Share your greener living tips and make MN make a difference

[PumpkinMilkshake]

I am getting more and more concerned by whats happeneing to our environment. And as such i try and lead a greener lifestyle. However I want to do more and need your help in educating me in to what else I could do.

I already use energy efficient light bulbs.
I use a quick cycle on my washing machine and the half-load button.
None of my appliances are left on stand-by
I dry as much of my washing as possible on the line and clothes airers
As a family we dont use the car for short - walkable journey's
I get my shopping delivered
And I will be using reuseable nappies for my 2nd DC when s/he arrives in December

How else can I improve our greeness and still run a practical efficent household?

environmentally friendly cleaning products - bought or make your own
recycling everything you can (there are a load of things that you can recycle that I didn't know about till recently - ask if your council has a recycling guide)
looking into food miles/ local producers
refusing plastic bags or returning them to local shops which can reuse them

lots of other things which completely escape me at the moment

Oh yes and we recycle. Our council has a recycling service and so we have a waste bin and a recyle bin in our kitchen.
Just trying to educate DD(3) not to put her toast and cereal into it.
I even recylce our clothes and unwanted stuff through the medium of e-bay - although that could be seem as more of a hobby than a way to help save the planet??

Some threads with 'recipes' for cleaning products etc
here , here and here

how extensive is your recycling service? ours picks up paper and cans, but I save plastic bottles, glass and cardboard and drive them to the recycling centre

you can also recycle all kinds of stuff like batteries and paint

turn your heating thermostat down a couple of degrees.

Don't fly

Pick things that have miminal packaging.

Buy a Mooncup - see my thread in 'Health' for a cheap one.

Don't shop in supermarkets, get a local box delivery scheme

Buy clothes toys and books (or everything you can) on eBay, charity shops, boot sales

Use freecycle

Use more natural types of toiletries - Green People are very good

Breastfeed your babies

Our council colleact paper, cans, plastic and glass. And also have a green wheelie bin to collect garden waste.

Have read about mooncups, think they are a brilliant idea and as soon as I am not pregnant amd my body has achieved a normal routine again I am going to give them a try.

Vote. Insulate the loft if it isn't already done (easy to do- could probably do it yourself). Don't use more than 30 degrees on the washing machine. Use a small countertop oven for small items, not the big oven. Or use a microwave.

Vote. Insulate the loft if it isn't already done (easy to do- could probably do it yourself). Don't use more than 30 degrees on the washing machine. Use a small countertop oven for small items, not the big oven. Or use a microwave.

Yes we have insulated our loft, and we have just had new double glazing and doors.

Would you sayit was better to have the heating on low constantly - say 18 degrees to maintain a constant temperature. Or have it timed to come on twice a day when it might take longer to warm the house. Please remembe I will have a new baby in december so will need to keep a fairly warm house, although we're not short of knitted cardi's and blankets.

And Dr Franken, I have never heard of a local box delivery scheme bfore coming on MN. Where would I look to find out about on in my area?

Milkshake, try here . You have to register first but it only takes a minute.

Oh, once signed in use the drop downs on the directory to select "box schemes" then enter your area.

keeping the fabric of the house warm is better - so constant lower temperature is better than blasting it twice a day.

Yet a garden composter this made a huge difference to the amount of rubbish we threw out each week.

California - getting shopping delivered means we dont have to drive to the supermarket. The delivery truck takes the shopping to between 6-10 different homes in one area, which is between 6-10 less cars on the road.

FINALLY found a use from all the brown paper bags I get from Riverford - lovely compostable compost bags

only buy what you need

We always wash full loads and never ever use above 60.
dh bathes in my shower water - I leave the plug in. (Does that make us minging?)
I agree with throckenholt re heating. We do not heat rooms we don't spend a lot of time in at all.

Don't be a demonic consumer! We all seem to need so much "stuff" nowadays to be happy - but it doesn't make you happy - so ask yourself if you really need it before you buy it. Especially thinking this with Halloween/Christmas coming up - feel stingy because ds's pressies won't make a pile 1/3 as big as many of my friends kids. I think it's just daft! It doesn't mean I love him less! In fact I love him so much I'm trying to save a planet for him!

When you do buy, buy local.

Have just popped to my local second hand shop and found 3 reuseable nappy covers, 6 brand new shapped terry nappies and 6 brand new cotton nappies, as well as a nappy bucket. All for the princely sum of about £11. Am feeling very pleased with myself.

This a shameless thread bump - as I know there are more tips out there.