WHATS YOUR 1 THING?

I signed up for a food PLUS+ compost recycling bin and cut our trash way down.  -TJ, bellingham
Being a vegetarian has more of an eco-friendly impact then buying a hybrid.  -Morgan, Seattle
When I see a light turn yellow, I turn off the ignition and coast up to it.  -Erin, West Seattle
I use cloth instead of paper:cloth napkins, cloth kitchen towels, bandanas for runny noses, cloth bag instead of paper/plastic  -Tara, Shoreline, WA
The paper towel roll sits in a lower drawer where it's hard to find. But we have plenty of cloth towels for cleaning up spills.  -Tom, Seattle
I help at my school's Environmental Awareness club, to teach other students to respect our Earth. -Andrew, Atlanta  -Andrew, Atlanta
I recycle all the cardboard and paper I use.  -Chris, Portland
My home now runs on 100% wind power--the bill is a bit more but I hardly notice considering the impact it makes.  -Tasha, Vancouver
we raise quarter horses and one thing we do is catch rain water and use it to spray down the arena.  -Leah, Freeland
Dry clothes outside as often as possible!  -Jennifer, Redmond
I re-use almost everything I buy at least once and if I cant, I dont buy it.  -Faith, Everett
I put a watering can under the faucet while I am waiting for the water to get hot.  -Holly, Seattle
I am parking my car 3 days a week, finding other ways to commute to work.  -Janelle, Bothell
Use a commercial car wash - like Brown Bear, that recycles their waste water instead of washing your car at home.  -Janet, Seattle
I use a skim of toothpaste on my toothbrush. My teeth get just as clean and less pollutants go down the drain.  -Susanne , Bellevue
My housemates and I have a big vegie garden going in our yard and are watering with collected rain. Tasts so good!  -Bruce, Lake City
I work @ home, so have flexibility. From May-Oct, I try to line dry all but 3X/month. I save 100 hours of dryer time a year!  -Deirdre, Vashon
I drive my motorcycle as often as possible instead of my car - 50 mpg helps some.  -Bruce, Lake City
While waiting for hot water to get to the tap, I fill a pitcher and use it to water my plants.  -Debbie, Kingston
i started recycling like crazy. my husband and i even set up recycle bins at work and bring them home everyday.  -C.P + A.P., poulsbo
I buy as much as I can from local farmers and practice being a 'locavore' as much as possible.  -Sean, Camden, SC
I traded in my beloved 9 year old Jeep Wrangler (15 mpg) for a new Hybrid! Hurray!  -Leann, kenmore, wa
I use my own coffee mug and water bottle at work instead of the paper cups  -Priya, Bellevue
Whenever possible, I try to buy personal care products that are botanical and not tested on animals.  -Donna, Seattle
I educate my neighbors about surface water run off to the Puget Sound and encourage them to properly dispose of pet waste.  -Jacqui, Snohomish
to get to places like school, and other towns i walk, ride my bike, rollerblade and when necessary, take the metro.  -kylie repp, snoqualmie
I recycle whenever possible. but when im out in public i cant always recycle because there isnt always public recycling cans.  -Kayla, seattle
I share my home with with 5 other adults and two teens. Living together lowers our footprint and increases our fun!  -Bruce, Lake City
At work I buy 100% post consumer paper for our office printing & copying needs.  -Averie, Bellevue
I buy organic, local food whenever possible to support farming and food transport that is best for my family and our world.  -Ardel, Snohomish, WA
I install energy efficient heating and cooling systems as well as solar and geothermal.  -Travis, Marysville
I take keep my reusable grocery bags in my car so I always have them available when I go to the store.  -Cherel, Washougal
I grow as many vegetables as I can year round at my neighborhood P-Patch. I give extras to neighborhood foodbank or neighbors.  -Cristina , Seattle
I never use the heater in my apartment, blankets are cheaper and don't waste energy!  -Catie, Seattle
Only buy local produce. -Lindy, Bellevue  -Lindy, Bellevue
My boyfriend and I (we've been together a long while) shower together every morning. It saves water and energy heating water  -Angie, Port Orchard
Seattle based Go Financial Solutions to deliver a secure eDisclosure service to their customers. 100% paperless mortgage loan.  -Joe, Seattle
I have a Klean Kanteen stainess steel water bottle that I carry with me instead of constantly buying plastic disposable ones!  -Laelle, Tacoma
my husband and I drive natural gas cars.We fill up @ home for 1.63 a gallon & no emissions.  -laura, kenmore
Bio-degradeable doggy poo poo bags... My dog poops a lot.  -Johna, Sammamish
For drying clothes I use a clothesline when the weather is good, or a wooden drying rack in the house when it's not.  -Jeanne, Onalaska
We recycle everything we can in the house.  -Michel, Auburn
I'm enrolled in '100% Green Power' through Puget Sound Energy.  -Rick, Federal Way
I use a drying rack for my thinner clothing instead of the dryer. Cuts my elec bill and drying time!  -Erin, West Seattle
We got chickens and reuse other peoples' egg cartons to disperse our extra eggs to family and friends. Commercial eggs, blech!  -Heather, Clinton
i turn my water of when im brushing my teeth. :D  -kayla, lynnwood
I turn my old clothes into new clothes so i won't have to go out and buy many  -laree, portland
Buy "green" products and try to gradually influence as many of my friends as possible. It's working so far!  -Marian, Lacey
I sell and use laundrypure in my home to remove soaps,bleach and other chemicals from my water discharge into city sewer system  -eric byers, Gig Harbor
I recycle all the garbage I can.  -Sheldon, Orting, WA
 

Carpeting

April 4, 2008 - 3:27pm — clybecker

Carpets are often made from synthetic nylons or plastics, all of which require petroleum to produce. Additionally, the glue used to attach the base to the fibers can contain a variety of toxic chemicals. Become an informed consumer and know what you are looking for in your flooring.

Consider using recycled carpet made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Created from yarn made from the recycled resins of plastic soda bottles and ketchup containers, PET carpet is a competitively priced alternative to nylon and other synthetic carpets.

If you’re looking to go completely natural, you could look into a sustainably made wool carpet. These are untreated with any chemicals and completely biodegradable. They require slightly more care than synthetic carpeting, but are naturally durable, liquid resistant, and flame retardant.

Another option is to rethink carpeting all together. Bamboo is an easily grown completely sustainable wood source. It also makes for a beautiful hardwood floor. The only downside is that most bamboo is grown in China and cannot be bought locally.