Carbon Footprint

[thechick]

All the air travel I have been doing this year has got me thinking about the size of my carbon footprint. There are websites where one can pay a non-profit organization to do things like support solar and wind based energy plants or plant trees for you. I'd prefer to do more on my own though. With monsoon season here in NM I have been thinking

Comments

[tiamat_dragon]

I lived once with a family that used rain water to water plants and even to flush their toilet. I can't remember how they did it

[thechick]

When I was a kid there was the gross motto of "If its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down."

Solar panels are something I am going to look into when Chuck and I buy a house. The technology for them is getting better and more efficient every year. Hopefully by the time we buy a house it will be easily affordable to use solar power.

[elegantelbow]

There's a solar panel plan, now, that let's you finance your panels, and then pay them off with your PNM savings + any money you earn from PNM.

Most people don't talk about this -- but solar panels are *far* more efficient with heating hot water than with turning sun into electricity. So you might consider putting in under-floor radiant heating and/or a booster for your water heater.

Not that you asked my opinion. ;)

[elegantelbow]

What day are you leaving for Denvention? Would you be at all interested in having a rider who'd help pay for gas?

[thechick]

Most likely a rider would be great. I need to ask chucklemagne since he is actually doing the driving. He just went to bed so I will let you know in the morning. We are leaving Wednesday hopefully quite early in the morning so we can get there to get our badges and enjoy as much of the con as possible.

[elegantelbow]

No worries. I *think* I might've found a ride to the con (assuming I can reschedule my life). Please do ask, though, if you don't mind.

Obviously, I would be willing to contribute towards gas.

[thechick]

We are definitely interested in having a passenger for the ride.

[weepingmoon]

I contribute by:

-only buying local foods, making sure the meat we buy is sustainable and free of all the nasty shit

-we pee and don't flush (when we don't have company)

-Carpooling to work, and when that is not possible using public transportation

-controlling dish water and taking very short (and non excessive) showers

-walking where possible

- growing as many vegetables as possible

- recycling and composting ALL organic matter

[thechick]

I am looking into composting. It is too bad the city here does not have a regular yard waste pick up or any food scrap pick up.

As far as buying local foods I am getting more and more into that. It is interesting thinking of ways to adjust my diet which allow for a variety of foods to be incorporated. In CA it is a lot easier to get local produce year round.

[weepingmoon]

It's very true, I am very lucky to be living in California, even though not everything is availible year round, it makes life easier!!!