lol
Oh yes, the carbon footprint.
Last night we had a Costco dish of chicken with broccoli and cheese inserts, and it needed to be cooked at 400 degrees for about 30 mins. during which I set my timer and tried to do my 3 times a week exercises.
When I pulled it out to have with a can of baked beans and a can of green beans my daughter helpfully pointed out we were eating TWO kinds of beans.
She and I then walked the dogs and then raced off to an Al-Anon meeting.
When I got home from our meeting, I walked into the kitchen and smelled HEAT.
Yep, I'd left the oven on at 400 for 3 hours....sigh....
Now I'm going to have to clean Zip Lock bags, dig out the remnants of a used up Anti Perspirant stick and plaster an old bar to a new bar of soap for years!
I can't even begin to talk about lights!
Cindy
jbkpottery.com

Your dad must be related to my dad. He has told my kids that they are in charge of "their electricity" for their rooms and now both do turn their lights off...but still the rest of the house remains illuminated. We have begun recycling more and more and now my husband and I are obsessed with that as we try to reduce our carbon footprint, too.
By the way, I, too, look forward to your editor's letter each month, and it really is the only one I read of all the magazines I take. Thanks!

My mom was (and is) always anal about the lights too. I remember leaving our kitchen with a nice bowl of ice cream, snuggling into the couch to watch my favorite TV show, just in time for my mom to look up from her book and say, "Surely, you didn't leave the kitchen light on, did you?" I rolled my eyes back then; but now that I'm out of the house, I find myself enforcing the same obsessive idiosyncracies--or more nicely put environmental awareness--in my own home. I've come to love the darkness of the house in every room that I'm not, and also can enjoy my TV shows more knowing that my mom would be proud.

I stopped taking a bag when I shop. Not grocery shopping - I take those bags and reuse them. It would be very hard to get my order home without them. But when possible, I either reuse a bag I have or just stick the item and receipt in my purse; I carry a large purse. My mom did this for years and years and we all laughed at her but it was her "thing". How wise my mom was - aren't all parents, in hindsight! Now it's become my "thing". When retailers start charging for bags - Ikea charges a nickle, then probably more people will find they don't need one. I've read this small act can help the environment. Maybe that can off-set the carbon footprint of our household.

My dad sounds like your dad...except when I used to leave a light on at home my dad would make me give him a dollar towards the electricity bill...each and every time!

CFL lulbs are tricky.
Supposedly, there are new-age CFLs that are kinder on the eyes, with better colors and improved quality.

I also have been swapping out standard bulbs in favor of CFLs, but I have a wait-and-see attittude.

And what about the little lights on the computer, the microwave and other appliances? Those little standby lights eat up a lot of juice & money.
What do you do about those?

Take Care.
Sharon aka The Frugal Duchess...

By the way, I really liked your November letter and your comments about Jim Baker.

It's so thoughtful to appreciate the people in our professional and personal lives.

My father passed down the same obsession. Though I think he was less concerned about saving the environment and more concerned about saving the budget.
However, I have no suggestions about how to get others to turn off the lights b/c I cannot for the life of me convince my husband to turn off a light when he leaves the room (I am sure as we speak he is at home with EVERY light on).
On reducing my carbon footprint I have purchased some energy saving bulbs, which I also don’t like the delay or the fluorescence, but “reduce, reuse, recycle” is what I tell myself when I flip the switch. I have also purchased Seventh Generation products and reusable grocery bags (Wal-Mart & Publix sell them for $1). AND I have decided to help friends and family reduce theirs by giving them “Go Green” starter kits for Christmas complete with reusable shopping bags, Seventh Generation products, energy saving bulbs, and a list of energy saving and recycling tips from RS.

I sound like your father. I live in a *tiny 2 bedroom apt, alone now, but once-upon-a-time I had a roommate, and it would drive me nuts that she would leave every light on, in said tiny apt. it would drive me nuts. why do you need a light on in a bedroom your not in? I guess living on my own and paying the bills made me realize the worth to the environment and my bank account. she has since moved out, and I must say my electric bill is now quite low :) i will need to revisit this topic, when i am married with kids of my own, i am not quite sure this will be high on my list ;)

btw, I love your blogs, I love real simple. so thank you for sharing your world with us! it gives the magazine an even more human touch.

Another challenge for me is the fact that we're headed into Christmas light season. We don't have the fancy automatic timer lights and I am always kicking myself when I get home from work and realize that the lights were on all night, all day, and now will be on all evening since it's time to turn them on (if they had been off!). Our carbon footprint seems to expand exponentially in December!

What is it about dads? Mine was always turning out lights, even when the switch was still warm from turning it (them) on! Now, the Dad in our household is the same way. When he is home alone, it looks like nobody is home as we come in the drive.
About the CFLs, how can they be good when they have to be disposed of specially because of the chemicals they contain? don't like their light, either. The shopping bag thing is important, but I still get them every time we shop. I make comments about becoming my mother when I (rarely) rinse out a Zip-Loc bag. I use some 7th Generation and all "green" detergents, mostly because of sensitive skin issues, plus I read on one label that brighteners can stick to the skin indefinitely. That was thought-provoking.
Thanks for your blog, I am a faithful reader, and enjoy catching up when I haven't had a chance to read for a few days/week. I really liked the pix of the pumpkins!
One more thing, we've commented jokingly in our house about how a magazine called "Real Simple" could be so thick...but we all grab it and read it!! I find the prices on some of the featured products pretty prohibitive, but to each his/her own.
Thanks again,
Ruth

I am off to bed but couldn't wait to read you blog. Just so you know, your Editor's note is the first thing I read in the magazine each month - I love it. I think it has something to do with the fact we both spell our name correctly (not "en"), have 3 kids and that your sense of humor and honesty is refreshing! My 3rd child is now 5 so life is getting a little easier - but the middle schooler troubles just make things harder! Thanks for giving me a great escape each month!

Lights and recycling feel like they're just the beginning of the battle. We have three recycle piles at our house. One: what the weekly pick up will take, which is pretty much glass, tin and plastic. Two: plastic bags and foam cartons to be taken to the grocery store because the weekly pickup will not take them. Three: any paper products to be taken to the recycling center because the weekly pickup will not take them.

My boyfriend has decided he also wants to compost. I don't mind that much because he does the actual. All I have to do is set aside the kitchen scraps and such to go out to the bin.

BUT his obsession has gotten to the point that he is now talking about trying to compost the leaves he sees in our neighbors yards, he keeps ordering books off Amazon, built a compost bin at his job and he's talking about visiting a vermiculture farm so that he can begin composting using earthworms too.

My dad used to pull out the 'ol "Do you think I work for the electric company?" line, and I just have a question: Does working for the electric company automatically give your kids permission to leave lights on? Do they get their electricity at a reduced rate? Is that one of the perks? ... Oh, and what if money did grow on trees?

I think I would be more apt to recycle if I didn't feel like I needed to rinse and clean everything! Don't get me wrong--there is still peanut butter in my jars but ugghh! Does anyone out there know if this "rinsing and cleaning" is necessary?? Maybe recycling should be put on Kristin's list of Things That Should be Easy But Aren't! We are trying to do our part but it does make you wonder if I REALLY am making THAT big of a difference??!! It's pretty sad really, I think the majority of Americans just think, "out of sight, out of mind" when it comes to trash....meaning, I'm done with it...goes in the trash....but from there, it's overwhelming to think about what really goes on. Maybe I need to take a little trip to the old landfill to remind myself how important it all is! Have a great weekend everyone!

LOL..I thought i was the only one that saved ziplocs!! hehe. What about replacing your light switches with the sensor ones that will automatically come on when you enter a room and shut off if there is no movement after a period of time? I have thought about doing this, even if i just do a few at a time (i think they might be kinda pricy to do my whole house at once). Also, wouldn't be effective for the big open areas with mulitple switches/lights...but at least it would be a start! Goodluck!! hehe

Two things: Staci, check with your town, you don't necessarily have to rinse stuff out.
And Rachel: Hilarious.

My significant other and I are also strict about lights being on when not needed (it bothers him more than me because I'm thinking about other more important things. :) But we mainly try to turn them off to save ourselves a few pennies per month.
If you really want to get your kids involved, you can give them a small extra allowance for turning lights off. Money is always a good incentive for kids. :)

Global Warming is the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind since the beginning of time. Al Gore, the man who "invented" the internet, is pushing this fraud because he stands to make millions. How, you say? He OWNS the bogas carbon credit company that will "offset" your carbon footprint. This would be funny but so many people have been duped into believing this scam, it is simply scary and sad.

Global Warming is the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind since the beginning of time. Al Gore, the man who "invented" the internet, is pushing this fraud because he stands to make millions. How, you say? He OWNS the bogas carbon credit company that will "offset" your carbon footprint. This would be funny but so many people have been duped into believing this scam, it is simply scary and sad.

my grandfather settled this argument in his house once and for all. he simply removed the lightbulbs from the places in the house that really didn't need any extra light. not every corner of every room needs to be highlighted.

I work for a home builder and something my coworkers and I have discussed on numerous occasions is 'why don't they just tell me they have extra?' We are talking about cost savings in that sence buy truly believe that if we layed a dollar bill on the ground someone would pick it and not leave it laying around like extra construction material sometimes do. Maybe you should try taping money to the light switch. Even if it doesn't work it could be funny to talk to visitors about.

It's baby steps! You have changed out the bulbs and the newer generation ones are quite better this past. I too take my own bag to the grocery store or every where else, cashier's look at me funny but I don't care. I have enough of those plastic bags to cover the earth several times. We all just have to do our part and continue to educate and share our stories with others to motivate them to do same. I have a roommate who leaves lights on too and likes the shower to run for about 10 minutes before she even decides to get in, talk about wasteful.

I'm convinced it's the age - teens and pre-teens don't equate what they might advocate for in school with their own home, and younger kids just don't understand the need. Then there's the issue of children feeling safer with lights on - they don't want to walk into a dark room, even if the light switch is right next to them. You/we will have to figure out a way to kill the monsters in those dark rooms, which will be particularly difficult b/c no one will admit to fearing them, let alone their existence and how can you kill something that doesn't exist. But don't go into that dark room b/c monsters might be there. We won't even get into husbands and TVs.

I try to do my part with the lights (thanks Dad!) but my new contribution to the environment is calling the 800 # on every catalog I receive the day I receive it and ask them to stop sending them. I never shop from catalogs and always online so no need to waste all that paper :). I hope my mail carrier appreciates it too! Every little bit helps, right?

I too have been trying to reduce our 6 person family's carbon footprint and assuage my guilt for driving a minivan... I joined the elementary school's "green" group in hopes that I could help make a difference. So far, I am dumping out recycle bins full of nasty trash and driving broken electronics to the trash dump. I am not sure why I thought being a part of the green group would be a bit sexier... The worst part is that I can't get anyone in my family (including my darling husband) to recycle or turn out lights and my guilt has increased exponentially. It's an uphill battle. But I think it's worth it.

Some of the lights switches could be changed to the sensor variety that go on when you enter the room. Also if they are florescent they do not use as much energy and if turned off and on frequently they don't last as long. You can always say that your house is safer since it has more lights on and burglers don't want to be noticed.

If this theory is true, then when my husband (who loves to leave lights, the tv, computer, etc on) becomes a dad, will some internal timer switch him to "lights off guy?" That would be an interesting perk to becoming a parent!

f the Real Simple editor really wanted to go green, she could start by printing the magazine on recycled paper that is not sourced from endangered forests. Many companies/magazines/catalogs have gone this route. You can get more information at http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/woodwise/publishers/magazines/index.cfm
This is the reason I cancelled my Real Simple subscription -- all that nonsense about the abundant forest council. Just the timber industry talking. Walk the walk and talk the talk, Real Simple. You'll make your customers happy. I might even renew my subscription!

This was really funny! Most commentators were interesting to read -laughed out loud with some of their contributions.
We no longer have children at home, but my husband has taken over the role of the "turn all lights on" squad. I believe he thinks I won't miss the young ones so much if he does what they used to do!!!
and Margaret Weber: what the heck is a "bogas"???? Your letter was particularly odd.

My dad would always say (and still says) "When not in use, turn off the juice!" It's always stuck with me.

As far as the lighting goes, my husband found the natural light compact flourescents because I had the same feeling about the greenhouse type light they put off. I like the natural light so much better (it's like a regular lightbulb). It's very natural and a bit brighter.

We recycle monthly and have built a shelf in our garage to hold our recycling bins so that everything is organized.

I started using Shaklee's "Get Clean" line as shown on Oprah's favorite things! My favorites are the scouring product, the Basic H2, the HE laundry soap and fabric softener and the dishwasher powder.

mandavk@yahoo.com

The stores don't sell the best CFL bulbs. Most don't note the 'color temperature' the lower the better... (lower = more like incandescent) the higher numbers believe it or not look more like natural sunlight. Try the internet to fine the best CFL you'll barely know the difference vs incandescent. Also, for the lights on the fridge, stove, microwave, outdoor lights that stay on all the time try buying some LED bulbs. I replaced the icemaker bulb on my fridge with this 2 years ago. It uses a fraction of a watt and its been on constantly. Lastly, don't worry about indicator lights on appliances, these are LED's also. Try getting energy star appliances becauses they are regulated for how much electricity they use while 'off'.

Guilt is good. If we all feel enough guilt about leaving the lights on, our carbon footprints, not re-using our Ziploc bags... that it helps us change our bad habits, then guilt is good. Don't beat yourself up too much, however, as we are all works in progress, right?

I have been trying to illuminate the dull bulbs of Mankind since 2001 that we produce enough surplus Energy in this Country everyday esp. during the "off peak" to power hundreds of millions perhaps a billion homes and it is just going to waste.

The Utilities have told us "we cannot store Energy" What do they think the battery in their car is for?

I live in CT and last week I gave yet one more testimony to the CT Energy Advisory Board, and I could not believe my ears. The Commissioner of the CT Department of Utility Controls made the statement we have huge power plants on line at full power all the time that we don't take a single electron from. The reason he gave is it takes many days to ramp them up so they just let them run in case we need them.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has sead the same thing in a study on Renewable Energy Resources. Without Energy Storage NREL has stated Solar & Wind will never make it.

Then they did the study again in the year 2020 with the general assumption we now know how to store Energy, and Solar & Wind works.

For a 50 (+) year old technology to store "off peak" lower cost Energy for use the next day during the "peak" see www.mrelectricity.com

Homeowners in CA have reduced their Electric Bills by 2/3 rds on a time of use rate plan with PG&E.

In CT we now have a new Energy Bill directing the Utilities to put in the infrastructur for "Smart Meters" and Time of use rates. With an Energy Storage System you can set the price your willing to pay to recharge the batteries. When the price is higher the Energy Storage System will switch back to the batteries and now all the appliances on it will be running on lower cost stored Energy raising their efficiency to 100% in so far as the "peak" load is concerned.

Do this in enough homes and we can shut down dirty wasteful surplus generation forever.

Now that's a Carbon Footprint reduction!

Make it a contest and reward the players. For my family (no kids), we reward ourselves when we keep the electric bill down. Because our water heater, furnace, cooking and dryer are gas, we know that the electricity bill is mainly our light usage (and jacuzzi in the winter, though we noted that by decreasing the standby temp by 2 degrees, there was a drastic drop in electricity).

I used to want to have a Huge Impact on this world. Now I'd like to have as little and impact as possible.

One thing I did that worked with making my family more green (because there is really no way to atone for all of the plastic Polly Pockets and Barbies we have) is to involve the kids in thinking up ways in which we can be better stewards. My kids decided that they wanted to set up a compost pile. We did the research, bought a bin and have reduced our kitchen trash by a LOT. (Of course, the composting duties fall to me but I'm okay with that. Mostly.)

It's amazing to me that your life and mine run in such parallel lines. Kind of comforting, actually.

Margaret,

While buying carbon credits may not be the most ideal way to offset your carbon footprint, we have a responsibility as human beings to protect and maintain the planet on which we live. Small changes count too.

Just a few thoughts....
- take your own bags to the grocery store (or, if you forget, choose paper bags as they come from a renewable resource and are recyclable)
- turn off the water while you brush your teeth
- keep your house a few degrees cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer

MARGARET WEBERDec 12, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Global Warming is the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind since the beginning of time. Al Gore, the man who "invented" the internet, is pushing this fraud because he stands to make millions. How, you say? He OWNS the bogas carbon credit company that will "offset" your carbon footprint. This would be funny but so many people have been duped into believing this scam, it is simply scary and sad.

I, like you, have this ongoing problem in my house. I arrive home to find that all lights are on, including the TV..... who is watching it??? I ask!! NO ONE answers. So I, like you walk around telling everyone (no one) that I am reducing our carbon footprint. But no one hears me!!! Oh well I keep trying. I believe all parents, and now me, are related because we all sing the same songs. TURN OFF THE LIGHTS !!!!

When I was growing up, my dad charged us a niclel for every light we left on. That was a lot of money cosidering the fact that our allowance was only a quarter!

Perhaps a little financial incentive might work. Save your next light bill. Tell your family that if they regularly turn off any lights or appliances for one month you will take the "saved" amonunt and splurge on some family treat. When the next bill comes show it to all family members,note the amount of the lower bill and put it in a pretty container where eveyone can see it and to serve as a reminder. Set a goal of three to four months before getting the treat so that everyone will have had an opportunity to make it a habiit.

it is true that we should all make our little contribution to help conserve electricity in this world!
i was never expose to shutting the lights or turn off tv after leaving the room, recycle, buy organic stuff until i met my husband. I am glad and proud that i could contribute to a better world for the children of tomorrow! thanks for the article and help spread the awareness to others...

You might consider putting a few lamps with CF bulbs on timers as I have. That way, if your family feels more comfortable with a light on, you can ask them to turn off the main light knowing that a friendly lamp will still be on for a few hours until it turns itself off. With the lamp, they might not even bother turning on the overhead in the first place.

Also, for outdoors, I would urge everyone to use a combination of motion detectors and full cutoff lighting, which will both reduce the wattage needed to put the same light where needed, and reduce glare and improve night sky views. For information on its advantages, as well as for access to fixtures and after market shielding for common existing fixtures, check out www.greenearthlighting.com/effective.html and click on the topics along the top for a five minute education.

Being a babyboomer and a product of the 70s, I've recycled for 30+ years (paper and cardboard to the school bin, veggie scraps to the compost bin, municipal pickup for alum/steel/PVC) and don't think much about it. It's when you have to change your habits that it's harder. It's interesting that there are different attitudes about recycling and conservation in various parts of the country. The midwest town that I lived in was very environmentally aware and had free (large) recycling pickup containers but charged by the bag for trash. The Florida county I now live in needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century, even though our "waste-to-energy" municipal incinerator is almost at capacity and recycling participation is at a lowly 10% or something. Do people need to feel pain in their pocketbook to recycle? If you know it's right, do it and shrug off the complaints, the naysayers and critics. And that's not bogus!

OK THIS REALLY HITS HOME..IN A BIG WAY! MY DAD WAS CRAZY ABOUT TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF IN EVERY ROOM. EVEN IF YOU HAD JUST TURNED IT ON. HE WOULD SAY" SOMEONE HAS TO PAY FOR IT ELECTIC DOESN'T GROW ON TREE'S!" AND" IF YOU ARE GONNA DANCE YOU HAVE TO PAY THE BAND!" NOW IN MY ADULT LIFE I HAVE BECOME JUST LIKE HIM. I WALK THROUGH THE HOUSE BEHIND MY WIFE ALL THE TIME TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF BEHIND HER AND THE SON WHEN HE'S HOME FROM COLLEGE. SPEAKING OF WHICH CHRISTMAS BREAK IS COMMING SOON. THERE GOES MY BUDGET FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER! OH WELL. I DO HAVE MY X-MAS LIGHTS ON A TIMER.SO DONT FEEL ALL ALONE." TIS THE SEASON"

Dads were the ones paying the electric bills -- that's why they were always telling us to turn off the lights. After my dad passed -- it was mom paying the bills & boy! did she start on everyone about turning off the lights! We also had the 'Christmas Tree House' with every floor lit-up!!

I don't have children in my house, but I still seem to be the one who is going around turning off lights and unwatched TVs for my husband and my mother. Maybe it's because I'm the one "bringing home the bacon" at the moment and paying the electric bill! If I had kids, I would be proposing that they pay their percentage of the electric bill out of their allowance and see if that made an impact!

Kristin, you need to remember that just being conscious of the fact that you have a carbon footprint is so many steps ahead of so many people, unfortunately. The one thing that opened my eyes to the many ways we can reduce our carbon footprint is the book by Paul Newman's daughter Nell Newman, called THE NEWMAN'S OWN ORGANICS GUIDE TO A GOOD LIFE. It breaks down what you can do by category- food, money/credit/investing, energy, etc. It is one of the few books of the sort that really left me (& leave me, each time i reference it, which is frequently) with a feeling of hope, & not one of dispair. Somehow, Nell Newman makes you hopeful about the state of the world, which is an astonishing feat given the uphill battle we face. It is one of the most worthwhile reads I have ever encountered, and I HIGHLY recommend it.

My father used to ask "Do you think we have a connection to the moon?" whenever he found a light on in an unoccupied room. I never bothered to ask what it meant, I always thought it was a good arguement though so I always shut off the offending electrical object. The bonus rebound child who lives with us now declared that it takes more energy to turn off the lights than to leave them burning to which I said "that's only if you're lazy!" He turns the lights off now.

My grandfather was the manager of the electric company when they encouraged use...he enforced the lights get turned off as you leave the room rule because he was just plain smart.

Hey, I say that every thing, regardless of how little it is, helps our environment. And vice versa. If you ask me, the state and future of our environment is THE #1 issue of the day. And for those who think it isn't, it should be. We may not be able to reverse the damage we have already done, but we CAN prevent further damage. Keep in mind that the environmental and climate changes we experience today are a result of what we did 30 years ago. Our consumption and emission of pollutants are greater than they were 30 years ago, so just think how bad it's going to be 30 years from now!

So instead of getting new plastic bags every time you go to the pharmacy or store, take one you already have and saved, instead of throwing it away, or better yet, use a canvas bag. (There's no need to take a bag for that prescription you pick up every month.) And instead of throwing away your plastic or paper bags, why not recycle them? Most grocery stores have bins to collect them. (They don't weigh that much, so it won't bog you down when you go to the store.) And yes, turn lights and electronics off that you aren't using. Walk the short distance somewhere instead of driving. Recyle your plastics, glass, and paper. (Just think how much space and weight you'll save in your garbage. And some states even refund you for recycling.) And if you're really feel like being proactive, write to your government and demand changes. If your community doesn't have a recycling program, start a petition for one. Good behavior DOES rub off and it DOES have a ripple effect ... it just needs to get started. I hope you give it a try!

I can relate to your dad as I am obsessive about turning lights off and unplugging stray phone chargers. Let's add monitoring the length of showers to the list, too! We have five teenagers (13-19!) that are generally not thoughtful as far as energy use goes. I share our electric bill and usage graph monthly with the kids so they are aware of their impact on our budget as well as the environment.

I actually disagree with the money incentive for kids. I am not a parent myself, but while growing up, I was taught to understand the full value of doing things around the house, whether it be chores or being responsible without any monetary perk.

On another note, I suggest being tangible about how little things can have a large effect. My favorite is The Green Book, by by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen. It's quite an eye-opener!

Well I empathize, but I am writing to tell you the scary reality. By not "going green" you are not only leaving a harsh footprint on the enviornment, but you are also sacrificing your families health. Anyone still cleaning their home with harmful cleaners which contain ingredients such as ammonia, chlorine bleach, and formaldehyde to name a few toxic ones, are releasing these terrible gases into the air and into our water systems which is horrible for the future of our planet not to mention the proven negative affects they have on our health. Just these 3 ingredients which are found in almost all common houeshold cleaners like 409, Fantastick, Clorox, etc. have been proven to cause anything from asthma to cancer. Please atleast switch out the cleaners in your home. =)

I'm so sorry to hear such comments like the ones from Margaret. A year ago I started doing everything I could to help the environment, composting, increased recycling, canvas bags at the grocery store, etc. I shared my actions with my friends via a weekly e-mail to much fun and success . My concern with people wtih the same ideas as Margaret is that it perpetuates a very negative sterotype of Americans. We have become (or maybe have been for a long time) a gluttonous consumer society with no thougth to the concequences. Even is Global warming is a bunch of *%#$, (which I don't believe) it wouldn't negate our need to be resepectful stewards to our planet. I hope Margaret will learn some compassion for our future and that of our children

You will soon get used to the light that comes from compact fluorescent light bulbs--I did!

I have a nifty reusable shopping bag that folds up into a little pouch. I keep it in my purse, so that way I always have a bag, even for unexpected shopping trips! It's like the one here: http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=255&PRODID=74340. I also try and keep a couple of reusable bags in the back of my car for grocery shopping.

Our family is switching each bulb to the more eco- friendly version as well. We try to use canvas bags at the store. My children lovingly call me a tree hugger. I will be glad when environmentally conscious products lower in cost to ease our family's efforts to protect the environment.

Our community lost its recycling center due to a fire and has not viewed it as a priority to rebuild, which saddens me. Larger cities seem to make it work; I suppose the revenue base supports recycling efforts. I'll be glad when ours is operating again.

Dads, lights and cabinet doors. My Dad has been the "Guardian of the lights" since I can remember. Following all of us around the house, turning off lights (even though we just left the room for 5 seconds to go to the bathroom), very loudly reminding us money doesn't grow on trees and electricity is expensive. He would also walk through the kicthen and shut the cabinet doors behind us (even if we were in the middle of unloading the dishwasher).

Very fond memories of my childhood. I love my Dad and smile as I walk around the house and turn off lights when I leave the room. I'm proud that he managed to ingrain the closing of the cabinet doors into my head. Now if I could just remember to turn off the bathroom light - that's the only one that I never remember!

You're right about Ziplocs and compact fluorescents being superfluous. In my family, things get done by positive reinforcement. If the lights being turned off is a necessity, start giving out something good, like a quarter or a game of "Apples to Apples" with your kids, every time they remember to turn the lights off when they leave the room. As far as your husband goes, well ... you didn't marry him for his "green conscience" did you?!

You can install dimmers in the bathrooms and other places in the house to help save energy when you are using the lights. They are easy to install and can be bought at Lowes or Home Depot. Drawback, dimmers don't work with CFL's.

This may not be a direct answer for you, but a con of using fluorescent lighbulbs is that they are difficult to recycle--as a result, there may be only one or two days a year that a municipality will open up particular locations for drop-off. It's something to consider when you make the switch.

When I was a child, I remember my Dad saying, as he drove up to the house, " It looks like a Polish wedding!" That was because every single room in the house had a light on. He paid the bills, so he turned off the lights. We had no idea of what he was talking about!

Well, I am doing everything which you have not done, off the lights, TV, reuse the ZIploc bags, recycling papers, bottles, plastics.... it's such a easy thing to save our mother earth!

FYI, there are light switches that are motion switches that automatically turn themselves off after a few minutes. They also have an override so they don't shut off while your doing something for a long period of time in the room without excess movment.

I grew up in military housing which means that we did not have to pay the utility bills. Everytime someone would leave a light on he would bark at us to turn it off! As soon as we moved out of military housing and had to pay our own bills he turned into the consummate flip it on leave it on which I never understood! Someone has posted a question about 'standby lights'- many of our electronic products, especially ones with clocks, do continue to draw power. Try plugging your TV, DVD player, etc into a power strip and then turning the power strip off last thing at night or before work in the morning. It may only save pennies a day but they'll add up. (And remember you turned the power strip off or you'll be frantically clicking the remote going, "How could tney all break at once?!")

My husband is the recycling king of our family and our city!! Everything that can possibly get recycled is. All cans must be washed out before they are crushed and put in the recycle area. He takes things ouf of the our garbage can that should be recycled. HOWEVER, I cannot get him to switch light bulb types or turn off lights. He keeps saying that it takes as much energy to turn the light on and off as it does to leave it on for an hour or so. The kids turn off lights most of the time and the TV is not on if no one is watching. I am also fighting an uphill battle - of course in a marriage, battles must be carefully chosen. I have tabled this one but always turn off lights and have replaced some of the incandescent bulbs. This has caused some discontent, but my husband does realize the energy savings and has let that go. He leaves the lights on - I have some of the bulbs changed. A little win for both of us!

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one walking around in a dark house! My husband and I are fanatic about everything green and try to do as much as we can. Things got a little complicated when I started working from home and our electricity bill soared to sickening heights! (The computer is on all day!) So, now it's lights out for us. We just keep reminding each other that every little bit helps and, besides, things are very romantic with only the lights of the christmas tree.

They have a new thing called occupancy sensors. The light goes on when someone enters the room. If there is no movement for 10 minutes, it shuts the lights off. It is now required by law in the State of California for new businesses.

I have found that setting up a challenge with my family works well. We set a goal to use less electricity each month as compared to the same month last year - clearly things like weather can impact this - but in general we have been sucessful. Then we set aside the money that we save for a fun family event - like a dinner out or movie night.

Oh what memories this brought back. 20 years ago or so, when my older girls were babysitting, the parents picking them up for the first time, found our house, because it was the one with all the lights on. I had forgotten about that, and your blog brought back happy memories. Thanks

I just go around the house singing "I am the only one that turns off lights! I am the only one the turns off lights! I am the only one, yes I am the only one, I am the only one that turns off lights!"

I hope that eventually the embarrassment of having their mother singing in front of their friends will do that constant nagging has not.

It hasn't worked yet.

A friend used to unscrew any light bulb that was left burning when no one was in the room, and it couldn't be screwed back in for one week. Try doing your homework in the dark! TV left on? Unplugged. One week without. Let me say that the family learned in a BIG hurry to shut it off if everyone left the room.

Thank you for saying you don't like the light from compact flourescents. I replaced a ceiling light with one and it was so weird because none of the other bulbs in the room were compacts. It has now been relegated to the mud room but we all hate it. I would love to switch all my lights but it's just such a weird light, like I'm in a department store.

Assign each person in your family a certain room or small number of rooms and charge them with checking regularly and then charge them 25 cents each time you find a light left on. First though, to ease cries of "that's not fair!" every time you find a light on find out who was the last person in the room and charge that person 25cents. You light problem will quickly disappear.

Well, in New HAmpshire those light bulbs don't save you a penny. We put them in and our bill showed less electricity but the cost was $2 more! Electricity in New Hampshire is expensive, we have lived in other states and it wasn't as costly as it is here.

I'm the only one in my family who really cares, walking around turning out lights, pulling boxes out of the garbage to stick in the recycling. I'm the only one who will even pull the recycling box out to the curb! But, since were on the subject of fathers. My sister-in-law and I were talking about a crockpot recipe recently and my father-in-law piped in and said he wouldn't try to make it because he would never think of pluggin' that thing in all day!

Good luck--my house always seems to be lit like Challenger ready to blast off into space. Actually it might be the cats turining all the lights on since no human will accept responsibility for having done so. At this point, all I can do is hope that they all move out very soon and leave me , the mother, with the chance to turn OFF the lights.

Funny -- my dad always used to tell me, "it's so dark in here; leave some lights on!". My mom ( and step mom) paid the bills.

Changing longstanding habits is always challenging, whether it be losing weight, stopping smoking or turning off lights. Somehow, you need to find an incentive for your family. Depending on their ages, maybe you can put a nickel in a jar when you catch them turning off a light (or more depending on your goal). If your kids are older let the amount correspond to what you save on the electric bill. Then use the $ for something really cool—a family outing or donate the $ to a local shelter, or other charitable organization if your kids can appreciate the meaning of that gesture. Also, if they could have a chance to experience life without electricity like, have a game where you have a weekend day without it—use candles, and let them see what its like. Perhaps you can get them on board. I do know that nagging doesn’t work!

It can be a little scarry venturing on to "the other side." But once you learn the benifits of organic food, or natural cleaning, and beauty products. I think it's only natural to start taking steps into that direction. It can't happen over night, but small interductions with a few products will change your mind very quickly. It did mine and with in 6 months we were all natural, organic eating, tree huggers.

I have been recycling, composting, canvas shopping bags and turning off lights for years. Do my kids and husband do the same? Yes in most areas, they don't like the canvas bags, so then I take their plastic bags back to the grocery store. My daughter was proud in her environmental science class to be the only one with a composter at home. And they turn off the lights because candles are so pretty. If you teach they will learn. My daughter started the recylce bins at her high school, especially making sure the cans were there by sporting events. I really feel if people see recyle bins they support them.
My daughter is now in college and couldn't believe recycle bins weren't all over the place with all the plastic water bottles, as a marine biology major she is concerned. My son recycles because he has too - he even empties the back of the truck to the recycle bin and has a garbage bag for trash. If you teach they will learn!!!! My opinion is "every little bit helps".

Kristin,

At my husband's office, they installed a new light system throughout the building that turns off the lights when the room has been vacated for a certain amount of time, and automatically turns the light back on if someone enters the space. It's the easiest way to herd cats (or children, or physicists, or whomever is resisting "doing the right thing with lights."
(smile)

Have you considered timers (yes I mean like the kind used on fans in less expensive motels), install a few of these in the worst offenders and it's amazing the difference. The other thought is designate the worst offender as responsible for paying the bill (regardless of where the money comes from initially offer to split the savings from the worst month to the best month with the person of the month responsible for the bill) amazing how the opportunity for a little extra cash can motivate.

Good luck! And congrats for trying.

I agree with your feelings about the quality of the light that comes from compact fluorescents. I also think the spirally ones are really ugly. I have found a few that cover up the tubes, but they still are dingy. I'm using one for my outdoor porch light that stays on all night, partly because I don't have to look at it.

I'm pretty good about keeping lights off, but I have to say I HATE the CFLs! For me it's not the light, it's the sound they make. It's the same noise a lot of electronics make when they're on, just louder. It's so annoying to me that I only have one room with CFLs and I avoid spending any time in there if the lights are on. I would much rather walk around turning lights off than put up with those things all day. It would make me crazy!

My eyes have been somewhat opened - my highschool daughter is taking an advanced placement environmental science class and I have been reading her text - it has made me more interested in this footprint thing and I figure any little thing we can do DOES make a difference and even if we only do a bit at a time and we ALL make the effort we ARE making a difference. S0 even if you start with only turning off half of you lights,eventually maybe it'll get to be a habit - plus it'll save you some money!

You needn't worry, you are not alone. My husband is forever going behind me turning off lights. Then I walk back into a dark room that I just left knowing I left the light on. It isn't old age I suddenly realized one day that makes me think I didn't leave the light on when I went to get the water.

I use the daylight fluorescent bulbs. They must say "daylight" on the package as the others are a waste of money for us. I see so much better with these bulbs than with anyother, not to mention the fact that they helped me through those dark days of winter.

My daughter gets up, radio is on, tv must be turned on, and CD player must be blaring music. Now how does one think with all that noise? I am so glad she no longer lives with us. (Grin)

Keep trying, I won't say you will succeed, but you can have some real fun doing it.

I recycle. I've switched to mostly organic produce, compact fluorescent bulbs, Earth-friendly cleaners, and try to bike to work on the off chance I have nowhere else to go during the day (this always backfires because I'll get a call that my daughter is sick, or my mom needs me to bring her groceries, so I bike home, get the car, run my errands, drive back home and get my bike -futile!) Anyway, I see all these stars chiding the common citizen about saving the planet, and I think about THEIR carbon footprint. How much energy is wasted putting on a concert or filming a movie? It's ridiculous!

I CAN REALLY RELATE TO YOUR PLIGHT. IN MY HOME IT'S JUST MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF. THAT MAN CAN NEVER PUT ANYTHING BACK WHERE IT BELONGS NOR TURN OFF A LIGHT WHEN LEAVING A ROOM. WHEN THE ELECTRIC BILL COMES YOU CAN HEAR HIM SCREAMING ABOUT THE POWER COMPANY RATES A MILE AWAY!!!!

I'm a fim believer in doing what we can to save the environment. But, lights in my home is another story. I think lights in a home make it appeared "loved". When I walk my dogs at night and everyone has their lights turned out at 8 pm, I am amazed. And when I come to my home, I think to myself..."Ah, now that's a loved home".

I too decided to join the green bandwagon. At first it was a pain, but soon I realized the one little recycle bin given to us wasn't enough, so I got two. We soon outgrew that also, so I have resorted to putting the tall grass/leaves paper bags in them and filling them up. It has become a running joke that the recycle people hate me. I am the queen of recycle day in the neighborhood. I also hate the lightbulb thing. I too recently went to the compact fluorcents and hate them, there is hope. I keep thinking that no matter how much I do, it is better than a few years ago when I did nothing. If everyone does a few little things, I do believe it all adds up. Just remember, we become our parents as we grow older, one day your kids will be blathering on about the carbon footprint.

Even though it's #75 on your to-do you can scratch it off, literally, with a flick of a switch! It's not a hassle, and turning off the lights will become a habit as long as you force yourself to take 2 minutes to go through the house and do it for a week or so. Soon you won't even have to think about it.

Oh, yeah, eventually your loved ones will listen to you too. My boyfriend used to not really think about going green; Now, thanks to my influence (nagging?), as a corporate-level manager of a home goods company he's introduced reusable bags to the store's line, and is working to reduce packaging waste on all the products. You never know what good you could do by getting someone to think about their footprint!

I have the same trouble at home, but we are trying to do our best... Since everyone is thinking green these days, information is so important. www.flexyourpower.org is great on getting tips to help change your lifestyle and www.carbonfootprint.com helps in knowing exactly what a carbon footprint is. With my family we talk about it as often as possible and keep up with new and current information. Fun facts are great for kids... They are currently studying Kangaroo flatulence because it contains no methane, unlike cows and sheep. Fun facts like these not only make kids laugh, but I notice that it gets them into the idea of going green. Good luck!

Not sure if anyone already made a comment about this already but here it goes. What about a light that is connected to a motion sensor. I've heard there are sensors that can detect body heat in a room. Not sure if they really exist or how much they cost. Could save you a bundle if you go on vacation and leave the lights on. Good luck!

don't flush the toilet if its yellow...

Your father is a man after my own heart. My husband and I are the same way. Sometimes I turn out the bathroom light as I’m leaving forgetting that my husband is still in there getting ready for bed. It’s a force of habit. On a different note, my husband and I are anxiously awaiting the installation of our solar panels. In the meantime, we’ve changed every light bulb in our house, installed AC misters on both air conditioning units, bought LED lights for our tree (those are the only Christmas lights we use), bought Smart Strips for our television and computer stations, and are continuing to look for more ways to save energy. Even after our solar panels are installed, the extra clean energy we produce will be transferred to our utility company for someone else to use. We also use Bio bags for our trash, reusable bags (we love the Cart Helper from reusablebags.com) when shopping, and we recycle everything possible. We have even stopped buying products that do not come in recyclable packaging; for example, we only buy orange juice in plastic gallon jugs since the wax half-gallon cartons cannot be recycled.
I try to educate my family on how easy it is to live green by just making different choices when shopping. Most people I talk to think that living green is too costly; however, from my experience, we have saved money by making the right green choices.

There are two kinds of florescent lights. If you buy the ones that say SW for soft white (sometimes you have to look on the product number for it) they have a much more natural light.

Also, just to help with the guilt factor, have you looked at one of those do-dads called "Kill a Wall" that you plug your appliance into and then into wall? It calculates the amount of power each appliance uses while plugged in. You might be able to unplug a few things more often and offset the lights that get left on. Just an idea. You can find one in the TerraPass online store.

Why not have a conversation about the lights with your family and have them help decide what would help them to remember to turn the lights off. Are they old enough to understand what shutting them off can do? What it can save? Can you "show" them somehow? Conversations at dinner or in the car on the way home from somewhere might be your perfect opportunity to talk to them about their responsibilites to the planet and how they can help make this world a better place.

Have you seen Shaklee's get clean products??? They are HIGHLY concentrated. Not only saving you $3000 in the long run but eliminate 108 LBS of packaging waste from landfills AND elimintate 248 lbs of greenhouse gas emissions!! As seen on Oprah, The NY Times, Good Morning America, and more! Go to www.shaklee.net/metthe

Yeah, growing up, we re-used everything, wrapping paper, plastic ware, ziploc bags, and even batteries with a teeny bit of juice in them. My mom was just that way.

Oh, my gosh, you guys. How can anyone say that our Earth is not the most important thing we have? Try living without it! We need to be doing everthing we possibly can do to protect and preserve it; it is the source of every single resource we use. A friend just emailed me this most wonderful short-subject film that explains in very simple terms what our consumer society has done and is doing to the environment. If you would like to have your eyes opened to the effects of our current American lifestyle, check this out: storyofstuff.com

Our home used to have a light in every room on and we were also the family that left the outside doors open with the heat or AC on, but that has changed with the help of change. My children deposit a quarter in a jar each time they leave their bedroom light on or do not close an outside door. Let me tell you, doors started closing and lights are off. If I mess up (get caught) doing the same, I too deposit a quarter. Dad is a little too perfect and has never had to make a deposit. He must have had both parents on him growing up!

It takes alot of baby steps to become "green" but you get in the new routine quickly. Although my dad was a depression kid and I was raised to reused everything :)
I recycle, love the bag credits on my bill when I take my canvas bags shopping, had my hubby install motion sensor light switchs (that automatic goes off after a few minutes) and automatic thermostat controls on our heat/AC.
Keep trying everyone--every little bit will help this great planet!!!

We had changed all the incandescent bulbs to compact flourescents, but its still so difficult to my family to understand or to help with saving energy-as the previous comment, we have the same situation. Only when I get very upsent and open my big mouth, then for awhile they remember and do it, please provide more suggestions, thanks and many blessings.

I would like to thank Danielle Smith for letting us know that we will get use to the fluorescent bulbs.

We watched Inconvenient Truth and the Planet Earth series. Whenever my daughter leaves a light on I say "you're killing polar bears". It is a little more visual and empathetic for her to understand the ripple effect of her actions.

My family and I have recently moved to NY where the trash pick-up here will once every other week pick up our recyclables (paper in one container, plastic/glass/tin in another). I hadn't recycled at all prior to our move (I know, shame on me), but I cannot believe the difference it has made in our weekly trash. We are a family of 2 adults and 3 children (ages 2-10) who prior to our move had put out 5-7 *huge* outside size black garbage bags of trash every week! WOW!! Now, we put out 2, maybe three bags (small, regular 13 gallon size) bags a week. I just cannot believe the differnce it has made. Every other week we put our recycling out for pick up and each container (50 gallon, maybe?) is alway full. It shocks me to see how much we were contributing to the landfills for no good reason. Just this alone has started my "go green" awareness and it makes meI feel as though I am doing my part. Oh, and lights, I tend to be compulsive about turning out lights after family members leave the room. They are starting to get the hint. I must admit, however, it started as a budget matter first, now not as important to me as I am aware of the footprint concept.

This is a reply to Frugal Duchess. RE: the little standby lights- TURN OFF THE STANDBY. In the UK, where I live:

Stereos on standby cost £290m ($600m) and produce 1.6 million tonnes of CO2
VCRs and DVD cost £194m ($400m) and produce 1.06 million tonnes of CO2
TVs on standby cost £88m ($175m) and produce 480,000 tonnes of CO2

It means that in one year, in the UK alone, our equipment on standby produces a total of 3.1 million tonnes of CO2.

Turn off the standby! Its only costing you money and saves you a couple of seconds to boot up your computer or to walk to the TV to turn it on manually.

A friend of ours put in sensors because of the same problem. I am just now waking up to the fact that we are so responsible what is happening to this planet I gave my daughter's teachers grocery shopping bags w/ their gift cards. At least I saved on the wrapping while encouraging them to use reusable bags at the store. We can only hope that one person at a time will help things. I refuse bags in dept. stores, compost, and have a very big summer garden...... I'm trying!!

It's so important and every little bit helps. I've been taking canvas bags to the grocery store for years. I also do less laundry: we wear our jeans and shirts more than once (hard trying to convince a teen to do that though!). I'm happy that lotion and shampoo manufacturers have started making bottles with flat tops, so we can put them upside-down and get every last bit! Fewer plastic bottles in the landfills each year. I haven't used wrapping paper in years; re-usable gift bags are the way to go. Also I walk my son to school each day. Think of the impact if everyone did these small things, and more!

This is a good time of year to remind family & friends that the actions we take (or don't, in this case) have direct impacts on the lives of ourselves and others. Encourage everyone in your circle to read this article about the dramatic effects of climate change on island communities in the South Pacific. These people are starving to death because of climate change, but we can't be bothered to turn off a light?

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hvX62H3t59fEvnl9c1aIRqtBndfwD8TADT180

Why do older people, who should remember rationing and recycling aluminum during WWII and teenagers, who have been raised with green messages their entire lives refuse to cooperate with the 3 R's? I too am the lone voice in my home!

Perhaps some sort of timer system is in order which shuts out a light after 10 minutes. If people sitting in a room start to get annoyed at the timer constantly putting them into darkness, you can tell them that this is the consequence of their irresponsible behavior. Offer to remove the timer if they cooperate by turning lights off, but replace it if they fail to stick to their promises.

My parents (close to 80) live in the dark. The only light ever on is in an occupied room. I personally hate the dark and when I get there I turn on the lights in every room I pass through. They were children of the depression and went through the oil crisis (when everyone's winter thermostat was set at 64). My mother's mantra was "Put on a sweater." I assure you that they have never heard the word "carbon footprint" but that they do indeed know what it is and knew what it was long before it had a label. More importantly than lights has always been their keen sense of reduce, recycle and reuse.
I don't think my mother has ever thrown away a rubber band and nothing is ever "single use" in her home. She claims that her middle name is "CHEAP" and that sometimes it is her first name, but in all honesty she started worrying about "the trash piles" back in the early seventies and claims that her father (born in Italy in 1898) and who passed in 1976 claimed that whoever owned the oil owned the world. How true.

Keep at it! Your family may need more information such as plastic is not a renewable resource, there being no more dinosaurs and if our generation uses it all theirs won't have any. They need to understand gas-guzzling vehicles such as SUVs mean increasing our independence on oil-producing nations that really do not have our country's best interests in their top ten concerns. They should know the ozone layer, once depleted, will further global warming at an even more alarming pace than the current alarming pace. It helps if they understand that coal-driven power eventually pollutes the air they breathe even if it happens in China. So KEEP TRYING! It matters.

As a member of the local Recycling Committee, reducing our "carbon footprint" is also on top of my list. I also find that my three girls keep the lights in their rooms on, but lately my oldest---now eight---is starting to get the message and flips off the light switch when she exits a room.

Keep up the good work!! You'll get used to the CFL lighting. I hated it at first too but now that all of our lights are using them I don't really notice. Make sure you get the dimable kind for the dimming fixtures or the buzz will drive you nuts!

What if you took the bulbs out of some of the sockets you don't really need? Or, as penance for leaving lights on in a room, you took the lightbulb out and made the family member live without light for 24 hours?

A few years ago my husband and I were house sitting for a couple that went out of town to find new housing. They have 7 kids. I think I went crazy turning off the lights that weekend. just as I had the lights turned off the it umtenth time there was a child turning them back on. They thought I was an ogre! When their parents got home I told the wife who had been complaining constantly about the $300. power bill, the reason for it. She said she just couldn't make herself tell the kids to turn off the lights as that would be all she did all day. I told her that she should then stop complaining about the power bill. We wern't such good friends after that. I have 4 children and they were taught to turn off lights and anything with power when they were not using it. I did not reaqlize how anal I was about this until that weekend. The kids are grown and my husband calls me a bat (lovingly). He built this cabin in the mountains for me and my rooms have lots of windows that open in the summer but during the day I don't need to turn on lights even when it is cloudy. Last year I stopped using my propane oven as the toaster oven was large enough for the two of us. I only use the large oven when we have company. It has saved us a bundle! I;m always looking for a way to save on energy.

I am the social worker for a transitional living program for homeless youth, ages 16-21, and one of the biggest (and most irritating) battles we fight with the girls' apartment is energy use! The residents are not required to pay utilities and nearly all our residents have never paid utilities before. Practically any time staff goes into their apartment, even if no one's home, nearly all the lights are on, the TV and stereos are blaring, and the heat is set at 85 degrees (in Missouri when it's still just 40 outside). I can't wait for the day when they pay their own electric bill and notice what can happen when they just turn off the TV when they're not home or set the heat at a reasonable 68 and use a blanket if they're cold.

install motion or heat sensors - they aren't that expensive.

I am from Wilmington, DE- not a tremendously ecological town by any means- which is why I got an "okay, I have encountered an insane lady" look from my neighborhood grocery clerk when I started lecturing him on the use of plastic grocery bags and how it costs 1 cent to make them but 10 cents to recycle them and by the way did you know that baby wipes aren't biodegradable... it was like an inner freak in me snapped before I jumped into my SUV (purchased to "accommodate" a growing family) to head to my brightly lit, poorly insulated home where the television (in a person-empty room) greeted me with gusto.

The best thing I've done to reduce our carbon footprint is buy reusable grocery bags. They're much better than the cheap plastic ones. Not only do they last forever, they hold more groceries and I can sling them over my shoulder.

It can't be done. Trying to heat the out side that is. Jist bought my first house and boy do I sound more like my dad every day. Never think that the small things we do don't make a defferance because thay do. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Use light timers to turn on and off in common rooms. Use lplug in night lights which turn on only if the lights (natural or electric) are out so entering the dark room is easier so lights do not have to be left on to see to enter. Good luck.

I, too, am struggling with lessening the size of my carbon footprint. I am a sixth grade science teacher, so I think it is my duty to be more informed than I am. It can be overwhelming, but I have decided to take small steps, because even a little change can make a difference. The first thing I have done is to use fewer plastic bags when I go to the grocery store. I keep the tote-bags for caring items in my car. This helps me because I sometimes forget them despite my best intentions. Good luck in your efforts!
~Heidi

I trained my family many years ago about the whole "lights off when you leave the room" mantra. I gave each person a clear glass jar. I filled it up with a roll of quarters. If I caught a person who walked out of the room with their lights on, I swiftly swooped down and snagged a quarter and put it in my jar, which started out with no money in it. Then, if I saw that someone miraculously remembered and turned out their light, they earned a quarter. Needless to say, the first few weeks, I had the most quarters! It quickly caught on and became a source of competition between the kids. Now, it was pretty much habit, until they became teenagers. Maybe, I'll have to start that again!

Do you realize that CFLs have mercury in them? When they do expire and you toss them away, then there will be mercury leaking into the ground water, etc. from landfills. There is already too much mercury in our environment. In my opinion, this is too big a price to pay.

Stick with the incandescents, turn them off when not in use, and in the summer have a "natural light day" every so often - don't turn on any lighting in the evening and go to bed when you can't see anymore. You will be surprised how relaxed you are, how much easier you get to sleep, and how much indoor lighting messes with your natural sleep/wake cycles.

Good luck,
Dr. Elizabeth

Try the CFL's that are labeled "soft white". They are much warmer light - not blue!

Information about Carbon Footprint and ways to reduce Cabon Dependence will make for a fabulous Magazine Feature.

Articles about recycling old technology, when it is more beneficial to buy new rather than repair a car, the impact of unplugging 'vampire electronics' that suck electricity all day, the benefits of composting, and why those with children need to wake up to the kind of Earth we may leave behind if we don't make changes now.

Turn off your lights because you love your children and look forward to grandchildren with strong healthy lungs. Reuse your plastic bags and bring your own bags to the grocery store because you would like fresh clean soil available for your children, grandchildren and their pets. Start a compost pile so your children will have a connection to the Earth, will take to gardening and feel the power of a self-sustaining loop by eating from the back yard or back terrace/deck.

Real Simple can be a Real Leader here. Reduce the number of pages and Increase the Post-Consumer content of the paper. Each 'Road Test' article can highlight the product with the smallest Carbon Footprint or the most Recycled Content.

Does Real Simple want the legacy of the magazine that sold the most Cardignas or the legacy of the Magazine that Helped the Most Readers Make Changes to Benefit our Children?

Sincerely,
Karin P. Ward

(I do not subscribe. My brother does. He passes along each issue. Less waste.)

I am currently obsessed with NOT using plastic bags from the grocery store. I recently read a statistic that if no one in America used the plastic grocery bags it would save 200 million barrels of oil a year. That is a fairly powerful statistic in my mind. I do not want to be giving any more money to the oil companies, nor do I want to have more plastic bags killing the wildlife in the air and sea. (Somewhat hypocritical to go enjoy SeaWorld then use plastic bags on your way home!) Imagine our world if we all refused to succumb to the brain-washing of big business and did what was really best for ourselves and the next generation!

I'm wondering if anyone else has the problem that I am having with the fluorescent bulbs that I have installed in order to reduce my footprint. The package says that they should last for 5-7 years (some say 10) Anyway, I've had to replace numerous bulbs and my question is, who is really anal enough to date the bulb or to save the receipts that cam with the bulbs in order to send them back for a replacement. I think that this is a scam from the light companies because they know that the bulbs won't really last that long and more importantly that no one will actually call them on it by dating the bulb, the fixture and keeping the documentation to get replacements.

I've thought about taking a pencil and inside the can light fixture writing the date that I installed the bulb. Then I would know and then the problem of saving the paper trail to go with that bad bulb is my next problem. I've already bought enough of these things for 2 houses.

Could you guys maybe do a story about this or help others to figure out a way to manage this so they aren't wasting money? I have talked to others who have had the same problem.

I'm considering going back until the technology improves....... but I want to do the small things that I can where I can help the environment.

Thanks,
Susie
wilburns@shentel.net
PS I love the magazine. It is full of usable ideas.

Carbon footprint has always been around, it's just now that it has a name. It all started with all the gas guzzling vehicles.. anything that polutes our planet and therefore polutes us and all life on our planet.
I have been reusing plastic bags since the 70's. Yes.. 70's! I saw a movie called "Soylent Green". Ever heard of it? If you can, see it. It's a little out there in some aspects, but it was way ahead of it's time. It was then that I decided to ge trid of my dishwasher.
You know plastic bags are simple to wash and reuse. Yes they are a pain to deal with but you get used to it like anything else.
Speaking of the compact flourescents.. I haven't tried them yet. I have been trying to use up my stock of reserve bulbs first. I probably will be feeling like you do about them, but there are alot of plus's with them also. It's not just the reason of being better for the environment, but they are supposed to save alot of money over the year, and the more you have the more money you save. They are also supposed to last a lot longer, depending on what brand you use. I don't know about you but if I can have a lightbulb that I use all the time last 10 years.. well I'm all for it. It's all about saving money you know. We have to save our money so we can buy more gas for our vehicles.
Yup there are alot of changes, but change can be good. It's just the getting used to them first that is really the problem.
Actually it's kind of fun learning and getting used to the new ways. It's adventurous!
Where would we be today if change did not happen in our great grandparents.. or grandparents.. or parents day??
Change is Good!

LED bulbs and motion detectors are the way to go. My dad also did the unscrew and remove lightbulbs thing if we left lights on. HE had a headlamp that he could use to read while the rest of us had to try to use candles!

As a water drinker, who once bought bottled water by the case; I now refill my water bottle from a purifier on tap. I wash the bottle in the dishwasher, and one bottle will last me for weeks. I no longer have multiple bottles lined up on the kitchen counter.

I'm an Army brat. When we lived on post my dad would "hear about it" if our electric costs were too high (or the grass was too long, or the car was parked on the street and not in the driveway etc., etc.) so we learned early on to turn the lights off when we left a room. Needless to say, I make my family crazy by "reminding" them turn 'em off! Now if I could get them to turn the t.v. off when no one is in the room - or the house for that matter - to watch it! Every little bit helps - using a paper cup instead of a Styrofoa