How do you help to save the planet?

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
I think the whole concept of helping save the planet is ludicrous. The planet will maintain itself just fine for many millions more years without our input. Humanity is what may be facing its doom.

That part isn't really relevant. Its not so much the planet you're saving but your habitat, and by that I mean, the parts of the world that humans inhabit. Pollute less and you get less polluted water to drink, aire to breath, so on and so forth.

So yeah, you're right its humanity, not Earth itself. Of course that could also depend on your spirituality/religion (some treat Earth as an entity).

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i don't buy into that greenie hippie non-sense

http://www.pics.bbzzdd.com/bet...rs/nick1985/hippie.jpg

Sadly enough, a lot of it is hippie bullshit, but a good amount of green methods/technology (composting, some forms of recycling, nuclear powerplants, etc) has legit scientific backing.

 

[Viper GTS]

I follow ZV's plan.

I got 13.5 mpg on my last tank of gas, & loved every minute of it.

Viper GTS

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
I think the whole concept of helping save the planet is ludicrous. The planet will maintain itself just fine for many millions more years without our input. Humanity is what may be facing its doom.

That part isn't really relevant. Its not so much the planet you're saving but your habitat, and by that I mean, the parts of the world that humans inhabit. Pollute less and you get less polluted water to drink, aire to breath, so on and so forth.

So yeah, you're right its humanity, not Earth itself. Of course that could also depend on your spirituality/religion (some treat Earth as an entity).

It isn't humanity. It is the Earth. The soil, the climate, the habitats. It is also the animals, the plants, and humans.

The simplest way to phrase it is to say the Earth.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

I don't litter.
I enable AMD Cool N' Quiet.
I always have the bare minimum number of lights/ceiling fans running in my house.
My 125cc motorcycle may have a crappy 60mph top-speed but hey, 120 miles-per-gallon.
I also love eating the cows.

 

[Fritzo]

Has the weather really been all that different as opposed to 100, 200, or 1000 years ago?

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
I follow ZV's plan.

I got 13.5 mpg on my last tank of gas, & loved every minute of it.

Viper GTS

Me too. A few weeks back, I tried increasing my gas mileage by easing off the acceleration, keeping a steady pace and staying close to 55-60 mph on the highway. After about 2 days, I thought to myself "This sucks, why the hell do I have a Charger Hemi if I'm going to watch my gas mileage." From there, I floored it and haven't thought about it again.

 

[CatKillaZ]

I don't buy that global warming BS either. I do think people need to stop littering though and minimize waste if possible. Get off the oil!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I ensure that the gasoline I used is used to power cars that are fun to drive, and that I derive enjoyment and satisfaction out of its use rather than being miserly and "saving" gasoline by driving a soul-less econobox that I despise.

I also use compact fluorescent lightbulbs.

ZV

I can't say that using CFL is green. CFLs contain mercury, which as I'm sure you know, is disastrous on the environment. When you throw a CFL away, it most likely ends up broken and in a landfill. That mercury accumulates and leeches into ground water, poisoning everything in its path. Until there are controlled CFL disposal methods, their benefits are questionable.

Less electricity or more mercury?

Oh for pete's sake. Kids used to play with mercury in science classes in school and there weren't vast instances of mercury poisoning back in the 50's and 60's. Unless you're washing your hands with it every day, it's not going to accumulate enough to be an issue. It's like all the BS around Tuna. Or the BS around asbestos. (Hint, don't grind asbestos into powder and snort it and you'll be 100% fine.)

There's not enough mercury in a CFL to pose a threat. You probably worry about getting cancer from secondhand smoke too.

ZV

 

[Kirby]

meh, i ain't worried bout it.

 

[Mxylplyx]

I own 30 Toyota Prius's that I dont drive.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Has the weather really been all that different as opposed to 100, 200, or 1000 years ago?

Well, I do know the winds have shifted and we're now downwind of the bulllsh!t.

 

[tfcmasta97]

I help by cranking my AC up on really hot days, mowing my lawn every other day, and letting it run out the tank to make sure it's working well.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I ensure that the gasoline I used is used to power cars that are fun to drive, and that I derive enjoyment and satisfaction out of its use rather than being miserly and "saving" gasoline by driving a soul-less econobox that I despise.

I also use compact fluorescent lightbulbs.

ZV

I can't say that using CFL is green. CFLs contain mercury, which as I'm sure you know, is disastrous on the environment. When you throw a CFL away, it most likely ends up broken and in a landfill. That mercury accumulates and leeches into ground water, poisoning everything in its path. Until there are controlled CFL disposal methods, their benefits are questionable.

Less electricity or more mercury?

Oh for pete's sake. Kids used to play with mercury in science classes in school and there weren't vast instances of mercury poisoning back in the 50's and 60's. Unless you're washing your hands with it every day, it's not going to accumulate enough to be an issue. It's like all the BS around Tuna. Or the BS around asbestos. (Hint, don't grind asbestos into powder and snort it and you'll be 100% fine.)

There's not enough mercury in a CFL to pose a threat. You probably worry about getting cancer from secondhand smoke too.

ZV

I can calculate the risks for you. They are there. Second hand smoke is a huge health risk. For you, ignorance is bliss.

 

[Twista]

isgust;

 

[slsmnaz]

Member of some of the best conservation groups out there: Arizona Antelope Foundation, Rocky Mtn Elk and Wild Turkey Fed. I feel they do much better things with my money/time than I could as an individual. My hunting/fishing license money also goes toward the same.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I ensure that the gasoline I used is used to power cars that are fun to drive, and that I derive enjoyment and satisfaction out of its use rather than being miserly and "saving" gasoline by driving a soul-less econobox that I despise.

I also use compact fluorescent lightbulbs.

ZV

I can't say that using CFL is green. CFLs contain mercury, which as I'm sure you know, is disastrous on the environment. When you throw a CFL away, it most likely ends up broken and in a landfill. That mercury accumulates and leeches into ground water, poisoning everything in its path. Until there are controlled CFL disposal methods, their benefits are questionable.

Less electricity or more mercury?

Oh for pete's sake. Kids used to play with mercury in science classes in school and there weren't vast instances of mercury poisoning back in the 50's and 60's. Unless you're washing your hands with it every day, it's not going to accumulate enough to be an issue. It's like all the BS around Tuna. Or the BS around asbestos. (Hint, don't grind asbestos into powder and snort it and you'll be 100% fine.)

There's not enough mercury in a CFL to pose a threat. You probably worry about getting cancer from secondhand smoke too.

ZV

I can calculate the risks for you. They are there. Second hand smoke is a huge health risk. For you, ignorance is bliss.

No, ZV is right, the amount of mercury in CFLs is negligible and mercury is not that dangerous anyhow. Just don't inhale the dust after you accidentally break your light. The trouble is, you're talking across purposes. The mercury in YOUR CFLs is no risk to you or your family. The sum of everyone using CFLs might approximate a spill the size of one 50 gallon drum of mercury over the next half century -- not nice, but so long as you don't drink the water at the dump, not a major threat.

 

[Feldenak]

I don't.

 

[Wheezer]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i don't buy into that greenie hippie non-sense

http://www.pics.bbzzdd.com/bet...rs/nick1985/hippie.jpg

:thumbsup:

now excuse me while I go run my car's AC to cool the vehicle down before I drive it...I hate when leather sticks to the back of your thighs on a hot summer day.

 

[magomago]

I never use the air conditioner in the house~ I have a fan instead. I always [try] to turn off the lights. I don't drive above 3K rpms on my civic so I can stay in the 30MPG range (and this is with AC on 24/7 in the car going at a steady 70mph when driving conditions allow it xD ). Unless I'm torrenting (either a linux iso, or some foreign stuff I could never find here anyways) , the pc is off when i'm gone, and we recycle bottles, and water plants only in the evening once the sun goes down to save water
My roomie wants double pane windows right now...mainly because he wants to turn on the AC for 20 minutes and then have the house stay nice and cool the rest of the day

the reality is it is really EASY to "save the planet" or whatever else you want to call it. Its just being smart about things...like an engnieer

I think its important to take care of our enviornment...because we live in it.

If anything I'm interested in minizimizing waste because it means our resrouces last longer~ and I can't see why anyonem would be opposed to that

 

[GRIFFIN1]

On average, I kill one homeless person a month. I know homeless people don't produce that much carbon, but it makes me feel better to know I'm doing something to help the planet.

 

[TankGuys]

1 - My wife and I just had a geothermal heating/cooling system installed in our house.

2 - We participate in the recycling program for metal/paper/plastics

3 - Every lightbulb in our house in a CFL (and, when they break/die, we properly dispose of them )

4 - We carpool whenever possible.

5 - Both our cars are pretty fuel efficient, and we practice 'smart' driving habits.

6 - We compost

7 - We generate little trash - we only have to take our can to the road every 3 weeks or so (downside... it gets pretty smelly by then )


I'm sure there are more little things, but those are the main ones.

 

[Xavier434]

I do all the things that save me money and help the planet as an added bonus. I also rarely litter. Beyond that, I don't care much.

 

[dullard]

1) Environmental stuff is important but it is far exaggerated. Don't fall into that "save teh environment" trap too much. But don't ignore it either.

2) I help by recycling paper/aluminum cans. I help by using very little energy (low utility bills due to nearly non-existant AC/heating use, good electricity and water conservation methods, and fuel efficient car at lower than average miles driven per year). Finally, I live in America, a country that ranks very high for this ratio [GDP production of goods and services]/[energy used]. That is, we do more with a given amount of energy than many other countries.

Originally posted by: Safeway
I can calculate the risks for you.

Good, so why don't you. Compare the amount of mercury exposed to the environment from (A) CFL breaking + CFL energy usage to (B) normal lightbulb energy usage.

Let me give you a hint: producing energy puts a LOT of mercury in the air you breathe. Hint #2: (B) releases more mercury than (A). Hint #3: I'd rather the mercury be enclosed in a bulb than in the air I breathe.

Now, Safeway, Go to it. Do the calculations. I gave you the answers, so it should be like highschool math when you can get the answers in the back of the book.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Well here in Dallas, where we are used to 100 straight days of 100+ degree weather, we haven't had one day of it yet this year. We've had lots of rain, so all in all, I think we are making the planet better.

I'm thinking of trading in my Kia and getting a V10 gas Excursion so i can get the crappiest gas milage of anything on the road.