In 2007, millions of people around the world became part of the solution to the climate crisis. People made a commitment to change their own actions - and demand action from their leaders. World leaders meeting in Bali made progress in developing a “roadmap” that will lead to a new treaty to replace the Kyoto protocol by 2010. And Al Gore’s Nobel Prize validated his years of work on this issue. What’s next? You’ve already done a lot to reduce your own carbon impact. You’ve changed your lightbulbs…you’re buying organic, local food when you can, and you’re taking public transportation or carpooling. Here at Live Earth, we’re always looking for new ideas and creative solutions to make live easier, and greener. What’s your green resolution for 2008?
January 6th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
This year my New Year’s resolution is to make a differance in the fight against global warming. I don’t just mean using compact floresent lightbulbs and having a compost pile, I mean like helping to get som laws made against cars like Hummers and laws against non renewable energy sources.
January 7th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
This year one of my resolutions was to post a blog each week about what individuals can do to better the environment. I know much of this will be recycled bits, but my main target is friends and family that subscribe to my feed. Check it out at http://blog.susanandallen.com and let me know what you think.
January 8th, 2008 at 9:24 am
We’re getting a house renovation done, so most of our New Years’ Resolutions are wrapped up in that. We’re going out of our way to outfit the new addition with state-of-the-art green appliances and lighting (at least as far as our budget will allow). For our recessed lights, we’re getting an LED light called the LR6. We saw it in the store and were impressed with the light quality. It only gives off the lighting equivalent of a 75W bulb and costs $100 per bulb, but it uses far less energy than CFLs, contains no mercury, will last until our 3-year-old is in college, and is fully dimmable.
We just replaced our furnace with the Carrier Infinity 96. This has a rating of 96.6% AFUE, and boy, is it quiet and effective. All these years we thought our house was drafty, but as it turns out, we just had a crappy furnace that was too small for the house. Finally, the thermostat reflects the actual temperature in the house!
We’re going to be replacing our air conditioner with something that has a SEER rating of 18; I don’t know which one yet, but our contractor has some great HVAC guys who can help us.
We will also be installing a thermal solar hot water heating system. We’re going to wait a few years on the solar PV panels, until hopefully the price on those comes down.
We’re looking into recycled rubber matting (the same as you see in many gyms) for the storage room where the hot water tank will go.
I’m also going to be planting some native and fruit-bearing vines along the southeast corner of our house. That area gets super-hot in the summer, and some leafy vines might help cool the house down.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
My New Year’s resolution is to continue to spread the word about the bottled water scam. Bottom line, tap water is good in this country and water bottled in plastic is not only unnecessary, but a huge waste. quick info = see Sierra Club’s comments.
January 11th, 2008 at 7:16 am
This year i want save money on buying some products and not use so much food. i want to use less water too.
January 15th, 2008 at 7:33 am
Mr.Gore you will probly never read this.But I would like to tell you about three older women that range in age from 56 to 65, that have a dream. They are going to become earth friendly farmers, by raising earth friedly animals,natural gardens.housing made of seacontainers & or strawbale,wind power. We have fond 640acre of wilderness that is privately owned.We Need your help,developers want to buy this piece of heaven and plan to destroy it. Did I mention that wild life abounds there.Can and will you help us get a grant to buy this land.
Thank You
Bonnie
January 17th, 2008 at 11:51 am
This year we have decided to do a number of things to reduce our footprint. We’ve been replacing a couple light bulbs a month with CFL’s. We have opted to shovel instead of snowblow. We have caulked our exterior windows to control leaks. I gave out christmas presents in Cloth grocery bags for my family to start using. We also have started using biodegradable diapers and wipes for our baby. I feel really good about that!!! Man there is some nasty stuff in those “disposable” diapers. Once he starts eating solid food I think we’ll try cloth diapers.
January 17th, 2008 at 11:51 am
I do not buy bottled water anymore. I have switched to laundry in powdered form in a box and use half the amount.
January 17th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I will try to find a way to replace plastic bags to organic bags to use for food wastes.
January 17th, 2008 at 11:56 am
We are presently recycling most of our grey water into the garden via an underground pipe with holes in it. The veges are looking good, we’re feeling much better and we’re looking forward to eating the harvest!
Check out savefreobeaches.com to see grass roots democracy in action! ((-:
January 17th, 2008 at 11:59 am
My New Year’s resolution is to waste less. To do this, I am stepping up my recycling, as well as using Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) to give back unwanted items to the community! One persons’s trash really is another’s treasure, and Freecycle is proof!
I also like Bonnie’s idea, and come spring, I plan on growing a few of my own vegetables as well, and trying to eat locally for an entire season. To anyone reading this, it starts with you! To quote Michael Jackson, “If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and make a change.”
January 17th, 2008 at 11:59 am
This year, I got off the highway and started taking a commuter train to work. I walk to and from the station, get a lot of exercise and fresh air and have a much more enjoyable commute.
Now, those rare occaisions when I am forced to get out into rush hour congestion, I stop and wonder what I was thinking about before. Driving stinks!!
January 17th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
As a vegetarian, I’ve been eating a lot of cheese for protein. This year, I resolve to replace that with organic tofu and nuts. I believe that will be greener, using plant products, rather than the animal product. Besides, I’m helping myself to less saturated fat.
January 17th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
We have reduced our paper towel and paper guest towel use by purchasing packages of wash clothes. In the powder room we make a basket of nicely rolled up wash clothes placed by the sink. Nearby on the floor is another basket to place the used wash clothes. We are using wash clothes to clean the dogs face after she eats and drinks. We have also started using seventh generation 100% recycled toilet paper. It is made much better now than about 20 years ago when we first tried it. I just learned about a company that is making doggie poop bags out of corn and they are biodegradable.
January 17th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I bought all our friends reusable grocery bags as Christmas presents. If I forget my reusable bags in the car when I’m shopping, I don’t let the bagger use paper or plastic - I run out to my car to get my ecobags. By now, I usually remember to bring them into the store with me. All our lights are now the new low energy kind. I use the air dry feature on the dishwasher instead of heat dry. I drive two fewer days/week. We use tupperware instead of baggies to avoid using plastic. http://www.ecobags.com is a great website!
January 17th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
We only use cloth bags (we bought for 50 cents a piece for groceries, drug store item, and any thing we buy. We also are limited because we live in a condo complex. But the complex is watering half as long. I never buy bottled water anymore…hate the plastic…recycling, wish I could do more…
January 17th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I try to recycle everything possible. Use cloth bags for shopping. I try to not buy items in plastic. We use the new light bulbs. Question: plastic trash bags used for garbage (we leave ours on curb & it’s picked up) take decade to decompose. Any ideas on what could be use in their place? Can you just put in paper bags and put those in a garbage can with lid? I can’t think of anything else. Thanks. Jackie
January 17th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
My family has been recycling for over 15 years and while we have replaced almost all our lighting with compact fluorescents and LEDs. We found out worm farming doesn’t really work for us…they escaped… We use high recycled content toilet paper and ofter wash our clothing with laundry capsules that contain zero detergent, so we have sucessfully cut down on the noxious chemicals we put into our “waste water”. We have been keeping our thermostat low in the winter andhigh in the summer for years, too. I realized most of our trash is paper, so I am organizing ways to better collect and recycle that paper. I would like to install rain barrels on all our downspouts this year, though my spouse has not bought off on that idea yet.
I would like to gain employment in the solar power distribution industry, which I see as a growth industry.
January 17th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
well,I am only 15 years old,but nothing can´t stop me from protecting Earth from climate crisis.since I go to school for protecting milieu my dream is that I will some day work with Al Gore :)I am tryina as much as I can to retrench energy.But for now this is all I can do,I hope that 2008 will be better for nature,animals and people.But thing that I want most in 2008 is that we must do something about those gases ind smokes that are realy bad for our environment!Well,all I hawe to do for now is to hope that 2008 will be better than 2007.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
My Husband and I have been going green for 7 years now. We put in solar panels and used them for a carport. We have more in our recycle co-mingle can than in our garbage can, we have florescent lighting in our home. We use as little water as possible. I only drive into town, we are rural, when I have more that 2 stops to get done. I unplug the TV when it isn’t being watched. I only wash clothes when I have a full load to do. I take short showers every other day and a spit bath on the alternate days( wash cloth in needed areas). When we can afford to get an electric car we will put in enough solar to power our own car. What are you doing?
Thank You, Joy
January 17th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
My friends and I are launching a project to protect the Water Forest, an ecosystem that supplies water to 35 million people in central Mexico. There are many threats to this forest, including two highway projects across the best preserved areas, projects that will inevitably haul urban developments. Our project will put the Water Forest in the headlines and will create debate, thereby making people aware that in less than 50 years this gorgeous wilderness that harbours five of Mexico’s six wild felines could be entirely gone - unless we protect and restore this natural heritage. Our larger focus is on attaining a consensus among all stakeholders on a Regional Conservation Strategy.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Last year I switched all the lights to fluorescent ones, bought an electric scooter and planned a conversion for my motorcycle.
In 2008 I want to:
1) Finish my motorcycle and have it all electric;
2) Hopefully convert a car to electric;
3) Try to make laws pass to fight global warming,;
4) Serve as a Park ranger in California’s National park;
5) Buy a small property and put wind mills and solar panels on it so as to generate current for my house and sell the rest to electric companies;
6) finish my electric scooter website;
7) and, of course, keep on planting trees!
These are my resolutions for 2008!
Marco G.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
We have replaced all our lighting with low energy bolbs. We now have green electricity. We buy more & more ecological product at the supermarket. We utilise computers and the internet where possible to save paper & reduce transport. This is what we did in 2007.
In 2008 we will sell our 2 cars. We have ordered a biogas driven MPV for when we need a car. Hopefully we can use public transport more & more when possible. This will be our biggest sacrifice yet. We are trying hard. Hope it has some effect.
regards
Reini
January 17th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I have changed all my lightbulbs,and recycling newspapers and magazines, and I will be talking to the apartment manager to have recycling as a community effort. I’m not using paper or foam plates anymore. I have signed many petitions regarding the environment and our rights to have uncontaminated foods, air, water. Any and all petitions I am asked to sign regarding the environmnet, animals and children are signed.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
My husband and I will continue to remediate our land, conserving and protecting the river that runs through it; a river that eventually flows into Georgian Bay. This spring we will be planting 6300 trees that are in addition to the more than 10000 we’ve planted over the past decade. These trees are an important part of the process of cooling and preserving the river and valley environment here.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
We formed a study group about water last fall, and decided to replace our small lawn with drought tolerant, mostly native plants that feed and shelter pollinators. This spring our study group focuses on trash, with a goal of meeting our city’s goal of zero waste.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
We installed a new thermostat controlled, dropped the low temperature to 15 deg.C, the high to 19C.
I put dishwasher on after 10:00pm (sometimes 3:00am when I wake up in horror that I have forgotten to put it on so I won’t face all those dirty dishes in morning.
I only boil the water I need for a cup of tea/coffee.
Turn off the lights and computer if I leave for longer than 3 mins.
Walk more.
Buy local as much as possible.
Karen
January 17th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I am working with an organization called Citizenre that will be helping thousands of people (including us) get rental solar panels, starting this year.
We have already switched to Energy Star A/C, dishwasher, washing machine, refrigerator and microwave, and have 2 hybrids in the car (one is a 2000 Insight) although mostly I walk or bike locally.
I’m hoping this year we will get an electric tank-less hot-water heater to go with those solar panels.
I’m learning to remember to take cloth bags to the store and switching to non-plastic refrigerator storage (glass or waxed paper.)
Of course we have switched all our lightbulbs and recyle - and use cloth napkins (that we don’t bother to iron.)
January 17th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I have been encouraged by the replies to date.We have taken numerous measures
in the past,such as insulating our house,underfloor and overceiling.We had installed some years ago,solar water heating which has been most effective. It must be getting close to having recouped the cost of its installation from savings made.As the unit price of electricity rises this repayment time shortens.We have CFLs in every room.I am not sure these contribute greatly to our targets.Sure,the energy savings are worthwhile but the manufacture of the units must contribute to increased energy use. The electronics alone in each unit consist of a 42mm diam circuit board,4 binding posts, 6 capacitors,6 resistors,8 diodes,2 transistors,a toroidal core and copper windings,a tiny ironcored choke plus copper winding.All of which have to be manufactured and must contribute to depletion of resources and consumption of energy in their manufacture.We sold one of our cars some time ago and so halved our fuel consumption.I bicycle short trips to local shops.For longer trips I utilise the bus services.We have established an orchard of sorts to complement the numbers of trees already growing on the property.We have established a garden nourished from compost made from grass clippings and vegetable scraps and other organic waste.These measures have been in place for several years. I am an avid recycler and take good care to fully utilise the weekly refuse collection by reducing waste as far as possible and consolidating the contents of the refuse bag to the extent that one bag can last up to three weeks. Our resolution has been to continue with these measures and to extend our efforts where possible.
January 17th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I have changed every bulb to compact florescent. I am growing my own vegetables and recycling the trash I pick up on both the river and the road.
January 17th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
My resolution is to use nothing but my reusable shopping bags everywhere I go.
I already regularly walk rather than drive, and I often carpool with friends.
At night, I turn the computer off, and we use lamps and candles a lot at home.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
My New Years resolution was not much but it was something.I now drink bottled water,juice,soda and re-use them. I turn put the computer to sleep when i’m busy doing something else.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I personally have switched about 80% of the lightbulbs in my house (those that would be on longer than 15 min at any given time)to green bulbs. I also sweep instead of hosing off patios and driveways, restrict the amount of gasoline I allow myself to use each week so I have to plan all trips wisely. At work we noticed that when we took out the office trash, the enormous amt of trash that was recycleable going into the dumpsters (no containers for recycling on premises) We contacted the Board of Directors and presented our idea to get recycling containers for the property - they liked the idea, switched waste management over to the city so the city could provide us with containers. We just received them on Monday of this week, yahoo!
January 17th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Last year we installed a 10 kilowatt photovoltaic system on our house. We currently produce at least 85% of the electricity we use from our solar panels. In the spring and early summer, we actually produce more than we use so we sell it back to our power company. Yes, they’re expensive - but well worth the investment.
This year I’ve vowed to stop using plastic bags and recycle the ones that we do wind up using. I’m currently bringing my own canvas bags to the supermarket and they’re working out great.
We also don’t add chemicals to our lawn, but we’ve been doing that for years.
January 17th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
The sad truth is I have been doing most of the things recommended since I was ten (1954), and I don’t quite know where to go from here. But I can assure anybody listening that it is pretty easy to turn off the lights (fan, TV, what-have-you) when you leave the room, you can get quite clean in a ninety-second shower, and there is nothing tacky about hanging your laundry out to dry, or even indoors in the winter.
January 17th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
In 2006-7, I initiated 27 EcoTeams of 4-10 households each, which, using the LOW CARBON DIET workbook (available at the wetsite above), are cutting over 400 TONS of CO2 (on a yearly basis) in the last 15 months in Greater Burlington, VT.
Currently, the City of Burlington, led by the Low Carbon Diet and the Mayor’s Office, is launching in February a campaign to reduce carbon-dioxide citywide by at least 10% in 10% of the City’s households, each year for the next decade. Stay tuned. Portland Oregon, has already reduced 23% of their participants’ CO2 emissions using the same program. Chicago and San Francisco are considering the same program. IT WORKS!
January 17th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I have been on a soft energy path for over 35 years, and an environmental leader in my northern new york community for a similar length of time. But I can still do more. This year I will build a solar hot water system and outdoor shower. I will also expand our garden, build a backyard canning kitchen equipped with a waste wood cook stove, and build a root cellar in our basement. I will tweak our diet toward more local, use my car less and public transportation more. I will also encourage my community to undertake pro-conservation planning and enact solar/conservation building and development codes.
January 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
I really just have one resolution: to take my father’s advice on life more often
but that aside, I’m pledging to walk everywhere I ned to as much as I possibly can.
January 17th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I replaced all almost all my light fixtures with florescent bulbs.
I purchased a programable thermostat.
January 17th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I cut my commute from 50 miles to 16 by transferring offices. I’ve also purchased reusable grocery bags and we are starting to phase out regular light bulbs. My next purchase will be an alumium water bottle to avoid plastics. We are more concious of turning off lights and adjusting the temperature of the house.
January 17th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
This year I have resolved to never get another plastic bag again, in any store. Not in a grocery or any other store. All our food is wrapped in plastic, too! That is enough! I have had it! I will also try to stay away from all the prepackaging., and I will bring my own bags to the store with me.
January 17th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Here are two: I bring my own bags when grocery shopping most of the time. Checkout people are usually very young and I say, “I’m saving the planet for YOU.” They smile! My utility bills show less power used than the same time last year, which makes me and my wallet very happy.
January 17th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
After seeing An Inconvenient Truth and taking Al Gore’s pledge, I replaced all my light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, began recycling paper, metal, & plastic and quit using paper towels and napkins. I’ve also thrown away all chemical cleaning products and now use “green” products.
Sylvia
January 17th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I’m keeping my promise to live green and I’m spreading the word to make simple changes - use a reusable water bottle and fill with tap/filtered water, change to cf bulbs, walk or bike places, recycle, use less, buy less, eat clean and local, use eco-friendly cleaning products, share your magazines and books, turn off the water, use cloth shopping bags, support organic and eco-concious businesses… - and tell your friends!
Peace -
MaryAnn
January 17th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I am using my car as little as possible and riding my bike more. I take it grocery shopping and I walk to places that are withing 2 miles. We use florescent lights, We use cloth bags only and only buy things which can themselves be recycled as well as the packaging. My goal this year is to achieve zero waist. I plan to generate all my electricity and hot water and heat by solar energy, this will take a while. We use only rechargable batteries and we charge them with solar cells. We have cut and will continue to cut our electrical use. We shut off and unplug just about everything. We compose and are begining to grow more of our food. We use only local organic farmers and never buy anything shipped from another country. We are accelerating our effort to cut down on solid waist. I have plans to recycle my gray water, even tripple distilling it. I plan to ride my bike and pick up 10 gallons of sea water to be distilled thereby hopefully reducing or eliminating my use of water from community supplies. Presently we are catching rain water but plan to do much more. I vow to reduce and hopefully eliminate my carbon foot print. I am raising my grand daughter. There is nothing I will not do to save her future and I love doing it. As a result I am healthier and happier. I plan to look at every aspect of my life to make any changes possilbe. I will and do talk to all who will listen.
January 17th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Apart from using CFLs&energy efficient T-5 Tube Lights, installing Solar Thermal Water heating system and using Solar powered LED Lantern for emergency till now, my pesonal contribution during 2008 is the reduction in the use of water,avoiding packaged goods to the extent possible, using locally and seasonally avaialble vegetables and fruits only and to propogate the same through Emails.
At the community level propogatioon of energy efficiency, particularly in the schools, promotion of renewable energy sources, reduction of garbage generation and its recycling.
To interact with Government agencies for adopting energy efficiency measures in urban street ligting and for replacement of Incandascent lamps and energy inefficient Tube lights by CFLs and T-5 Tube Lights.
January 17th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
From this year onwards, I have resolved to judiciously use and conserve electricity….it takes just a “Flick of a Switch” literally….
January 17th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
My new year’s resolution is to eat as little beef as possible, because all the energy use to produce 1 pound of beef can be use to produce 8 pounds of grain. Pork is 1:6 while chicken is 1:3.
January 17th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
My New Year Resolution is not to drive short distances with my car. I´ll go on foot or driving with my bike
January 18th, 2008 at 12:33 am
This year I decided to no more eat génétically modified food AND report to the manufacturer that our familly will ban them.
Already done twice and seems that manufacturers pay attention to that.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Hello, I am writing to you as regards your inquiry in connection with the initiatives that we are in charge of and that are related to protection of the environment.
My name is Desislava Beleva and I am a Chairman of the parental “TRUSTEESHIP OF THE “FRIENSHIP – FIRST OF JUNE” ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN , town of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. This is a non-profit association of parents whose children attend two kindergartens in our town. I personally am an author of a short article published in several Bulgarian websites – Toner Direct, National Ecological Network and others, and in the July edition of EcoPolis magazine.
I am aware that the construction of a compost bowl is not an easy job and I am looking for sponsors and consultants who would help us realize our idea. Composting at home is difficult and the quantity of the waste that can be composted is not so large.
As a whole I want to popularize several things that are important for me and at the same time teach children and their parents also that nothing in this world is a waste. It is simply that we are turning it into a waste.
Thus a lot of thoughts are crossing my mind, but in general my idea is to fence off a small place in the yard of the kindergarten and every day parents would take there the remains of the evening salad and everything else that can be composted. I intend to order and distribute to all children linen bags, specially made for that purpose. Several short advices would be printed on the bags, addressing the parents, on how to make their lives cleaner and at the same time to make them think over what legacy they would leave to their children. The attendants in the kindergarten shall tell the children what they should put into these bags and where to dispose of it explaining to them what will become of it and how it will help our nature. Children believe in miracles, and for them the turning of the peeled skin of a cucumber and the dry leaf into an useful soil for the beautiful flowers in the garden is a miracle. Thus children will motivate also their parents to make a small alteration in their daily habits. We know that children are also our best teachers.
We have a lot of space in the yard and we take our children there every day, and this will allow us, without any special efforts, to take the remains of our food in the household and to “throw” them into the compost bowl. Besides that, in the kindergarten food is prepared every day and remains are thrown out that are suitable to be composted. There are many trees in the yard, dry leaves and twigs are falling down all the time. The available staff could take care of the compost bowl. Volunteers can also be found.
I also think to organize some prize-awarding for everybody at the end of the experiment.
My purpose is to popularize composting as a way of diminishing household waste and for ecologically directed thinking and education, both of parents and of children. I think that it will be interesting for everybody to see the result of that activity.
Apart form that, composting at home is difficult and takes more knowledge and experience, and no one of us has them.
Initially we intend to use the ready compost for fertilizing the green areas and the flower pots in the kindergarten, and if our “production” would increase, we could offer it to other organizations which might show an interest in our activity.
Regards,
Desislava Beleva
January 18th, 2008 at 1:34 am
I have all the right bulbs nd usually si in the dark. I use light only when needed. I recycle nearly everything, but when I can’t, I never buy that product again. I fit my home, so I only use the heat I need. I eat meat, but my dogs eat all the leftovers and nothing is gone to waste. I make the smallest footprint I can.
January 18th, 2008 at 1:43 am
Since many years I live consciously sparing energy, collecting all the recyclables as glass, metals, paper, pet, oil, etc… and using collective transportation if available…
I hope also to get many friends conscious of the impact we all can have if ye care to…
January 18th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Hi,
My family is using near and organicly grown vegetarian food items. We pick wild rasberrie, lingon berries, blueberries, cloudberries and mushrooms for the whole year. We are driving with biogas car.
January 18th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Starting in 2006, we started analyzing alternative energy options for our home: geothermal, solar, photovoltaic and wind. This year we plan to replace our central heating boiler (we live in England by the way) with a more efficient LPG boiler and install solar panels / tubes to heat our hot water. We are excited about our first project of many! Happy New Year to all!
January 18th, 2008 at 3:05 am
Last July, I resolved to begin making changes that will impact the environment positively. For example, shutting off the water while I brush my teeth, while I shampoo and soap in the shower, shutting off lights in rooms not being used, and carpooling as much as possible. I am glad to report that I have stuck to my summer resolution. And my pocket is happy, too: our water and electric bills have been reduced by as much as 15% and our gasoline consumption has been lowered as well.
January 18th, 2008 at 3:07 am
my new year resolution is to be more environment friendly and spread the awareness of global warming to others.
January 18th, 2008 at 3:37 am
I have been living green for years, but I always find new ways to add to what I am doing. Now that I am retired, my 2008 goals are to do a better and bigger garden and to cook more items to replace food purchased with lots of packaging.Fruit muffins will replace breakfast bars, I will make home-made crackers,yogurt,and learn to can, etc. I will purchase a few more led bulbs, add another solar panel and battery to power the computer and lights longer. I will continue to simplify my life and get rid of stuff I don’t need by freecycling or giving to charity. I will pursue the idea of starting a green co-op in our community.
January 18th, 2008 at 3:38 am
My New Year’s resolution is to continue to spread the word about what individuals can do to better the environment. I alredady start at home and at the office. I gave all my friends at the office a green bag!!!! for XMAS!!!
Ivette
January 18th, 2008 at 4:21 am
my new years resolution is to use public traffic instead of my car for the way to work (70 kilometres one way). happy new year to all. love markus
January 18th, 2008 at 5:29 am
I replaced all my bulbs with compact fluorescents, and, having read Lara’s reply will change to LED bulbs soon. Also, in the last two years I replaced all the insulation in my (circa 1903)house (parts had none, most had bricks and mortar between the walls). Further, I started buying most of my produce from local farmer’s markets.
January 18th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Ten years ago we installed a geothermal furnace in our old 100 year old farm house and we love it. We have stopped buying bottled water and use the water from our deep well which gets pumped into a cistern. Less trips in order to save fuel and run our old vehicles until we can find a good used vehicle which runs on alternative fuel.
January 18th, 2008 at 6:31 am
Although our money is limited, and we rent, we have made big changes in our household. We replaced all the lights with compact floresant bulbs, we insulted our waterheater, and outlets. We put weatherstripping on the inside doors and insultion around the jams to stop drafts. My fireplace flue doesn’t close anymore, so I took newspaper and rolled it up in huge balls and stuck it up the chimmney where the flue should close, being careful not to block the heater ventilation, because that would cause carborn minoxide poisioning, and then we cut out a piece of foam core board and wedged it between the flue and fireplace. We recycle alot, and only have one garbage bag between 3 adults per week. We composte our vege cuttings and coffee grinds. I work in a grocery store and encourage my customers into buying our recycled, reusable bags, for $1.50, which they do with great enthusiasm. So there you have it, if we all did these simple things, what a difference it would make. My electric bill has dropped about $25.00 a month!!!
January 18th, 2008 at 6:48 am
This year, instead of driving my large, old, gas guzzling car to work, I now take the train both ways 3x/ week, and carpool in, taking the train home, 2x/ week. Plus, I replaced 14 light bulbs in my home with energy savers.
January 18th, 2008 at 7:11 am
I’m living in an area where there’s hardly any from of devastating industrialization. I also travel by public transport 100% of the time. I made it my duty to change out all my bulbs to energy saving ones during the Christmas season. The regular light bulbs I had installed before were 75 watts the new ones are only 15 watts. I am yet to get my new light bill to see the difference.
January 18th, 2008 at 7:30 am
We have switched almost all our light bulbs to CFLs, including the outdoor flood lights and also in our barn. We have energy efficient appliances and collect rain water in a 300 gallon tank from the barn roof for watering outdoor plants. I drive a hybrid vehicle, buy organic and local produce when possible and am planning a vegetable garden for this year. We recycle and re-use or re-purpose everything we can.
January 18th, 2008 at 7:33 am
I am trying to inspire neighbors to do all they can.
January 18th, 2008 at 7:52 am
A group of us in the downtown San Jose neighborhoods have evaluated several solar vendors and negotiated a group discount for our community. We are going solar and taking as many of our neighbors with us as we can! There so much about this that is exciting, but one of them is that the vendors we selected offers a power purchase agreement (PPA) option, an option more typically employed by large businesses like Walmart and Costco. This is going to make solar more affordable for more people and make it easier to own, as the company guarantees power production for 20 years. We just announced our kick off meeting and already the phones are ringing off the hooks. Our goal is 50 homes, but I hope we blow right by it. We are designing a huge count tracking sign to put on our house to track our progress. To learn more check out sanjosesolar.blogspot.com. We would love to inspire other communities to take this approach.
All the best,
Joe
January 18th, 2008 at 9:19 am
For the past 15 years me and my family have tried to live “greener”, every year we do little more. This year we will recycle water in our house garden to keep the grass green. It is not that easy here in Mexico where we live.
Thank you
January 18th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Je suis acadienne donc parle français.
We decide to put the garbage every 3 weeks intead of every wesnesday than we save the energy for the truck to stop near our home every week. During the cold season there is no smell problem.
January 18th, 2008 at 9:56 am
We are retired and work at home. We’ve committed to wearing wool sox and an extra layer in the house and heating to 60 degrees only. If we need more warmth, we retreat to a small room and use a little heater.
We also grow a lot of our vegetables in a small home garden and harvest unclaimed fruit for freezing and canning in the summer. I’m currently writing a book on eating locally in the maritime Northwest, to be titled Local Pleasures.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
One of my GREEN resolutions… each time I get junk mail in that is truly junk, I am making a phone call and requesting to be taken off their mailing list. I started last fall, with a pile of catalogs on my lap… and the volume has already gone down. But there are so many layers of marketers out there, and they buy/sell your name, and blast out for other companies. So you have to sort of do it over and over. they are usually already set up for it when I call and can process my request painlessly… This is a 0$ way to save … both paper and fuel associated with production and shipments…
January 18th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Last year my school started a global issues club, which i joined. This year my goal is to become a more active member. Every Friday we collect aluminum cans and newspapers. It is not much but it is all that we can do living in The Bahamas with no recycling plant.
Yours Sincerely,
Ashleigh Uriasz.
January 18th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
This year I am evaluating our food buying habits to reduce packaging and waste. I will educate any one I know who still uses bottled water (Laster year we got a Prius and installed solar paneling)
January 18th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
AS Environmental Committee Chairman and treasurer of a 60 M building, My coop has engaged a firm that installs solar systems (polyvoltaic and heat transfer) as well as a firm that does hydroponic greenhouses. We want to add all this to the roof, to promote sustainability as well as rainwater recapture. We have already switched to CFC lighting in the halls, which cut our electric bills by 2K month. WE signed up for hydro electric and nuclear only power from CONED. We recycle as best possible. We use public transportation. We switched to non toxic paint. Its only January, so we have a long way to go.
January 18th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Buy nothing new.
It’s not that hard. I live in Boston and craigslist is a great resourse.
January 18th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Last July I signed the pledge and decided to take it up a notch. I stopped using my clothes dryer, switched to cloth napkins, and never accept a disposable cup or to go container to name a few things. We just bought a new house and have made a lot of green changes at the new place. Changed all bulbs, wrapped water heater, installed rain barrels, and am always looking for more ideas.
January 18th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
IN LARGE EXTENT TRY TO STOP THE WASTE OF ALL KINDS, WATER OR FOOD OR ELECTRICTY AND FINDING NEW WAYS TO REDUCE TRASH.ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS MY SLOGAN THIS YEAR.
January 19th, 2008 at 4:31 am
In Vancouver, instead of purchasing a heat pump to save energy we purchased a luxurious down comforter for 1/10th the cost. Using down comforters in our home has allowed us to turn down or off the furnace and contribute to saving energy.
I built a Green web site, http://www.downcomfortersandpillows.com and started a new company. We now encourage other green web sites to link trade with us.
Our superior hotel quality Down comforters and Down pillows are just what you need to cut your home heating costs and stay comfortably warm all year round. It’s about turning down the thermostat at night, contributing to energy conservation and staying toasty warm. A cheaper alternative for us.
Kind regards,
Nadia
January 19th, 2008 at 6:14 am
I pledge to sensitize all people who are in my reach for saving all kinds of energy and know that climate crisis is real.
Sorry for my English!!
(Spanish)
January 19th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Just had information about my new bank account. I changed because my current bank invests in mostly non-sustainable firms, and my new one does the opposite!
To everybody: find out which bank is the most “green” one and change!! (In Holland we leave ABN AMRO for example and go to Triodos or ASN)
January 19th, 2008 at 11:23 am
I only was my clothes in cold water on the delicate cycle, and the only thing I put in a dryer are my sheets, and they go in the least warm cycle. I hang everything else, including my towels on a drying rack. Global warming is a serious threat, and we shouldn’t make those who come after us pay a high price for our negligence.
January 19th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I am taking out one day a week as a ‘no car use day’, and driving more carefully so as to use less fuel … my Volvo is now averaging over 25mph in town, and 30mph on the road.
I am also beginning to utilize ‘farmers
markets’ and buying foods locally grown and organic as much as possible from my market, Whole Foods.
I am giving financial support to major environmental organization also.
January 19th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I am continuing the process of replacing standard light bulbs with the more energy-efficient variety, which was last year’s resolution. As each pack of standards for specific wattage empties, I buy a “coil” to place in a less-strategic part of the house (my wife disapproves of the technology). This year, I bring a cloth bag to every grocery store where I shop - which never includes the environmentally-unfriendly Wal-Mart). There are five stores, beginning with Pathmark, the company I retired from in ‘06. As I check the list, I either pick up what’s on sale or note the cost-per-measure of each unbought item before paying and moving to the next store. Whenever possible, I use my wife’s car because it uses less gas than my Jeep. The cloth bag is used at every store, with care taken to show it is empty before I fill it in front of the cashier (otherwise, one can expect security to pounce AND in my case that would mean losing the pension, possibly even if I prove innocence). Amazingly, even though this is a round-trip excursion, I never want for bags, even though the cloth bag is empty when I load the car at each stop (I keep two coolers and icers there for the perishables). At my age and income, I make changes for a better environment in a slow, determined manner, which would help if everyone tried as opposed to the few who can afford radical change. Finally, as I slowly lose weight, that reduses part of my carbon footprint, too!
January 19th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Thanks Al for being there.
Me:
While I use 50% train, I still use my car(s) as much.
BUT:
With it I bought 5 times 60 each energy-saving lamps and on every occasion I give them out to friends, family and every hotel,.. I see where there is still inefficient lighting.
Many of them get mooved to change them all.
While I still buy million litres of diesel for our many trucks
I get my colleagues going to teach all our truckers economical driving
and by now use around 50% biodiesel & plant oil from regional, non genetically modified crops.
In our cantine I get the big caterer to offer more vegetarian food (I’m veg.since age 15) and prepare their meals so tasty that the waste gets minimized.
January 19th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Today I watched a PBS program on Green Communities…it was not only very interesting but it inspired me to research and learn more about what I can do to promote and contribute to them.
I would like to transistion out of the classroom and devote my time towards earth friendly causes…but at this time, I don’t know enough about it to do so…meanwhile, while I am learning more about it, so too will my students in the form of reading articles on Global Warnming and Going Green…
If you have a curriculum that you’d like to promote or to share, please contact me!
January 19th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I want to get the rest of my freinds to start recycling and my family to STOP WASTING SO MUCH ENERGY!
i’m not the only one that should be doing it!!
January 19th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I resolved to conserve my environment.
January 20th, 2008 at 1:07 am
This year i would like to do more to help the environment. I currently recycle and compost my own house hold waste like egg shells, fruit & veg waste etc. I want to do more. I have installed a few energy light bulbs in my home.
I will aim to read more more on these kind of green websites.
January 20th, 2008 at 8:34 am
I willdo what is documented to be one of the best way to help with global warming–that is, being a herbivore—- according to Michael F. jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest,eating only plant based product would eliminate the methane gas produced by cattle and their manure. The methane gas has the same impact on global warming as the carbon dioxide produced by 33 million automobiles! To calculate what dietary changes can do to decrease global warming, go to http;?www.espinet.org/EatingGreen/index.html
January 20th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I will buy food more conscioucely and think twice if I want to buy some, if I really need it.
Untill now, I always bought what I like, now I will eat more beans instead of buying meat supplements all the time.
And over all I’m going to eat even less meat and fish.
I already purchased biological meat, but now I’m going to reduce that too.
January 20th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
(1) Install SOLAR panels on my house. I figured my electricity use, over 5 years, will pay for the solar system.
(2) Refuse to travel. Drive less by planning better. Stay in town and explore my own city for the holidays instead of traveling. Send the family photos by internet instead of driving across the country.
(3) Grow my own food. This year I’m building raised garden beds out of recycled materials and planting as much edible vegetation as possible. Less trips to the store, more green stuff around the house to make oxygen and absorb heat.
(4) Boycott frozen & packaged foods. Anything I do buy from the store will be fresh, from the bins, etc.
(5) Read more and do creative projects instead of watching TV.
(6) Throw out the coffee maker (I don’t know if I can go through with this one).
January 20th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
What I would like to know is Waste Management company has stop taking glass. They advertise how they save the country. They claim to save tones of recyclables. Well glass weighs a lot more than most things. I talked the the billing people in Phoenix, Ar.,and they told my that it was not cost effective and it was cheaper to use raw materials. So to me saving the earth is only good if there is a prophet. It cost fuel to take my glass in so I through it in the trash. If they receive fed. money like a lot of companies that do recycling I think they should start picking up the glass again. Your comments are welcomed. Thank you.
January 21st, 2008 at 8:08 am
I bought a ngv(natural gas vehicle) civic honda
next month the solar panels will be put on my roof. Al Gore did you do that
How do we off set flying plant trees?
January 21st, 2008 at 9:48 am
My husband and I now recycle our trash and have changed out our light bulbs with energy smart bulbs. We’ve agreed keep the thermostat at 68 even though it can get pretty cold where we live. My employer agreed to have recycling bins throughout the building.
Thanks for leading the charge!!
Clare
January 21st, 2008 at 12:57 pm
this year, for Xmas, i gave gifts of one dozen cloth napkins to family and friends to encourage them to stop using paper napkins..i have been doing this for years…i further have chosen to throw “away” less things…so donating, re=using and buying things with less packaging..I put a new water filter on my refrigerator every 4 months and have majorly reduced buying bottled water..
January 21st, 2008 at 10:56 pm
No more plastic bags….period! I am carrying Chico bags or canvas bags when I do all my shopping. I will no longer accept a bag from a store unless it is reusable…but my goal is to always have the bags that I already own with me. I am doing it…we all can!
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:41 am
I am doing a lot of road by car for business with little possibility to do otherwise. I decided to reduce my speed of 10 km to save energy. Pierre
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I am a low income individual so I am doing what I can afford to do. That is replacing my bulbs with CFL’s, cutting back on unnessary travel, buying products with less packaging and pushing for recycling at work. Any little bit helps right?
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:24 am
My New Year’s resolution is to stop using plastic bags when I’m shopping. My grocery store (Publix)offers mesh bags for a $1 a piece that are reusable so I bought about 6 of them and I have been using them instead of plastic bags when I go to the grocery store or any store for that matter. I decided to do this when I heard a story on NPR about the floating islands of trash out in the ocean. There are 3 that have been identified so far and each is about the size of texas. These trash islands are in international waters so no country will take responsibility for cleaning it up. Most of the trash is composed of nonbiodegradeable plastic bags like the ones we bag our groceries with… I have discovered since using the new mesh bags that they are not only sturdier than plastic– they also hold a lot more. I can fit 2 weeks worth of groceries into 4 bags and carry it easily without fear of anything falling out or breaking. Publix also offers toilet paper and paper towels made from recycled paper;as well as organic meats and food products under the greenwise label that are the same price or just slightly higher than comparible products with pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics. I only wish they offered trash bags that were biodegradeable and/or made from recycled materials.
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
My husband and I are Reducing Our Recycling in 2008! Wait, what???
We’re fortunate to live in a city that’s long been a leader in recycling and city composting. Our trash is next to nothing, but our recycling is full most weeks.
So we took a look at the things we find in our recycling most often (yogurt, salsa and beer bottles being the highest volume) and started making them from scratch!
It’s been incredibly easy and fun to incorporate this into our lifestyle. Sunday is now Salsa Sunday.
And I’m so thrilled to see so many other resolutions on this thread. All of our efforts do add up.
One other resolution is to actively create dialog with businesses, politicians and other orgs and let them know we support local living economies for all.
Here’s to positive, progressive changes in 2008 and beyond!
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Since the hurricanes in Florida have destroyed our orange,lemon and palm trees, we have begun replacing them which we otherwise wouldn’t have done. I talked my neighbor into adding a fruit tree to her yard also which she has done. I plan on adding more trees and since I am a very active realtor I am giving my clients fruit trees as closing gifts instead of gift cards to restaurants, Visa and American Express cards. Also, we have added electric Rolsafe shutters at all of our windows and sliding doors to cut down on heating and air conditioning. These shutters have manual overrides so we can even operate the shutters manually thus eliminating the use of electricity all together. The man-doors are all high impact glass.
January 25th, 2008 at 11:22 am
I have already reduced my electricity and heating (natural gas) consumption by more than 10% over last year (something I wouldn’t have thought possible, since it has been so unusually cold here). I have also curtailed my buying of foods that have to be flown in from Chile, or Costa Rica or Mexico, or wherever, and am now buying nearly all my food at my local Farmer’s Market, where even the fish and meat are locally sourced. I have switched to cosmetics and household cleaning products that contain no petrochemicals or other toxic ingredients. Of course, these things don’t just benefit the planet. They are good for my health, and I am saving money as well. Win-Win - - -
January 26th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I recycle with my family (5+ years), use energy efficient bulbs, walk almost always & I’m crazy about switching everything off. I encourage my friends to do the same. I hope to buy an eco-friendly car when I start driving & live in a totally eco-friendly house! I can’t wait to do more for the environment - keep those coo suggestions coming!
January 26th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I am now driving a car that runs on biodiesel, although I continue to use my bicycle and public transit more than the car. I have continued to talk to friends and family about this and other environmental concerns. I used LED Christmas lights for decorating this year. I am wearing sweaters and long underwear and keeping my thermostat down at home. I am reducing my use of plastics everywhere possible, particularly by focusing on purchasing items with less packaging, or recyclable packaging.
January 27th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
We are a small family & a member of the “Small House” organization. Our home is 830 sq. ft.To cut back on utilities, we have put in passive solar windows, extra insulation, turned Off heat in all rooms except the one we are in and put on sweaters and hats to keep our theromastat down, replace all lightbulbs w/cFL lights. WE now carpool to work, or ride a bike/walk/bus 4 days a week.
Last week I made the commitment to (as much as possible) buy only local, or within 100 miles, 90% of our food. A friend and I also are utilizing our water catchment system this year using 50 gallon honey barrels hooked up by simple hoses to each and fed off of the roof gutters.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:37 am
My Girlfriend and I are going to get married later this year so we started building a custom home in Fort Worth.
Were doing as much as possible to make it as green as it can be. We plan on things that will have a long term effect such as foam insulation, vinyl windows, radiant roof, solar, water reclamation, drip system irrigation, LED lighting along with energy eff appliances. If we can we want to try for geotherm heat pumps.
I believe the Pay Now or Pay Later approach. Some technology is still costly such as LED lighting, my current project, but sometimes you just have to suck it up and move forward within reason.
Our goal is to offset monthly utilities by 50% or more.
February 1st, 2008 at 8:44 am
Sent e-mail message
Date:Fri,Feb 1, 2008, 11:17am
To:community@liveearth.org
Subject:Re:Who’s YOUR Greener Candidate?
Didn’t want to take much of an so called shot in the dark my green Comrades so I checked out the chart to see who of the Candidates were the greenest,currently choosing NONE of the above,but yet here’s the noted shot in the dark.
I’d STILL like to see the former V.P (you Al Gore) step up to the plate at the LAST moment and I ALSO believe that making MINOR green ideas into Law (as example MANDATORY recycling?) that from these MINIMUM Laws the people could be at its grass-roots partnership/agenda so the the MAJOR ones will EVENTUALLY fall in line as will governments of the world. And then we of the U.S. can FINALLY have that older-fashioned/accustomed to an President doing the peoples business as opposed to an President doing the bidding of insiders/people OF government,foreign AND/OR domestic;so is my noted shot in the dark.
R.B.E. (of) Double T. Enterprises Int’l,DBA (of which F.Y.I. my green Comrades have advertised my noted green business to be for sale and via the right condition would do so in an heart beat cordially. And too F.Y.I. because of an potential [potential?] tax problem have appealed for an U.S. Presidential pardon for OTHER actions I have done in the course of my adulthood and am “pressing” for this pardon from THIS Presidential administration [and as an indicator of just how old I am means being an x2 disabled/x5 times off-shore Vietnam/x2 wartime Veteran and it is within those notable times of what,5 U.S. Presidencies have occurred,that I am am/HAVE appealed for the noted pardon for]?)
PMB 101
408 North Wayne Street
Angola,IN (USA) 46703
(PMB box is but an “USPS” rental)
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:31 am
Following up on changing all the bulbs and taking mass transit to work at least once a week that i started last year, this year I will:
- Increase my home’s attick insulation to R48
- Have HAVC checked and replaced if more effective technology exists
- Replace appliances with Energy Star ratings
- Look online every month for new ideas and share my ideas/changes with others
Thanks,
James
February 5th, 2008 at 6:58 am
I think the world have to turn their to their God, from their bad ways to God so that the creator of the earth and haven will do something great for the cosmos.
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:23 am
Hello I need help …………….. I’m from Ecuador , here in my country anybody do something to care the nature please support me
February 25th, 2008 at 10:49 am
My husband and I have been vegetarians for 7 years, this year we have decided to become vegan. I don’t think people know the worst affects on global warming is animal agriculture,if everyone would just not eat meat two days a week, we could solve a lot of the problem of global warming.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 am
I know there are many messages to sift through, but so far I haven’t seen one about giving up your gas-powered lawn mower and swapping it for a push mower. I’ve been doing this for a while now, and it’s not only much cleaner and healthier for the earth, but you get a mini workout as well.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:54 am
I had a big house and now I have a small house near a village where I can walk most places I need to go without using my car. I am praying for America’s very smart young people to come up with the ideal electric auto and for wind power, geo power and other power usage rather than the costly oil and gas power. I have faith the younger generation will have the answer.
July 12th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
THIS ONE COMMENT HAS MORE IMPACT THAN ALL THE IDEAS PRESENTED. Please get his message out there to Al Gore to broadcast to the world right now.
We need to change by the focus inward where the intelligence exists to help beyond anything a human can create.
All of nature has the same intelligence behind it and it is a one way street.
Jesus gave credit to this for miracles.
Einstein gave credit to this for his genius that revolutionized science.
Too many others have written about it.
We are a blend of lower self and higher self and everyone needs both and the focus inward privately awakens and allows for a larger higher self blend.
Most all of mankind now only gets a trickle due to lower self dominance.
We are all Gods now and only need to focus inward to realize it. This is all Jesus said was needed, to love God first no matter the costs and forget about the comforts and possessions because they would not be there at death.
Realizing that all of nature is dependent upon the same intelligence, mankind will learn to respect it too rather than assume the right to destroy it to increase comfort levels.
Plenty of ammunition exists for Al Gore to present and not even subject to debate either.
Someone help get Al Gore this solution that needs to be implemented now ASAP.