Going Green without Going Broke

I thought if any of us are trying to "go green", we could post economical ideas here. I'm trying to be more sensitive to environmental issues, but some things I just can't do. For example, there's not a farmer's market anywhere in sight out here in the boonies, so I'm still buying my carbon-laden, trucked-from-Timbuctu veggies at the grocery store.

I did manage to start shopping with a canvas bag, instead of using plastic bags. Feel pretty proud of m'self there! But I already had this canvas bag -- if I want to use more than one, I have to buy some, but some places I looked have some eye-popping prices on them!

I also bought a used Honda Civic Hybrid, so it had a record of its efficiency (always within 44-51 mpg) -- and since I bought it used, I didn't pay the new-car premium. I also didn't pay the hybrid premium, since it had been sitting on the lot for over 90 days, and they were ready to get rid of it. Moving from an SUV to the Hybrid has saved me thousands on gas per year -- no lying!

Anyone have any "green" advice they want to share?

I still use the plastic bags the stores provide. With my shopping habits, I need to (have you ever tried to carry 12 paper bags?). I recycle these bags by using them throughout the house in smaller trash cans, and take my lunch to work in them. They still make it to the land fills, but get 2 times the use before going.

I bought a bunch of those energy-saver light bulbs a few years back. With high energy costs and high Texas heat, whatever they might save me goes unnoticed. I did, however, switch electric companies twice, going from 14.5 cents/kWh to 13.6/kWh to 11.9/kWh.

The other day I heard on a talk radio show about a study or comparison of sorts of the financial and environmental differences in the hybrid vs gasoline powered vehicle debate. The person who conducted the study wasn't some crazy nut job either, the shows host pointed out. The results shocked myself and the shows host as well. They compared the total costs of a Hummer H3 vs a Toyota hybrid,a Prius I think, but don't remember exactly?

The rough results were that per mile, the Toyota costs 3X as much as the H3 due to other factors besides MPG. That's total cost, not just fuel. The expected life of the H3 is 200K miles vs just over 100K for the Toyota. The costs(financial and environmental) of the Toyota's battery, such as the manufacturing of the battery itself or chemicals in the battery, which is done in China with its lackluster environmental concerns as well as our own. And proper disposal of the battery after its useful life is up, another non eco-friendly aspect of the hybrid. There were other factors as well, but these were the main ones that stuck in my head.

The results claimed that the H3 was better ENVIRONMENTALLY and financially when more than MPG was factored in. A freakin H3!!! That shocked the heck out of me, because I believe in doing what can be done to not pollute the planet, and believe we need to rid ourself of our total dependency on oil. I'm not pushing any beliefs on anyone, it just surprised me is all.

The other day I heard on a talk radio show about a study or comparison of sorts of the financial and environmental differences in the hybrid vs gasoline powered vehicle debate. The person who conducted the study wasn't some crazy nut job either, the shows host pointed out. The results shocked myself and the shows host as well. They compared the total costs of a Hummer H3 vs a Toyota hybrid,a Prius I think, but don't remember exactly?

The rough results were that per mile, the Toyota costs 3X as much as the H3 due to other factors besides MPG. That's total cost, not just fuel. The expected life of the H3 is 200K miles vs just over 100K for the Toyota. The costs(financial and environmental) of the Toyota's battery, such as the manufacturing of the battery itself or chemicals in the battery, which is done in China with its lackluster environmental concerns as well as our own. And proper disposal of the battery after its useful life is up, another non eco-friendly aspect of the hybrid. There were other factors as well, but these were the main ones that stuck in my head.

The results claimed that the H3 was better ENVIRONMENTALLY and financially when more than MPG was factored in. A freakin H3!!! That shocked the heck out of me, because I believe in doing what can be done to not pollute the planet, and believe we need to rid ourself of our total dependency on oil. I'm not pushing any beliefs on anyone, it just surprised me is all.

I heard about the same study from a friend. The prius battery has chemicals from canada, then is sent to china for battery, then is sent to USA for assembly into car.

The pollution during manufacturing of prius battery exceeds pollution of H3 gas consumption... my friend works in detroit area and drives an H3, and I know he has a biased opinion... but interesting none the less.

There are a few things everyone can do to be a little greener. You can choose to purchase green energy or carbon offsets. Also, join the National wildlife foundation, they will keep updated on pending legislation about the environment and send you e-mails that you can forward to your elected officials to let them know where you stand on the environment and how you expect them to vote.

You can make your own cleaning products, way cheaper then buying anything.
vinigar and lemon juice with a little dish washind liquid will clean almost anything, you can use vinigar and baking soda for harder things like tubs and ovens.
Plant some trees on your property, grow some vegtables in a small garden, this will save shiping to grocery store and also they will be organic.
Just recycle as much as you can, be mindfull of what you are using, and make your own cleaning products.