Parkside

We gave up our 2nd vehicle and although many people think they can't manage without two vehicles, it's amazing how easy it is.  Co-workers will always say they can give me a ride, if my car isn't available for whatever reason.  Friends are happy to give my husband rides to coffee/meetings/visits, if I have the car.

We gave up an extra fridge which my husband said would make entertaining more difficult for me, but I was determined and now don't miss it.

We now only wash laundry in cold water.

We unplug everything possible when we leave for a week-end or a holiday.  I also never leave my computer on.   Unless I'm on the computer, it is shut down.  We have switched our light bulbs to long life, low energy bulbs.

Over my husband's protests, we began recycling awhile ago, and we feel better about reducing the amount of actual garbage we produce.

In the summer months, eating salads with ingredients from our local farmers' market, means using less electricity to cook meals.  Eating outside on our patio means using our air conditioner less, as it mostly cools off at night,

I try to buy small appliances that don't use electricity, such as a manual ice crusher, manual can opener, and make my bread crumbs using a pastry roller, rather than the blender.

It only makes sense to try to save gas and energy consumption.  My grandmother taught me when I was about 6 years old, how to make door mats (rugs) by using old silk or cotton ladies' stockings.  They were a variegated colour, and woven into a circle.  Quite attractive, actually.  Nothing used to get thrown out if a use could be found for it.  We really need to keep working to reduce packaging and buy local.  We need to be a good example for our children and grandchildren, who are very concerned about the health of the planet.

I have carpooled with my husband and friends for the past 7 years. We have saved with only having one car and sharing the ride with others. In the last three months I have started taking the bus and then walking home with my friend who before couple months ago we both drove our own vehicles because we didn’t know each other that well. Once we found out that we lived close she started catching a ride with us and then we started walking home 7km.

About 7 months ago I also inquired at the hospital I work at about recycling paper. We had been recycling cardboard and cans or water bottles if used but we wanted to go bigger. I spoke with someone at the hospital and they had been talking about doing this. Last month we started the program. We now recycle all paper i.e envelopes, flyers, newspapers, any paper. We sort according things into two piles shredding and recycle. We still recycle cardboard and cans if people bring them but now our hospital has gone green.