No Impact Project » More Money

transported in the cold

Community Member — Sun, 22 May 2011 16:11:17 +0000

Okay: after my carbon footprint grew to the size of Godzilla’s, traveling all over the world, I left Istambul and Africa and came to the third snowiest town in the continental U.S. No car. I have had colleagues and strangers get absolutely enraged because I have no car. The first time, I had a borrowed bicycle and then I left for Africa just as the first few weeks of snow began. I returned, when the weather went bad, I used a loamer car for a while until it broke down. Now–ta-dah!–I have investing in a battery assisted bike. Lots of hills here, but this thing allows me the extra boost to get up them (I am no spring chicken). This year I will either bike or walk to work. Though I use electricity to recharge my batteries, I am told I can get a solar recharger. That and some mushrooms and worms in the basement… (I save an amazing amount of money not having a car, by the way.)

Excelsior!

This post was submitted by bronwyn mills.

Give up laundry chemicals

Community Member — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 03:57:28 +0000

I use only one laundry product, a hyper-clean soap powder called Charlie’s Soap. I imagine there are other good choices. It dissolves readily in the water (add clothes after for best results), and works very well, better than I expected.
The most important thing is that it has no fragrances or softeners or brighteners. Most fragrance chemicals and softeners are petrochemical oil based, and are pollutants; many of them are carcinogens (voc’s). They are particularly bad because they seem to teach people that the smell of clean is the same as the smell of the fragrance. This is NOT TRUE. The fragrances mask the dirt that does not wash out, and after a while clothes become rancid and smell like a cross between old stale perfume and a gym locker. Yuck!
I also virtually never use the dryer. All you need is a sunny yard or porch and some (hemp) clothesline. The sun is the best antibacterial as well as the most efficient whitener. And the fresh air combines with those to make clothes actually clean. With all those fragrance chemicals and softening oils gone, the human sweat and oils can really be washed out and rinsed away, and the real smell of clean returns.
By not using all those other products, a HUGE amount of waste could be eliminated, as well as taking a HUGE burden off the water supply.

This post was submitted by Will Beuscher.

Share Farmer’s Market produce

Community Member — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 03:52:18 +0000

I go to the local farmer’s market regularly. Then I take fresh fruit and vegetables to potlucks, office parties, and small group gatherings. When you serve friends something healthy, not a bag of chips or a box of store-bought cookies, or something really fattening, it always draws attention.
Then I can share with others where I got the food, how colorful and how much fun it is to shop at farmer’s markets, how healthy the food is, and what it does to leave no impact on the environment. It’s a real joy.

This post was submitted by Kathy Eckert.

Trying to be as green as we can.

Community Member — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:28:51 +0000

We moved from our 4 bedroom home to a 550 sq. foot condo walking distance from work.
We sold our 1996 4 cylinder car and bought a Honda Civic hybrid.
We became vegan after watching the movie “Meat the Truth”. We have both lost weight and feel great.
We disabled our 10 mpg motorhome and permanently parked it and use it as a cottage 15 miles from town. This is saving us lots of money in insurance and gasoline.
We are avoiding plastic where possible in packaging and purchases. This is difficult.
We eat local organic when available.
We shop at the farmers market.
We shop for clothes at second hand shops first and buy new only if we can’t find what we want second hand. This does not include underwear.
We plan to only buy fabrics that will compost. Organic cotton still uses lots of water so hemp is the first choice.
We carefully buy shampoo, laundry detergent and cleaning products that do not contain phosphates or petrochemical products.

We travel more by train and less by plane. Trains are much nicer than airports and planes but don’t go everywhere we need to go.
This has improved our marriage and our quality of life. It is fun to be a team and work towards a goal of leaving a good space for the children of the planet to grow and thrive. It has also been good for our finances and we have made very good like minded friends.

This post was submitted by Erin and Bill.

Use less

Community Member — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:27:52 +0000

My partner and I ride our bikes to work or walk, and never use our car for trips less than 5 miles. We purchased a second hand child carrier to attach to the bikes for grocery shopping. We use a reusable bag or an old large Rubbermaid container for our groceries so as not to accumulate plastic bags. We have eliminated paper towels and napkins and tissues, use stainless steel water bottles and reusable sandwich covers for taking lunches to work and school. We are a vegetarian family who has NEVER purchased bottled water, wear our clothes at least twice (if not 3 x) before laundering with phosphate free soap. We use baking soda for teeth brushing and cleaning toilets and scrubbing sinks. We patronize our local farmer’s markets when in season.
We both work for the village at our local library. I am a children’s librarian and my partner the head of the IT department. He has reduced the library’s use of electricity and uses second hand equipment instead of purchasing new. I try to educate families on the importance of respecting our planet and through storytimes and family programming try to educate families about our impact on the earth and how to conserve her precious resources.
I have made a commitment to purchase nothing new this year and am utilizing our local thrift shops when necessary. As a family we are constantly trying to find new ways to lessen our impact. Thank you for your dedication to this cause. People are paying attention.

This post was submitted by Danusia Hnatkiewicz Norris.

Planetwalker

Community Member — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:26:06 +0000

I am 31 years old and have never nor ever aspire to drive a vehicle, I have no intention of ever obtaining a drivers license. I use my own two legs, like a natural human.

This post was submitted by Rebecca.

a couple more

Community Member — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:20:25 +0000

reading many tips but have two I haven’t seen yet.
Use the local shoe repair man to refurbish shoes rather than buying new. The shoes look new again with far fewer materials, and employ the local person.

Also, I don’t allow my neutered dog to stay out in the yard barking, thereby not discouraging people from opening their windows for cool night air in the summer.

This post was submitted by Christopher.

diapers

Community Member — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:20:05 +0000

buying brand new cloth diapers is not bad; but how about buying second hand cloth diapers? after use, from your baby or someone else’s, these diapers are ‘used’ – with a good wash (in a washing machine, with hot water!), they come out perfectly clean and sanitary.

This post was submitted by Anne.

365-Day Challenge

Community Member — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:18:01 +0000

Hi! I just wanted to say WOW – I am super inspired but what you have done and are continuing to do. I recently embarked on a 365-Day ‘Living With Less’ Challenge and I am also blogging about it. I can totally identify with all of the changes that you have identified as being side ‘benefits’ from such an undertaking. I am going to try to ‘rally’ some of my followers to subscribe to your one-week challenge and post their entries on my blog as well. BRAVO and keep up the amazing work!

This post was submitted by Maren Hasse.

The Great Garbage Challenge of 2010

Community Member — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:13:13 +0000

Hello Fellow No-Impacters!

Recent events have compelled me to attempt to produce no more than 100 gallons of garbage over the coming year. You can read the full story here: http://open.salon.com/blog/the_almighty_beckster/2010/01/01/the_great_garbage_challenge_of_2010

Would anyone care to join me in this little undertaking? I could use some moral support!

This post was submitted by Rebecca.