How can the poor do it?
By raydene
@raydene (9871)
United States
November 27, 2007 9:42am CST
I am constantly on the green forums,blogs,and sites.
It is frustrating for those of us that would like to be all green to realize that due to the pricing of alot of products I can not do it all.
I do not use any toxins in my home...
I do compost..
I do shut of lights,turn down the heat, use the clothes dryer as little as possible,etc
I have planted trees and shrubs
I only drive when I have to..
I use no chemicals on the lawn,garden,etc
I use green advised light bulbs through out my home..
I try to always buy quality items that will last for many years so I won't add to our ever growing landfils..
I no longer buy any of the plastic storage containors...
I do throughly wash jars from jelly,spag sauce etc and use them for storing leftovers..
I buy recycled paper products as often as I can find them..
I don't have a totally green house...I wish I did but I can not afford to convert..it is just too expensive..
I would love to put in solar panels etc but they are so outta my range!
If it was within your budget what changes would you make to offset emissions,etc ?
xoxoxoxoxo
6 people like this
16 responses
@melissacus (441)
• United States
27 Nov 07
I agree. It pretty much costs an arm and a leg if you want to help fight global warming real effeciently. I don't live by myself. I'm still very young and I live at home with my parents, but I'm still concerned with the environment and the amount of energy used around the house. Since I've gotten involved with the big global warming issue I've learned a lot of new things. I always turn off lights when they're of no use. I unplug my hair appliances when I'm finished with them. I only do laundry and wash dishes when I have a full load, etc. It may not seem like it but the littlest bit counts. I really admire you for all the work you've done to take us one step closer to victory, even if it is never reached, our planet will look brighter due to it. If I had my own house and made a decent amount of money I would do all I could do improve the ecosystem.
3 people like this
@raydene (9871)
• United States
28 Nov 07
Sweets, I was just a little younger when I became started advocating for the Earth...Back in the 60's,70's it was very hard...People used to think we were nuts!
Just keep going and keep learning and keep telling other..I think most people are caring individuals...They just do not know the dangers or believe they exist.
You are the best Doll...the Earth and I thank you
xoxoxo
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
27 Nov 07
I also would like to go completely green raydene, but the expense stops me. However, like you, I try to do my bit by recycling as much as I can, I have a compost heap, turn lights off, if possible I walk instead of using the car, etc. We recently moved to another house, and our Electric Company provided us with a new water saving shower head for the bathroom, and 6 of those new light bulbs; we were going to buy one of these new light bulbs every week (they are quite expensive as you know), so now we won't have to!
One thing I would install if I could afford it, is solar panels.
If everybody did just one thing to help the environment, I believe it would help - I believe in the Power of One!
@raydene (9871)
• United States
28 Nov 07
Power of One...I love it..one plus one is two...two plus one is three...then four ..then five...
If everyone would do one kind thing a day...6,765,049,367..kind gestures would be done in the world today...talk about the power of one!
xoxoxoxoxo
1 person likes this
@dana234 (2114)
• Spain
28 Nov 07
You´re absolutely right, green products are too expensive. I recycle everything I can, that´s my contribution to the environment. I would like to do far more than that, but even "green" cleaning products are a lot more expensive than the traditional ones. There are a lot of people where I live who would buy the ecological stuff if it was cheaper.
It´s annoying that only people who are well off can afford to go green.
XXX Dana
@BellasmamaTiff (2544)
• United States
27 Nov 07
I have switched to a lot of organic foods, I ordered free eco hangers, instead of wire hangers. I use all natural cleaning products, and personal items. I bought a diva cup instead of tampons and pads....I shut the lights off when im not using them. I try. I would love to convert completely, but, its just not possible for me at this point.
2 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
28 Nov 07
I've done much of the same things you've done, Raydene, and I also can't afford to do more. If I could I'd install solar panels, get this old house insulated better and get a hybrid vehicle. It's a shame because the really poor can't do much of anything because all the organic and energy-efficient products are so expensive. And it's the people who can afford it the least who are stuck with older cars that emit much more pollution and use the most fuel so they're really in a catch-22. Something should have been done, or at least started to be done about energy dependence several decades ago! My daughter was born on the very first Earth Day and she's now 37!
Annie
2 people like this
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
28 Nov 07
It is wonderful to read your post. If every one does just a little bit the environment will be so much better off. I try to do my bit as well. I recycle whatever I can. Fortunately where I live we have a program where the city picks up jars, cans aluminum plastic and paper every two weeks. I also save money by using empty glass jars to store flour, sugar and other foods that I used to store in plastic containers. I don't use plastic cooking bags they give off cancer producing fumes. I use a lot of baking soda and vinegar for cleaning. I wish I could buy more organic food but it costs three times as much so I try to buy seasonal produce that is grown withing 100 miles from where I live. Most foods are trucked in from a radius of 1500 miles. Just imagine the gas that is consumed. I shop at farmer's markets until the end of October when most of them close and look forward to the spring when most of them open again.
1 person likes this
@raydene (9871)
• United States
28 Nov 07
Linda, You would be surprised what you can grow in your home..Some veggie plants are very atractive also..You are doing alot...Organic is better for us and the earth but actually alot of farms today use less pesticides..Many orchards now use spiders to control pests..Using the natural enemy of a pest that will distroy your gardens is so smart..Alot of the horse farms now use a special fly that eats the larva of horse,deer,and house flies so it naturally cuts down on flies without toxic sprays..
xoxoxoxoxo
@GardenGerty (160708)
• United States
1 Dec 07
I had never thought of getting rid of the plastic storage, I will do that right away. Mine is yucky looking anyway. Some of the green changes, once they are in place, save money, so the poor, and every one else should do it. Sometimes the reason we become poor, or remain poor is because we think we have to be a consumer and do not make the more economical choices. I recognize that solar heating is expensive, and some "green " products are as well, but you just gave me an idea that is going to help me declutter, and is good for the environment, and is free. I think we all just do what we can. I wish more things were returnable, recyclable, though.
@icer01 (30)
• Australia
4 Dec 07
I know what you mean about solar panels, I wish I could get them but can't afford it. For too long their development has been discouraged so they are still too expensive.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
8 Mar 08
I think green living is a poor skill personally. It's really understanding how to live off the land, use as little as possible and to save as much as you can. growing your own food and other things is definitely a green skill and a poor skill. It may be hard to figure it all out and juggle it, but it is definitely possible by everyone.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
3 Dec 07
I do things because it saves money. The fluorescent lights last longer and they use less energy, so we do not get as high an electric bill as before. We keep the drapes closed and save money that way (does me no good, I have S.A.D. but it makes my husband feel better.) I use my jars for storing stuff, make my own powdered milk, use that in cooking, I used to use the other side of paper to make notes, but we did receive a couple of free notepads so do not do it anymore.
I buy the store brand unless the other brand is cheaper. I have to use the clothes dryer because it is cold here in winter and we do not have a clothes line. So in some way, if you do things to save you money it is better than saving the planet.
@spiderlizard22 (3444)
• United States
28 Nov 07
Its either about greed or about making enough money to at least make a little profit. If no one gives in as in lower their prices then the business will too be affected and won't last very long. There is a way to beat paying high prices. We can wait until the supply and demand go down. If we all work together we can manipulate the company into lowering prices. If the item prices go up don't buy the item. When the price lowers to a reasonable price buy it. As soon as it goes up don't buy it. That way the businesses will be forced to lower their prices. If I could get everyone to do that I would but I know that will never happen. But it is just one possibility to get lower prices.
2 people like this
@JeremyEdison (281)
• China
28 Nov 07
I don't understand what you want to do.just change your house with the green device??in my country,no one do this.the only thing what the people want to do is to earn money as much as they can.they don't care about the pollution,the other question :the cost of green device is too expensive to us.and the technology of it is not advance at all.are you boiling the water with the solar energy??
1 person likes this
@nangel78 (1454)
• United States
28 Nov 07
That is one of the reasons why I am looking for a better job. I would love to go green in my life more. My husband and I carpool to work almost every day. I recycle all of our bottles, cans, and milk containers. I turn off the lights before I leave for the day. I use the dryer as little as possible myself. If I had more money, I would use solar power more as well. I would also get a decent hybrid vehicle.
@Kowgirl (3490)
• United States
28 Nov 07
It took years to get to where we are today and it will
take twice as long to correct the damage that has been done .
But we can, by taking just one step at a time.
I was lucky when I wanted to change
to those funny looking light bulbs. My son found them on
sale at some store and bought them for me. I have planted trees
and tried to do my part recycling whatever I can. All of my appliances
have been changed to Energy Star and my washer/dryer works on a 110
outlet. It's also a water saver. I don't run my AC if I don't have too,
and when I do it is set around 80, this works fine for me. As for heat
it doesn't get that cold where I am so I only turn it on for about 1 week
and thats only when it gets in the low 40's or 30's. I think every little
bit helps. There are some things everyone can do no matter what their income.
Little things do help a lot, if you could get everyone to do them. It doesn't cost anything to recycle.
