Rigel (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} rigelkitty) wrote,@ 2008-04-22 00:02:00 |
|
For Erf Day
Recently, we took two major initiatives around the house to be more environmentally friendly.
We replaced all the primary bulbs in the house with compact fluorescents. Even if the bulbs were still good, we chucked 'em and replaced 'em. The CFs came in soft white, bright white, and daylight, from equivalent 40W to 150W, and even in three-way, so there was a variety to choose from. They're definitely nothing like the stereotypical buzzing, flickering office fluorescents people are used to. There's a 1-2 second delay when the light switch is flipped, and 30-60 seconds to warm up to full strength, but once they do they give off a brighter, stronger light than the incandescents did. I'm looking forward to watching what sort of dent it makes in our electric bill.
Also, I did a little research on recycling and discovered that Loudoun County recently began accepting curbside pickup of all household recycleable materials, denoted by the full range of icons, 1-7. Many areas only accept a subset, like 1-2. I also learned how much that actually covers. All cardboard and paperboard packaging, paper, cereal boxes, phone books, many plastic bags (others need to go to the supermarket recycle bins), product packaging, and even junk mail can be thrown in the recycle bin. We had to get a new larger bin, which we filled to overflowing capacity the first week we had it. I'd say 1/3 to 1/2 of all our waste by volume is now going into the recycling bin. Everything I throw out, I'm asking myself, "Is this recycleable?" If yes, into the bin.
This is all pretty easy stuff. Consider making a one-time splurge on compact fluorescents for your home since they last 10+ years, and check out what your area accepts in the way of recycling - it may be more than you think.
We're also watching the BBC's Planet Erf series. :)
Recently, we took two major initiatives around the house to be more environmentally friendly.
We replaced all the primary bulbs in the house with compact fluorescents. Even if the bulbs were still good, we chucked 'em and replaced 'em. The CFs came in soft white, bright white, and daylight, from equivalent 40W to 150W, and even in three-way, so there was a variety to choose from. They're definitely nothing like the stereotypical buzzing, flickering office fluorescents people are used to. There's a 1-2 second delay when the light switch is flipped, and 30-60 seconds to warm up to full strength, but once they do they give off a brighter, stronger light than the incandescents did. I'm looking forward to watching what sort of dent it makes in our electric bill.
Also, I did a little research on recycling and discovered that Loudoun County recently began accepting curbside pickup of all household recycleable materials, denoted by the full range of icons, 1-7. Many areas only accept a subset, like 1-2. I also learned how much that actually covers. All cardboard and paperboard packaging, paper, cereal boxes, phone books, many plastic bags (others need to go to the supermarket recycle bins), product packaging, and even junk mail can be thrown in the recycle bin. We had to get a new larger bin, which we filled to overflowing capacity the first week we had it. I'd say 1/3 to 1/2 of all our waste by volume is now going into the recycling bin. Everything I throw out, I'm asking myself, "Is this recycleable?" If yes, into the bin.
This is all pretty easy stuff. Consider making a one-time splurge on compact fluorescents for your home since they last 10+ years, and check out what your area accepts in the way of recycling - it may be more than you think.
We're also watching the BBC's Planet Erf series. :)
