The above inflation rises in food and fuel have forced many to live more frugally. In answer to growing awareness of green issues, many 'green gadget' websites have started up, promising to sell you things that will reduce your bills.
The best way to save money is to leave your wallet in your pocket. I haven't seen a single green gadget website from which I would want to buy anything. Everything they peddle is a load of rubbish.
The key to green living is to consume less. I have a car but won't buy a more efficient one until this one falls apart. Until then I will leave it in the garage until I really need it and when I do need it then I will eco-drive it. That's one less car that has to be built with valuable raw materials.
I had a fridge and when it gave up on me I bought a small camping fridge that runs off a 12V battery. Now, I just buy things that need to be refrigerated only when I need them. That cuts down on wasted produce hidden at the back of a big fridge and reduces the amount of power needed to run a fridge.
Too many people rush out and buy things that are advertised as being more efficient without thinking of how much energy went into manufacturing, transporting and advertising these latest products.
If a wealthy person wants to get rid of a functioning fridge for an A-class one then take their old one off their hands for nothing. The Freecycle website is full of not-so-intelligent but wealthy people getting rid of functioning fridges, washing machines and televisions.
Make-do with what you have. Run it into the ground. Replace only those things that you really need. Downsize. Change your lifestyle to suit your decreased wealth.
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13 comments:
Yea, I think consume less is definitely the key. It is so hard for us to wrap our heads around that, me very much included. I am trying though!
sadly, "energy star" appliances are really only about saving money, i don't think anyone these days actually cares about how much better it is (or isn't) for the environment, using less electricity for save some green in their pocket book is about it.
I totally agree. I keep my cars as long as possible. When I think about all the time and energy that goes into manufacturing cars, it just doesn't make sense to get a new one every five years. It is so much more efficient to get it fixed.
I agree as well though I have saved about $2,000 to $3,000 a year using rechargeable batteries over disposable ones...
Amen! "Being green" is not an excuse for more consumption. And when I am in the market for something, I have found that 9/10 times that I can find it discounted, or even for free if I mention to a few friends that I am looking for something specific.
I do agree with the previous post - rechargeable batteries are great. I would have to add the energy-efficient light bulbs to the list too!
I too have a lot of battery operated things running on rechargeables.
Only useful things though. A radio, noise cancelling earphones, razor and a phone. No other gadgets.
I agree but why is it that we still don't have a better resource to run out cars outside of gas. I think this is the most important "green" issues that we have.
Unfortunately, nothing packs the energy density of petrol (gasoline) and diesel and is as cheap.
Even with oil over $100 a barrel, it is cheap.
It is also a fluid, which is easily transportable.
Even electric cars depend on oil for manufacture and generation of electricity.
Good logic but it doesn't apply to everything at all.
It's been realy challenging but I think I'm finally getting it. This is great advice for those like me who are just becoming more aware and trying to waste and consume less.
We feel we've cut back, but we could certainly do more. I think it is a process. Once we give up something for a while and get used to that, then we give up something else. For example, we switched to only buying our bottled water in larger jugs to use less plastic,but we still buy bottled water.
We've joined a CSA, but are having difficulties consuming all the vegetables. We give much away so that it gets used, but sometimes we don't catch it in time and we have to dispose of it.
As individuals, we feel it's important to do our part, but it is frustrating sometimes to see some of these big companies not giving a hoot. I could conserve for 10 years and it wouldn't off-set what some of them do in a day.
But I'll keep working towards being more green, both in frugal and not so frugal ways. The only way to help change is to live by example.
Saving money is good, but when we do so, we should also consider saving our environment. Why don't we car about the environment anyway? Because it is not registered under a specific person's name?
I am gonna drive my car until it falls apart. there are very few green products worth purchasing so i am keeping my money in my pocket as well.
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