The following is a guest post from Jaclyn at eLocal.com.
As we work to enhance the health of our environment, there are two options to consider: do you act green or buy green in your home?
For example, you can shorten the length of your shower or use fewer lights – or you can just update your appliance to low-flow, energy efficient appliances. By updating the products in your home, you do not have to change your lifestyle.
This infographic compares the two choices.
How do you practice living green in your home?
Jaclyn is a content marketing specialist at eLocal.com where she works primarily with infographics. eLocal’s design team creates compelling infographics ranging from legal topics to home improvement
Luke Holzmann says
I like the contrast. Me? I live green, but when I don’t have as much flexibility in my usage (say, the porch light I leave on all night), then I try to buy something that will save me money in the long run (like my sweet LED front porch light).
~Luke
Virginia Knowles says
I don’t see this so much as an either/or scenario. We can all do both, especially since there is not a “buy” alternative for everything we do. Keep in mind, also, that fluorescent lights can be a factor in triggering migraines.
Chrissy says
Some supposedly green purchases are not, in actuality, good for either people or the environment. CFL bulbs contain mercury vapor…a toxic heavy metal that causes neurological damage. Once released into the environment mercury is forever….which is a bad thing. I have concluded, for my family, that I’d rather use a little more energy and spend a little more money on electricity than put a HazMat suit on when a lamp gets knocked over and a CFL bulb broken. If it breaks on carpet the EPA recommends getting rid of the carpet for your own safety. No joke.
Joyness Sparkles says
We do the best we can with the limited amount of freedom we have for changes in our apartment complex. We cannot give up the AC in this Texas heat though. It just won’t happen. We kept if off far longer than most people and will turn it off when it hits the 80’s, but 90-100’s…that is AC weather.
JuliB says
I agree that it’s not a either/or situation, or should it be.
And in this group – I’d be shocked if anyone washes something (besides socks and underwear) after each use.
A few more points…
re: fluorescent and CFLs – the above examples are of LEDs, which I think are superior to CFLs, but pricy. I’ve used a discount brand, and sometimes the warm white bulb is actually a cool white. FWIW, I use all 3 types in my house depending on my needs.
re: AC vs fans – with the heat index being in the 100s many days in the last 2 months in the midwest, we’d be dead without a/c. However, I use fans as well, while keeping the temp at 75 or so. In addition, my local electric company has a ‘switching’ program that will shut off my central air… processor? periodically in times of high demand. For participating, I get $10/month off my bill, which covers the taxes.
Kari-Anne says
I find that I do a little bit of both. However, the two uses per flush thing kind of grosses me out. This would never go over well in my house.
maydijo says
We do both. We are entirely self-sustaining for water and for a good decade, went through the worst drought in history – so flushing the toilet only once or twice a day became common practice; installing a low-flush toilet made sense; low-flow shower heads were a must and short showers were mandatory (9 minutes!!! That’s an eternity!!!! I can do it all in 2.) Now we’re working on becoming self-sustaining for power which is a much harder proposition; but in the summer months, we’re there thanks to our wonderful solar panels. We have CFLs which aren’t on very often (no turning them on at 5 and leaving them on until 11). When we buy a new appliance we pay attention to the effeciency and get the most effecient appliance we can afford. It’s not hard to do both.