OT: What's Your "One Thing"?

When we replaced the toilets we got those that conserve water. Rarely do we have to flush twice. When we had the toilets with the larger water tanks, we put a brick inside a plastic jug and placed inside the tank to displace some of the water so we would be using less. You could also use gravel or small stones inside a cut off plastic bottle. Barbara in SC

In no particular order, and not looking to see if it was already posted:

1. Drive slower - less emissions, better gas mileage. Just leave yourself a bit more time to get where you are going.

1. Canvas bags for shopping. Some stores around here will ask if you even want a bag at all if you only have a couple of items.

2. Save the water coming out of the tap waiting for it to warm up. Use it to water plants, or put it through the Brita filter to make drinking water. We have very unpalatable water in this city.

1. Laundry is done using full loads only. Adjust the laundry schedule as need to make full loads.

2. Recycle clothes to thrift stores, recycle books to libraries, recycle all paper/plastic products as possible.

1. I bring home paper from work that have discarded non-confidential minute orders on one side, to use in my printer.

G> With everyone being much more aware about "going green" to save our

Howdy!

Solar.

We do the energy saving stuff, recycling, green-consciousness, have done for years before it became the latest trend w/ the newest buzz words. The city keeps giving me recycling bins & hasn't told me there's a limit; the compost pile doesn't stink so the neighbors don't complain; the CFLs don't blow out from the electricity surges so we've used them for yrs, too. (We were Mother-Earthing a long time ago, to some extent.) The lights would be on anyway, so there's no extra power used for handquilting (usually less, as I don't use the overhead lights, just one "clear light" CFL). I figure I balance the a/c usage by not running all the lights and a big ol' sewing machine. ;-D Our main "One Thing" is to be aware. We live here. ;-)

Cheers! R/Sandy

I am enjoying reading all the responses. Great thread Patti. Maybe because we are quilters we are just above average in being sensible in what we use. Like others I see lots of things we have been doing for years but there are always things to learn. I think like Kathy we are sort of cheap and just think naturally of wasting/using less. Be aware is good Sandy. It helps to hear what others are doing. TAria

Sandy Ellis> Howdy!

Boy, that's sure my pet peeve! When I moved to where I live now, the city promised three things -- flood protection was in place, infrastructure would be well planned and built before large numbers of people came, and public transit would be a top priority.

Well, the flood protection wasn't what they thought, they're hemming and hawing about building the infrastructure, and we only have 4 buses a day, two in the morning, two in the afternoon :(

I wonder why public transit varies so much from city to city? I guess it all depends on the funds available, but I would think, after a while, that public transit would pay for itself. The public transit system in Seattle was wonderful - here, in Tampa, it's pretty much non- existent. I guess every community has their priorities............

Patti (formerly) in Seattle

My two favorite cities for transit are Seattle and Chicago. As a tourist, I never felt any need for a car in either one. BART (SF Bay Area) isn't too shabby, either.

They are supposed to be encouraging people to use public transport rather than cars. There used to be a bus service cleverly timetabled to tie up with the trains - then someone had a bright idea - now they miss each other by about 5 minutes!

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

Patti > I wonder why public transit varies so much from city to city? I guess

OHHH, Polly! I bet their eyes got BIG when they realized it was 'real money' Thinking I may do that for the kidlets HB' next year Every HB we get them something that marks the year. (7 7 sticks of gum, 21 21 lottery tickets (Old enuf to gamble. no they don't do it -even when we head off tot eh local casino for dinner) Should have enuf 1's to wrap a smaller gift.

thanks Butterfly

I'm using recyclable bags, recycling everything we can, use the what-ever-they-are-called twirly lightbulbs and turn lights off when not in use.

We also donate all old clothes to various charities. If they're not good enough to pass on, they become cleaning rags.

And, I've joined a van-pool for commuting to work.

Happy recycling,

Lenore

I think you're right Roberta. I was listening to a Chicago radio station where they were reporting that the use of public transportation had increased significantly due to gas prices. On the surface that would seem to be a good thing for the transportation department. The trains are full to the extent they need to add cars. The extra income from ridership isn't close to covering the expenses of adding cars and employees. If they increase the fares enough to cover the extra costs, it's no longer that much cheaper for the riders to use the train rather than driving. It's a Catch

Public transit in Canada depends on where you live. Toronto has a great system, with buses and subways. Ottawa has built separate roadways for buses, so it is much faster to take the bus. When DH worked there, they had two fares, one during rush hours, and another the rest of the time. When I went to visit, I always made sure that I took the bus back to his apartment before the time change! Kingston has a struggling bus system. The routes are long and convoluted, so although you can get from here to there, it might take quite a long time! When DS2 was in high school, they had a co-op placement in grade 12. The position they found for him was downtown. His Dad could have dropped him off on his way to work, but to return to school in time for his afternoon classes, he would have had to leave 15 minutes later (long waits between connecting buses). Since we were one of the few 1 car families, we had to request another placement closer to home. The school was amazed that we didn't have a second car for his use, and that he didn't have a drivers' license! (He is in his mid 30's and still doesn't drive).

They have to keep the other routes during theday. Has to be there for ppl going to/from work/errands at any time of day. I'd hate to have to rely on one that only ran 2's a day. Wouldn't that defeat the purpose: I go to work at 9, leave at 10 to get to the DDS, come back after lunch, and get to leave early. Now HOW would I be able to do that if there were only 2 trains to catch.

It's a catch-22, but ppl rely on it , instead of having a car. Remember James Bond? He walked/rode his bike, took public transport, and didn't have a car whatsoever. When his Mum got ill, his Boss let him take his car.....train service didn't go that far out.

They're talking of putting in more around here. It would be much busier in the winter but it sure would keep a number of Senior Senior citizens from driving erratically. DS and I saw one last week, by the fast food places driving along--left hand side of the highway(((Fast lane))), suddenly STOPPED dead, turned right thru 3 lanes of moving 45 MPH traffic, drove in front of one of the buildings stopped and fell asleep whilst blocking the only in/out drive! DS laid on the horn, whipped on his ER lights, maneuvered by her, and kept beeping until she woke up and pulled into a parking place. Figured if he pounded on her window she'd have a heart attack from being frightened.

Lord only knows why she didn't get hit:. we sure don't. If only we had more public transport buses here, in our town, she could have taken it instead.

HTH Butterfly (who took them when she was visiting in Detroit, MI during my college years.)

KJ, Funny how both of us used Catch-22 in our replies. I replied before I read your post.

Butterfly (Must have Great Minds here LOLOLOLOL))

I don't think the Phoenix/Scottdale area will ever embrace a good public transportation system. They have been trying for decades. One of our neighbors was there specifically to design and lobby for a public system....back in the late 80's or early 90's. They had to move when it wasn't voted in. Off to a new city to try again. Defensive driving is the ONLY way to drive around there. A red light is only a suggestion.

And when I wrote mine.....I wondered how many people really know how that expression started....or if some people don't even know what it means! GMTA

Went with the fellas to run a few errands yesterday AM. Saw 3 diff folks run thru red lights that HAD been red--didn't just get caught at the tail-end of yellow.

Yuppers, they were a yakking on the phone.

Butterfly