crunchy wants

[kettunainen]

Some neighbours of ours, a few houses away, just spent the past couple of days installing several solar panels on their (detached) garage rooftop. I. Am. JEALOUS. These people also ride bikes and put their laundry out to dry on clothes lines multiple times a week (they also need some WD-40 for the clothesline!). Our neighbours are crunchy. Yay!

I want a backyard sooooooo badly! I want to put up a clothesline and not worry about car exhaust or cigarette/pot smoke contaminating the clean clothes. I want to GROW THINGS! Vegetables, herbs, flowers, trees, bushes... ANYTHING! So tired of not being able to do that (don't really have time right now, but were I desperate enough, I could do more where I currently am).

I want to install a rain water collection system (and protect it to the best of my ability from mosquitoes, of course) and I want to install alternate energy sources (solar/wind/whatever). I want a detached garage so I can have an outbuilding to do with what I will (doubtful that I'd actually have a car in there!).

In the meantime, all I can do is try to use less energy in my own apartment.

Changes to date:

we've installed several CFLs -- in fact, I think there may be only one or two incandescent bulbs left in our apartment. This includes lamps. The rest are CFLs or halogens.

N installed a toggle-type accessory to our existing shower head that will reduce water to a trickle so navy showers are more possible. It works pretty damn well and doesn't affect water temperature but for a second or two, IME.

N added a jug to our toilet tank, which reduced the amount of water we flush

I flush on roughly every 3rd pee break

we all have access to reusable water bottles (1 Klean Kanteen & 2 SIGGs)

we have 4 reusable produce bags to take to the grocery store (we just got them earlier this week and if they prove worthwhile, we'll likely be getting more)

we have several reusable bags to carry around with us: some canvas, some nylon, all very handy and convenient

since moving my computer and accessories into L's office, I am able to shut off the power bar when I turn off my computer

we have started turning off the power bar that the tv and all associated components are plugged into... we use them all so rarely

we reuse plastic bags for dog poo (though we also use biodegradable Scoopies when we run out of usable plastic bags), cat litter, green bin, and trash cans

we have a stash of plastic bags that are too big for the above uses and too small for the below uses that I will likely someday use in a crochet project

we reuse garbage bags and giant Ikea bags for laundry trips

N rides a bike to and from work everyday to save money and resources on transit

we recycle damn near everything that we can

N is an excellent scavenger of usable goods -- we've gotten several shelves, a couple of floor lamps, etc. through his keen eye and determination to lug stuff home.

I'm sure I'm forgetting things, but that looks pretty damn good so far...

Also, I got a link in my email to this site called Advance Green, which is Canadian Tire's Green Goods website. Looks pretty good. They have Conservation Info links and a Resource Centre with links for Canadian energy websites.