YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Contribution

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Contribution https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 25 Apr 2026 16:53:38 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Jeanie on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1405163 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 07:45:36 +0000 Jeanie 1405163@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great topic!  Everyone has great ideas so far.   I volunteer at the Nature Conservancy and am very focused on what we can do to keep our water clean.  I've learned that lawn fertilizer is a very bad pollutant to our waters.  I do not fertilize the lawn or use pesticides in the garden or lawn to try to do my part.   I can understand why you don't want to drink your local water.  I am wondering if it would be cheaper and/or more environmentally friendly for you to get one of those water delivery services that you see in offices with the giant water bottle turned upside down on the water dispenser??? DonnaF on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1403457 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 03:11:35 +0000 DonnaF 1403457@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Be a good example to your little ones.  Don't buy in excess of anything.  Limit processed food.  Serve portions, and then seconds and thirds so there isn't a lot of food waste.  They don't need to have the latest and greatest and replace that ultimate electronic waste every year.  Teach them to turn off lights after leaving the room, that thermostats get turned down at night, and you don't heat in winter high enough to wear shorts, water gets turned off all the way, you don't spend five minutes warming up the water for a shower while you do who knows what.  I'm with starting with the basic old fashioned stuff and then going from there.  Maybe this is because I am writing this from my elderly mom's place and she has a horrifying amount of stuff that she neither needs nor uses, including a ginormous house. cheryle (Dianthus) on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1402721 Wed, 26 Nov 2014 12:01:36 +0000 cheryle (Dianthus) 1402721@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ One more thing.  I don't have a lot of grass so I bought a reel mower (no motor) to cut the grass.  The only energy it uses is generated by me and it is also almost silent.  I have read that gas lawn mowers are extremely poor in terms of fuel efficiency. rachylou on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1402547 Tue, 25 Nov 2014 23:29:37 +0000 rachylou 1402547@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ That's awesome, Marin! Anonymous on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1402528 Tue, 25 Nov 2014 21:50:52 +0000 Anonymous 1402528@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Rachylou, a friend and I have an on going 'did you fill you garbage can this week' contest. Of course bay area waste companies make it easy for us to NOT fill the black bin. Thistle- I struggle with the amount of consumption that comes with kids, babies in particular. I have not found an easy solution but do try to re-use, buy used, and just plain pass on a lot of the 'required gear'. Especially for babies & toddlers. They have no idea if something is new or not. A nice little consequence to this is my kids will tell me when something is ready to be passed on to someone else. Hopefully (really hoping on this one) that they will not become consumers for consumption sakes and pack rats like my inlaws. The other area I also watch is packaging, huge pet peeve of mine. I will pass on items because of massive packaging. Kudos to you for thinking of this and starting a discussion. Thistle on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1402483 Tue, 25 Nov 2014 19:15:18 +0000 Thistle 1402483@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/oct/27/toxic-plastic-synthetic-microscopic-oceans-microbeads-microfibers-food-chain" rel="nofollow">http://www.theguardian.com/sus.....food-chain</a> Here is the link Mander posted. TraceyLiz65 on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1402462 Tue, 25 Nov 2014 17:28:07 +0000 TraceyLiz65 1402462@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Do you have more on the source for the info on synthetic fibers in the water... My husband works for Culligan and would find it interesting... texstyle on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1402445 Tue, 25 Nov 2014 16:02:25 +0000 texstyle 1402445@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is such a near and dear topic to me. There are SO many things you can do to cut back on waste and pollution. One of the things on my own list: Write letters to your city and get them to stop putting unnecessary (and unproven) toxic flouride in your water system (at a cost of probably $1 million or more to taxpayers each year).  I guess the aluminum industry just needed a way to get rid of their toxic waste so selling cities the by products for unsuspecting people to consume seems to work for them. Do a search for "flouride and the aluminum industry" to learn more. It will make you mad. Most of Europe does not put this sodium fluoride in their water for good reason.  Flouride (not sodium flouride) applied directly on the tooth enamel and allowed to sit for a few minutes can reduce cavities in old studies. Flouride ingested as  drinking water does nothing more than poison you slightly. Reverse Osmosis filtration can get rid of it by the way. I would start with what's going in my body and on my body because good health can't be replaced and you have to be healthy to make any other differences. And then try to focus on the "bigger things" that can make the most impact. Our skin absorbs everything - that's why transdermal medications are so effective. Sunscreen might make you look younger, but is it worth the chemicals being absorbed? Could you just wear long sleeves and a hat? We "need" about 15-20 mins. of good full sun exposure a day to get enough Vit. D I thought.  You can't get it in a pill. It's not the same, research it. One of the "bigger things" to me is the huge impact of airline travel on the environment. Don't get me wrong, I've traveled too and I can't say no one should be able to travel by airplane - but there should be limits and we should not be traveling to multiple destinations every year like it means nothing.  It's like having thousands of gas powered mowers spewing unfiltered pollution overhead each time one airplane takes off. Think about the people living under flight paths. Studies show very negative health impacts. Aviation has been growing faster than any other source of greenhouse gases. Yet doesn't everyone try to tempt you to fly? You know "Where did YOU go for vacation this year?" or "Are you planning any trips soon?" Cars have emission control rules, Airplanes, no, not really. Reducing air travel may not be popular, but it's one of the "big ones" for reducing pollution. Okay, stepping off soap box. rabbit on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1402444 Tue, 25 Nov 2014 16:01:46 +0000 rabbit 1402444@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ We haven't been able to get solar in the past because of a tree directly blocking south facing light, but several neighbors have it, I understand various cities and towns have companies that lease the panels, making the installation affordable, for example: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/432457">http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/432457</a> My parents have had a solar hot water heater in the South for many years and been happy with the cost savings. Thistle on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1402410 Tue, 25 Nov 2014 14:27:31 +0000 Thistle 1402410@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Our friends did, but they are insanely expensive. I think she said it was like a 20 year payback to install them versus be on the grid. And, she got a fab discount as she is an environmental engineer. I have also wondered about wind power. If they have come up with small windmills (like the size of a Dish) to help. It might not be enough power for a whole house, but it could help. At least by me. Not quite living in the Windy City but close enough! Classically Casual on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1402237 Tue, 25 Nov 2014 03:40:10 +0000 Classically Casual 1402237@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Has anyone installed solar panels? I can't wait until they're vaguely affordable for homeowners. Even in climates that are not sunny all the time, they can be beneficial. cheryle (Dianthus) on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1402119 Tue, 25 Nov 2014 00:18:14 +0000 cheryle (Dianthus) 1402119@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I recycle and only put out garbage once every three or four weeks in colder weather.  I have a nest thermostat which can be set to away and senses when no one is home and lowers the temp.  I have no grass in the back and only a small patch in the front. I am sure we could do a lot more but it is a start. rachylou on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1402030 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 21:27:27 +0000 rachylou 1402030@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I had this funny conversation with someone once. He went for savings on doggy bags, buying the plastic ones, because he used so many. I was like, *Huh.* It's because I use and dispose of so many, that's why I chose doggy bags as a *splurge area* and buy the compostable corn ones. If you ask me, saving the planet can't be this separate, special activity. I feel it's gonna have to be a way of thinking... and them some begging and pleading with God to have all our individual choices sum up to something that doesn't kills us all off. I'm from the land of savage water-saving, composting, recycling, whatever-you-can-think-of... where people were ringing the alarm bells a half-century ago. So yeah, I think a lot of begging and pleading with God will be involved... hehe Anyways, I'll tell you what's fun - is trying to reduce how many bags of trash you fill up / the number of times a week you take the trash out. Hehe, I even stopped using the compostable bags that they give out the grocery (yeah, from the land of the savagely anti-plastic!) for your veg. Sal on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1402027 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 21:18:22 +0000 Sal 1402027@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It is an ongoing battle and there are things I feel I do well at, and others I really struggle with.  You do have a lot on your plate with a wee one but here are some simple ideas I have. - Shopping mindfully is a big one, and with children there can be temptations to buy plasticy junky toys.  Buying less and letting less into your home is a good start.  As with clothes, the truth is most baby clothes dry very quickly so with the rate they grow you don't need lots at each size. - Combining excursions ie doing three or more chores in the one car outing.  Or walking if you can, when you can - Not wasting food. It is good to be able to support each other on this journey. MsMary on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1401994 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 20:01:07 +0000 MsMary 1401994@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Here in the land of chronic water shortages, the thing I'm currently most excited about is having removed my front and back lawns and re-landscaped with a combination of hardscape and beautiful drought-tolerant plants.  Trying to make the new house energy efficient in other ways, too -- tankless water heater, programmable thermostat, energy star appliances, LED lightbulbs throughout, etc.  We have curbside recycling in my city and of course I do that.  And of course I bring my own bags to the grocery store -- plastic bags have been outlawed in my city for several years. texstyle on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1401977 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 19:17:55 +0000 texstyle 1401977@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I meant to add more but had to get lunch. I've been shopping at Whole Foods since they first opened in Austin way back when.  Buying local, organic produce has always been a priority and I also grow a lot of my own herbs (easy) and some produce (more time consuming). I use reusable bags for shopping and have for years. We try to do things like watering plants with water when rinsing a lot of produce and stuff in the sink (instead of letting it all just go down the drain). We compost a LOT. We use diatamaceous earth for a lot of our pest control  in the garden and around the house foundation (ants, spiders, etc. do not like it because it hurts to crawl across it). I like to make my own broths instead of buying packaged ones - I don't always do this, but when I can. I keep a stock of canning jars/lids of various sizes for this and the glass jars are much better and more eco friendly to store soups, sauces or leftovers. I also freeze my bread, rolls, muffins, etc., usually right away (keeping just enough out for 2 days). It lasts so much longer and can be toasted without thawing, or put in the oven or grill with other food to heat it up again.  Eating vegetarian at least a few times a week is softer on the environment. If you don't use a water heater blanket I'd add one. I recently discovered how easy/fast it was to make my own butter/buttermilk in the food processor. I will be doing this often from now on. Saves on buying all that packaged butter and I know it's made fresher. We purchased LED lighting for most of the house over time and buy low energy consuming appliances. I air dry most of my clothes (but not towels as it just takes too long and it's too windy/dusty to have a line outside here). I could go on, but you get the idea. rabbit on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1401972 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 18:59:06 +0000 rabbit 1401972@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ One of things we did is messed with our thermostat and adjusted our energy plan to try using heat more strategically/less often.   We also switched our trash pickup to once a month to save money (although we live in uber recycling land, so that still gets picked up weekly.)  We compost food scraps which the city will pickup if we didn't have a backyard bin -- which requires almost no fuss, we stir it a few times a year.   Buying Energystar and HE appliances,  putting those water saver regulators on sink and shower taps, replacing bulbs with compact fluorescents or LEDs were all one time things that we did and then didn't need to think about. Hmm, we don't buy tissues, napkins, or bags,  we use cloth handkerchiefs and napkins, and use recycled bags to line our kitchen trash and collect recycling.  Still have some paper towels for those kind of messes you don't want to go through the washer though. One thing that can be a pleasurable time suck, but can be a great hobby with kids is that we grow organic vegetables.  A 4x4 foot planter box or two generally can feed a family of four with most veggies you would want.   We're also a one car and several bike family, but I admit, I use the car most often, my DH is the one who bikes or jogs to and from work. I think like Marmee says, you should give yourself permission go easy on yourself and not make your life more complicated than necessary.  I also think though for myself, a lot of the habits my (very hippie) mom installed in me at a young age with regard to eating healthy foods and recycling/conserving/thrifting have lasted my whole life, so if there are some things that are easy to incorporate with young kids, that's great. ETA: We don't have a dryer, just some hanging racks in the basement. I can see the advantage of occasional dryer use though, but even indoors in a not really heated place in a rainy climate most clothes will dry fine hanging overnight. rebekahphoto on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1401971 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 18:57:07 +0000 rebekahphoto 1401971@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ we are really trying to consciously change our habits to be more earth friendly, some are small and some larger changes we hope for the future. -the easiest is we recycle & compost,-all food scraps & food paper/plants (both are required in our neighborhood) & feed scraps to the chickens. -we have 1 car and both commute by bus to work. Its is not the fastest, or always most convenient, but by far the best we can do to reduce emissions & traffic -we shop in bulk, organic & thrift -Garden & buy local for food -Trying consciously to reduce our consumption of items made overseas/china. when you start to pay attention, so many of our materials goods in the US are made in China. We really noticed while in Italy this summer (most of their goods were made in Italy) -We are enjoying supporting local artists with handmade dishes! love! & are reducing our consumption of plastic -we installed a gas on demand hot water heater. great energy saver -We hope to install solar panels in the future! texstyle on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1401964 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 18:40:31 +0000 texstyle 1401964@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Buy a reverse osmosis water filter for your home and fill up your own water bottles. It supposedly can remove up to 90% of the radium. You can buy them at Home Depot, etc. Thistle on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1401943 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:56:40 +0000 Thistle 1401943@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Grocery bags, check. Doing that. Bottled water . . . I am guilty of, but only because we have radium in our water supply from naturally occurring radium deposits in the soil. They have been trying to find a way to make the water comply with EPA standards, and still haven't in the 12 years we've lived here. I get. Notice in each water bill saying it still doesn't meet EPA standards for radium. I have yet to find a filter, even professionally installed, that removes radium. And we looked. If anyone knows of one, would totally check it out. Peri on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1401941 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:50:35 +0000 Peri 1401941@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I used to buy bottled water and only drink that...it was convenient and tasted better. But the thought of all that waste...bottling something (and paying for it) that I could get from the faucet...got to me. I bought a water filter and stainless steel bottles about 3 years ago and don't miss the bottled stuff. That's one small thing.  tolkitty on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1401922 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:13:20 +0000 tolkitty 1401922@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It's definitely a challenge when we live busy lives! I work in the nonprofit sector so I feel like that is a huge contribution already, but I admit I struggle like anyone else. In my household here are a few of the things we try to do: - Buy from local businesses and producers - I frequently give locally made speciality foods and wines for gifts. - Shop at a community food co-op, where I can support local farmers and buy pantry foods in bulk. (My former job was a block away, so it was really convenient!) - Reuse plastic bags and/or use cloth bags when shopping.  - Unplug electronic items/small appliances overnight or when not in use - such as computers, modem, printer, tv, cable box, microwave. (They pull electricity even when turned off.) I think the main word for me is "try" - even if I'm not doing these things every day, or if I forget to bring bags during a shopping trip, the times that I do remember add up and make a difference.  Marmee on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1401915 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:02:06 +0000 Marmee 1401915@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Your question has startled me out of my lurking.  I live in the land of rabid recycling and food composting, and I do both, but I think that you need to give yourself a break right now.  When the city first asked us to separate our food scraps and put them in the yard waste bins, my kids were about 2 and four.  I tried for a few weeks, but it was just more than I can manage at the time, and I gave up for a while.  We do it now, and I never think twice about it, but my kids are older. I think the most important thing now for you to focus on is taking care of your children and focusing on how the environment effects their health.  Do you feed them organic foods as much as possible?  Also, consider what sunscreens your are using on them.  Have you seen<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/list.php"> this list</a> or <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/what-not-to-bring-on-vacation/">this one</a>?   There will be time to save the world in a few years!<div> </div> Suz on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1401910 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 16:40:45 +0000 Suz 1401910@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Such a good question, Thistle. I feel implicated for sure, both with my ordering, and also my frequent wardrobe purges. I know I'm hardly the worst offender -- and yet.... Currently I live in a neighbourhood that is a "walker's paradise" so I don't use a car very often -- this is one small contribution. But we may have to move soon to a neighbourhood that is further out, and that will mean I'll be adding to the issues in that way.  catgirl on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1401906 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 16:30:10 +0000 catgirl 1401906@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ EXCELLENT TOPIC! I feel like all the ordering and returning I do is wasting so much packaging and shipping energy even though I am a crazed recycler  Thistle on "Contribution" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/contribution#post-1401894 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 16:05:56 +0000 Thistle 1401894@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ The post Mander started about finding synthetic fibers in the water supply, coupled with an update from a very environmentally conscious friend, got me thinking. I really do want to be more environmentally conscious, but (there is always a but, isn't there?). The two small children I want to save the planet for consume most of my time. Seriously. There are days I have to squeeze I. Eating lunch. And I live in the Rust Belt, not a naturally environmentally conscious place like the West Coast. Wondering what small things any of you do to walk more gently. (And yes, we do recycle. But it seems so small in the scheme of things.)