What are you not willing to give up for green lifestyle?

[SueSteve]

I'd be very tempted to go without the TV!
I watched all of the Tour de France.
But havent watched anything since (but only last weekend), I probably watch the occasional Gardeners World. Umm, umm, can't think of anything else that I watch!! Hardly seems worth paying the licence fee.

[Stonehead]

I'm not sure on this one. There was a school of thought that said remove carpets to keep the dust down. The good point about carpets, though, is that they actually trap the dust while hard floors allow the dust to fly up into the atmosphere if it's disturbed. So now the thinking is that carpets, vacuumed regularly, might actually be better than a hard floor.

Sweeping with a broom is no good for me as the dust just flies up in my face so I still have to vacuum.

Zoe

What about a damp mop? We have hard floors in the rear entryway, the kitchen and dining room, and it's far easier to wipe them over with a damp mop. No dust! Then do a proper wash once a week.

But some daft b****r put carpet down in the bathroom. Now that really is gross.

[farmerdrea]

I cant stand the hardness of jeans hung on a line.

To avoid this, add some plain white vinegar to your rinse cycle, and you'll never have crispy jeans again.

And for me, it'd be my washing machine and dishwasher. They save SO much time for a farming family of four! I also wouldn't want to do without the computer now, it's such a fixture in my life. Have been living without an electric clothes dryer for nearly 5 years now, and there's never been a need for it. Also, with milking 15-20 goats and 2 cows, I wouldn't want to go without the milking machine (have arthritis in my wrists and hands).

Cheers
Andrea
NZ

[Bonniegirl]

I wouldn't give up my computer I have to say...how would I post on forums! lol

[glenniedragon]

I couldn't do without the mobile now, it gives a freedom knowing that the school/preschool can get me where ever I am. I have given up flying, I wish I could give up the car completely but everything is so hilly and spread out down here I'd have thighs like Geoff Capes if I did everything by bike. I wish I had room for a horse!

kind thoughts
Deb

[possum]

Doesn't it also depend on the definition of a green lifestyle?

erm No
This is about your lifestyle, your definition and your choice of what not to do without. No need to discuss semantics

[Cassiepod]

But why would you have to give up electrical goods for a green lifestyle if your lifestyle included generating electricity to power them?

It may be semantics but it an equally valuable question.

[possum]

Whas green in one environment may not be green in another. If you are generating your own electricity in an environmentally way, then obviously using electricity is not environmentally unfriendy for you.
Take us, we don't save water all that much, we are pretty lavish with the irrigation (well we need to be), but the reason for this is that we have our own water supply. It does cost electricity to pump, but not a huge amount. we are also not reducing the water table either or potentially depriving anyone of water. However our water use would be environmentally unfriendly say if we lived in London where the water table is shrinking drastically.

To phrase the question slightly differently - what do you own/do that you know is not environmentally friendly/self sufficientish in your circumstances that you are unwilling to give up.

[Cassiepod]

Thankyou for the clarification... I had misunderstood the orginal question thankyou

Unofrtuntely I own/use a lt of stuff that is not green and clearly as I ahn't given it up I'm not willign to yet. My car is a prime example I can't give it up becaus eI'm not silling to give up working becuase I don't own my own home and I don't want to become and itinerant wanderer (yet)However once we get the discovery running on used vegetable oil then I thin the commute will become green and a non-issue

[possum]

OK, sorry, my initial reply was a bit short to you, it wasn't meant to come accross that way.

Yes we still have two cars and two motor bikes (though the bikes are going soon as we hardly ride them anymore). We probably could cope with one car, but one is a Ford Freda and we use it as a campervan, the other is the work horse.

I do find it interesting how things can be green in one place and environmentally unfriendly in another. Here we have a log burner - carbon neutral, heats the house and the hotwater, yet 20 miles away in Christchurch people are being given grants to remove them to install electric heat pumps. This is because the sheer number of logburners there cause smog.

[SueSteve]

We have one car, and have vowed to never have a 2nd.
We have 1 roadworthy motorcycle, and a motorcycle and a scooter in bits. I do think it is time for the lot to go!!
And then we have pushbikes. Mine has a trailer.
I want to use the car less, but my problem is the little one, the 2 older children can cycle with me, but the 6 year old is too young. And then we end up having to take the car.
As he gets older, he will ride further and I can use the car less:)

My job is driving, I deliver organic veg boxes, so when I come home the last thing I want to do is drive!!

[red]

get a tag along bike - ideal!

[magenta flame]

My freezers, microwave, fridge, and washing machine. When the kids get older and move out of home then maybe I'll get rid of them.

And to be honest the dryer during winter. that's all though. I'd quite happy to do without 5 computers in the house, but then my husband would tell me to hand over the keys to the sewing machine, overlocker and embroidery machines.
I have to have two cars because of where we live



........Oh ok. ............ my shampoo and conditioner. If anyone can give me a recipe for a shampoo that won't make my hair like straw I'd be all for it.

[possum]

Well I often think that the things you owned before you thought of an eco friendly lifestyle should be exepmt. After all you have paid for them, the have already bee manufactured, so why not make the most of the? getting rid probably would be counter productive.