WHATS YOUR 1 THING?

using bar soaps instead of plastic bottled soaps = less packaging. also using all natural dish soaps.  -karin, poulsbo
Nutri lawn helps me keep my yard chemical free. Salmon spawn in the river by my house and we want to keep them from being harmed  -Dana, Issaquah
Use a commercial car wash - like Brown Bear, that recycles their waste water instead of washing your car at home.  -Janet, Seattle
I use the new mesh grocery bags instead of paper or plastic  -Danica, Seattle
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
wearing flip flops. (no socks to wash!)  -S, Renton
We recycle everything we can in the house.  -Michel, Auburn
I use a non-disposable coffee filter and use the grounds in my garden.  -Jill, Renton
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've stopped using plastic cutlery when I bring my lunch to work.  -Liz, Bremerton
When shopping, if I can carry my purchase out with my two hands I always refuse the bag. Recycling's good too :)  -Candice, Des Moines
I put food scraps (mostly unwanted vegetable parts) into the yard waste. This way it gets composted.  -Monica, Redmond
I started a blog to help green parents reduce their energy use and exposure to toxins.  -Kathleen R., Seattle
Follow my kids around shutting off lights and making sure the water is shut off.Sounds funny but my house saves elec/water.  -Michel Brooks, Auburn
Very simple - stop eating meat! Going veggie drastically reduces your carbon footprint.  -Diane, Seattle
I have a beautiful, locally made coffee mug I use every day at work instead of paper or Styrofoam.  -Michelle, Redmond
I went vegetarian.  -Jen, Sedro Woolley
I recycle paper, cans, bottles and I have a compost pile for the garden.  -Colette, Tacoma
I'm enrolled in '100% Green Power' through Puget Sound Energy.  -Rick, Federal Way
Whenever possible, I try to buy personal care products that are botanical and not tested on animals.  -Donna, Seattle
Riding my bike to work or carpooling.  -Cheryl, Seattle
I am parking my car 3 days a week, finding other ways to commute to work.  -Janelle, Bothell
At work I buy 100% post consumer paper for our office printing & copying needs.  -Averie, Bellevue
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 recycle @ home & work; and use boxes wine comes in for many crafts. Also I educate every one I can to recycle.  -Freilah Allen-Sonn, Renton
I've given up plastic grocery bags altogether. I have about 7 reuseable ones which can fit just about everything I need.  -JenF, West Seattle
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
I unplug the toaster and coffee maker when I'm done using them, saving standby energy.  -Jen, Mountlake Terrace
Replace bath towels with half sized hand towels, plenty of towel to get the job done. Reduces laundry/energy/water/soap 1/2.  -Michael, Quilcene
I recycle my Aquarium water after a change and use it to water my garden.  -Ray, Renton
Turn off the water heater if away for a few days. Use dimmers on our lights. Use motion lights outside for security.  -Michelle, Redmond
I used to commute across Lake Washington from Seattle every day. I convinced my boss to let me work from home full-time.  -Kathy, Seattle
We've changed nearly all our ligh bulbs to the new compact type..they may not look beautiful but it's worth the savings!  -Angela, Black Diamond
I recycle all the cardboard and paper I use.  -Chris, Portland
I have carpooled my whole life as I have never owned a car.  -Faith, Everett
Turn off water while washing my hair in the shower and between hand washed dishes.  -Mila, Seattle
I have a Klean Kanteen stainess steel water bottle that I carry with me instead of constantly buying plastic disposable ones!  -Laelle, Tacoma
I use cloth diapers and cloth wipes on my 10 month old daughter Abigail!!  -Megan, Fort Lewis
I recycle all the garbage I can.  -Sheldon, Orting, WA
My one thing is to walk more and drive less.  -Nikki, Seattle
we raise quarter horses and one thing we do is catch rain water and use it to spray down the arena.  -Leah, Freeland
Solar heated water and a soapstone masonry heater with baking oven minimize our propane use. Awesome.  -Michele Keyes, Olga
Go Solar!!!! Yes it works here!  -Kate, Seattle
Dry clothes outside as often as possible!  -Jennifer, Redmond
I use biodegradable bags for my dog's waste.  -Monica, Seattle
I installed a gray water toilet, using one of our rain barrels.  -Rich , Seattle
Receive bills online, cancelled junk mail and pay approx $10 a month to purchase all of my KWh through renewable energy sources  -anne, kent
I refill four, one gallon, water bottles for work. I am a May truck driver. I hope all trucks get APU's to stop useless idling.  -Richard Carstens, Carson
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
Bio-degradeable doggy poo poo bags... My dog poops a lot.  -Johna, Sammamish
 

Public Transportation

April 7, 2008 - 10:14am — clybecker

Using public transportation to get around the city is an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to driving your personal vehicle. Whether you are heading to work, out running errands, or going to dinner and a movie, there is a public bus, boat or train that can take you there quickly and easily. Using public transit also helps cut down on road congestion and air pollution by providing an alternative mode of transportation for commuters. In addition to saving you money and cutting carbon dioxide outputs, public transit also saves you the hassle of maintaining your vehicle, which means no more costly trips to the mechanic.

Public transit also offers freedom and opportunity to those members of the community who cannot or choose not to own a car. Riding the bus or taking the train is an affordable and fun alternative to owning a personal vehicle for thousands of people in and around the Seattle metro area. Also, research shows that public transit helps to enhance local rural economic growth by increasing the local customer base through rider-ship. Along these same lines, riding the bus helps to build a stronger sense of community, cooperation and safety and increases social interaction between neighbors and friends.

Overall, public transit is a positive alternative to driving and its benefits can be felt not only in your pocketbook but throughout the community, as well. So next time you are heading out, think twice before you start up your car and instead, hop on the nearest bus and we can go there together.