Eco-guilt

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Here's one more: as soon as we can manage to get the garage cleaned out enough to work in there, we are going to replace our old hot water heater with one of the new tankless models. I'd like to replace the furnace as well but haven't looked into it; it's as old as the house, which means going on 30.

We did this a few years ago and got a front loading washer/dryer. That was expensive enough. I just wish I had the money to do all of the other "Eco" projects I would like to do. And, pshaw, 30 is NOT old (our house is now 81!)

Originally Posted by Alex

We really try to use cloth bags for groceries but we are inept. Unfortunately most trips to the grocery store involve driving there. So the bags have to be in the car. But when we get home with the groceries the bags come up into the apartment. Then we forget to put them back in the car. Then the next time we go grocery shopping we have no bags.

Ditto.

Originally Posted by lindyhop

Taking old stuff to Goodwill is work all by itself so I'm much more careful about buying useless stuff.

I have been better about this AND I have been trying to buy BETTER things when I do buy them because they tend to last longer. While I can get distracted very easily at Target, I tend NOT to buy things because they are just on sale. I will wait to buy something until it is on sale (if I can). I also stay far away from the $1 section.

[Alex]

Out of curiosity, according to our water bill (this apartment is the first I've ever had where I pay water) we use about 1400-1600 gallons a month. How does that compare?

[€uroMeinke]

I think you can drive yourself insane following all the "green" messages. The bottom line is that we all have an impact on the planet no matter what we do and it seems many of the green choices are more fashion/status conscious than anything else as some people tend to engage in a sort of green one-upsmanship.

So we have cloth bags for groceries, but I still want bags because I use them - to do among other things, bag up my recyclables - or cat poop.I've switched to CFCs through most of the house, but my Edison Bill show my electricity usage still in steady incline. We have a tankless water heater, so now I take longer showers (especially now with the cold). I take the train, but while gas prices got me to do it, I prefer it to the driving experience. I still hate busses. Still buy books and CDs and DVDs, but at least the Art we buy has mostly been made out of recycled materials. I like to travel so I peiodically increase my carbon footprint, but that's not something I want to give up.

Anyway, I suppose we can all reduce consumption, eat lower on the food chain and all that - but I'm a hedonist and need a few indulgences every now and then .

[Alex]

I like to think that you've actually switched to CFCs wherever you can. Yay freon refrigerators and old fashioned aerosol hairspray cans.

[Not Afraid]

In an effort to create more storage space, we've been working on a project to remove all of our DVDs from their plastic cases and store them in binder sleeves instead. I did all of the Disney Amination and was APPALLED at the amount of advertising extras that were included in each package. I generated loads of trash just from that one segment of our collection.

Speaking of which.......we have a TON of DVD boxes to get rid of. I remember reading here (?) that they were recyclable somewhere. Anyone have a better memory that i do?

[mousepod]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

In an effort to create more storage space, we've been working on a project to remove all of our DVDs from their plastic cases and store them in binder sleeves instead. I did all of the Disney Amination and was APPALLED at the amount of advertising extras that were included in each package. I generated loads of trash just from that one segment of our collection.

Speaking of which.......we have a TON of DVD boxes to get rid of. I remember reading here (?) that they were recyclable somewhere. Anyone have a better memory that i do?

How have you been storing your DVDs? I've been interested in getting DiscSox, but they seem expensive (esp when buying over 1000 in one shot).

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Another thing - I keep reading things that talk about sustainable cities, low impact building materials, and how the suburban neighborhood architecture just doesn't make sense......but damn it, I still want a ranch house with green grass that I pour water into all summer long, far enough from a city center that I can avoid the noise and danger, yet close enough so I can access it's amenities (which, of course, requires my own car).

Sorry, planet.

[Alex]

CP, PM me your mailing address. I have a book I'd like to send you that discusses that urge.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Speaking of which.......we have a TON of DVD boxes to get rid of. I remember reading here (?) that they were recyclable somewhere. Anyone have a better memory that i do?

Actually, we take those at the library. We always need replacements for the DVD cases which die pretty quickly in circulation. I bet your local branch would be happy to have them!

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by mousepod

How have you been storing your DVDs? I've been interested in getting DiscSox, but they seem expensive (esp when buying over 1000 in one shot).

I ended up getting these. I bought several - well LOTS - of boxes of 10 sheets which hold 2 DVDs each. Then, because I wanted it to be pretty as well as functional, I bough some attractive binders to put the sheets in. We're not completely done yet, but so far it's great. And the ROOM it frees up!!!!!