school, or community to save our planet
- Environmental Working Group
- 10 Everyday Pollution Solutions
- An Inconvient Truth
- We can solve the climate crisis.
- Go Green Light Bulb
- Go Green Light Bulb products right here on Squidoo.
Our Efforts To Go Green Continues...
6. We are also beginning to eat more organic food items although they are pricier than non-organic, which is a consideration.
7. We recently lowered the washing machine hot water cycle to warm or cold. I also quite often dry very few clothes, hanging the rest to air dry. Saves at least one dryer run.
8. More aware of turning off lights when no longer needed. We used to always leave lights on when we were gone at night, but no longer feel the need.
9. We just started recycling used batteries. Our local city clerks office accepts used batteries.
10. Taking shorter showers and considering a low-flow showerhead.
11. Lowered the temperature on the hot water heater. We do not miss the extra heat at all.
Any new ideas for us to try?
7. We recently lowered the washing machine hot water cycle to warm or cold. I also quite often dry very few clothes, hanging the rest to air dry. Saves at least one dryer run.
8. More aware of turning off lights when no longer needed. We used to always leave lights on when we were gone at night, but no longer feel the need.
9. We just started recycling used batteries. Our local city clerks office accepts used batteries.
10. Taking shorter showers and considering a low-flow showerhead.
11. Lowered the temperature on the hot water heater. We do not miss the extra heat at all.
Any new ideas for us to try?
Go Green Idea List
Do you like writing lists? Here is an idea for a Go Green list.
Make a list of 5, 10, or 20 ways you can Go Green around your home. Enjoy the positive energy you receive when you start crossing off the accomplished items.
Energy Saving Road Trip Travel Ideas
Remember the 70's?
Although gas prices as of this post are over-the-top high, people still travel. Here are several energy saving ideas you can try on your next road trip.
1. Use Google Maps or MapQuest to plan the most direct route.
2. Travel during off-peak hours to prevent using extra fuel in stop-and-go traffic.
3. Remember the old adage - Stay alive! Drive 55! Slow down while maintaining a safe speed for the road you are on.
4. Pack snacks and meals in reusable containers to reduce packaging and save money. You can easily find picnic tables at most rest areas. Be sure to leave the area better than you found it.
5. Make sure your tires are at the proper pressure. Soft tires wear out faster.
1. Use Google Maps or MapQuest to plan the most direct route.
2. Travel during off-peak hours to prevent using extra fuel in stop-and-go traffic.
3. Remember the old adage - Stay alive! Drive 55! Slow down while maintaining a safe speed for the road you are on.
4. Pack snacks and meals in reusable containers to reduce packaging and save money. You can easily find picnic tables at most rest areas. Be sure to leave the area better than you found it.
5. Make sure your tires are at the proper pressure. Soft tires wear out faster.
Helpful Travel Links
When you are on the road
- Google Maps
- Easily obtain directions to your next destination.
- MapQuest
- Directions, maps, local driving conditions and more. My personal favorite.
- Slow Planet
- An interesting site about slowing down and enjoying the view while you travel. Slowing down saves on gas, too!
- 1000 tips 4 trips
- After reaching this site, there are several places you can go. One link is for the travel tips, another is to add your own tips, and if you scroll down and click on Travel, there are numerous travel-related articles. A lot of travel info in one spot.
Go Green in the Kitchen
Tips for a green kitchen...
The kitchen is an easy place for beginners to go green. Here are seven ideas to get you started:
1. Buy in bulk. Choose large packages over single-sized. Divide content into individual or family-sized servings.
2. Store food in washable containers. Use containers with lids instead of plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
3. Create a food compost. Keep a container near your food prep area. Add such items as coffee grounds, eggshells, and banana peels to the container, then add the waste to an outside compost pile.
4. Use cloth dishcloths and towels. Using single-use paper towels creates a much greater amount of greenhouse gasses than years of washing dishcloths and towels.
5. Use an outdoor clothesline. Clotheslines are making a comeback. Remember when you helped your grandmother or mother hang clothes on the line? Instead of using a dryer for those kitchen towels, hang them out to dry. The fresh air will add a delicate scent, and not using a hot dryer adds years to your cloth items.
6. Use smaller appliances when possible. A microwave or toaster oven uses less engery than the stove.
7. Turn out the lights when not using the kitchen. Use energy saving bulbs, and only use what is needed.
Following these few tips will get you started going green in your kitchen.
Added tip - recycle, recycle, recycle!
1. Buy in bulk. Choose large packages over single-sized. Divide content into individual or family-sized servings.
2. Store food in washable containers. Use containers with lids instead of plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
3. Create a food compost. Keep a container near your food prep area. Add such items as coffee grounds, eggshells, and banana peels to the container, then add the waste to an outside compost pile.
4. Use cloth dishcloths and towels. Using single-use paper towels creates a much greater amount of greenhouse gasses than years of washing dishcloths and towels.
5. Use an outdoor clothesline. Clotheslines are making a comeback. Remember when you helped your grandmother or mother hang clothes on the line? Instead of using a dryer for those kitchen towels, hang them out to dry. The fresh air will add a delicate scent, and not using a hot dryer adds years to your cloth items.
6. Use smaller appliances when possible. A microwave or toaster oven uses less engery than the stove.
7. Turn out the lights when not using the kitchen. Use energy saving bulbs, and only use what is needed.
Following these few tips will get you started going green in your kitchen.
Added tip - recycle, recycle, recycle!
Great Energy Savers on Amazon
Smart Strip LCG3 Energy Saving Power Strip with Autoswitching Technology
Amazon Price: $30.22 (as of 11/12/2009)
Bye Bye Standby BBSBUSA Energy Saving Kit
Amazon Price: $15.48 (as of 11/12/2009)
Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, 9th Edition: Save Money, Save the Earth
Amazon Price: $14.00 (as of 11/12/2009)
Belkin AG110030-04 Energy Saving Surge Strip for Home Theater
Amazon Price: $42.98 (as of 11/12/2009)
Smart Strip LCG4 Energy Saving Power Strip with Autoswitching Technology and Fax/Modem Surge Protection
Amazon Price: $28.99 (as of 11/12/2009)
Clotheslines Return to Favor
Brings back memories
Indoor, outdoor, and mobile clotheslines are becoming more popular due to the energy crisis. Electric dryers use 5 - 10 percent of residential energy. Hanging clothes to air-dry can provide several perks besides saving energy:
1. Clothes last longer when air-dried.
2. Clothes smell fresher when dried outdoors.
3. Spending a few minutes outdoors, even in the sun, is good for you.
4. There are so many unique new styles, hanging clothes outside can actually seem like fun.
5. Hanging clothes can increase your own energy output for the day.
Back in the day, I helped my mother and grandmother hang clothes outside. The fresh air and sunshine gave our sheets and pillowcases a wonderfull smell that cannot be beat.
1. Clothes last longer when air-dried.
2. Clothes smell fresher when dried outdoors.
3. Spending a few minutes outdoors, even in the sun, is good for you.
4. There are so many unique new styles, hanging clothes outside can actually seem like fun.
5. Hanging clothes can increase your own energy output for the day.
Back in the day, I helped my mother and grandmother hang clothes outside. The fresh air and sunshine gave our sheets and pillowcases a wonderfull smell that cannot be beat.
Go Green Feedback Welcome!
What efforts have you made, or are you making, to go green at your home or office?
a_willow wrote...
You are one of October graduates! Come by and answer few questions to show the way to those who will follow! Wish you many, many more great lenses!
Posted January 05, 2009
kathypi wrote...
enjoyed your lens, i will try to do more, thank you, kathy
Posted November 02, 2008
a_willow wrote...
This lens entered Fresh Squid Contest for November as one of the lenses that has been featured on Fresh Squid group during October!
Posted November 02, 2008
TheresaMayhew wrote...
Love your site. I use many of your suggestions already, but can always do more. Thanks for visiting my site on canning soup. I give you 5 stars!
All the best,
Theresa Mayhew
Posted October 09, 2008
a_willow wrote...
Never too much green! Welcome to Fresh Squid group! Glad to have you aboard!
Posted October 06, 2008
Nimsy wrote...
Lowered the temperature of my central heating by a couple of degrees. This also lowers those dreaded heating bills! Great 5* lens.
Posted October 05, 2008
Portable_eBay wrote...
Yes... motion sensors kind of make you home like a space ship. 5*
Posted October 04, 2008
Non-Green Link List
- Edie's Potpourri
- A potpourri of news, information, fun websites, the great state of Michigan, and more.
- Savvy Senior Writer
- Savvy Senior Writer is here on Squidoo waiting for your visit. Click on over to see what the Writer is up to now.
- Savvy Seniors's Bucket List
- Bucket List, the movie, has made a tremendous impact on people around the world. My list has grown shorter over time as I have accomplished my desires, but there are still a few things I would like to do before I die. Feel free to leave your list items in the comment section for addition to the overall list.
- Savvy Journaling The Artists Way
- The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron made a huge inpact on my life in the 1990's. Here are my thoughts about the journal writing process. Your journal suggestions and ideas are welcome!
- M Sue Monroe on RedBubble
- Sue Monroe loves to travel and takes her camera everywhere she goes. If you like the polaroids of the Grand Canyon on this site, you should see what she has on Red Bubble. Check it out today!
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by Gail47
My name is Edie and I am an energy enthusiast in the process of going green in my home. I write articles and review products about energy saving strat... (more)
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