apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I use brown bags instead of plastic garbage bags to keep in my trash cans. I switched all of my light bulbs to energy efficient fluorescents. I only purchase and use recycled paper. When cleaning my home, I stick to non-toxic cleaners whenever possible. It's my own personal challenge and it feels good to do my part for the environment. I've even started walking to the local market and take my own reusable bags with me to shop.

Great contest! My Boston area grocery stores have really been picking up on the reusable bag habit lately: making them $1 and giving the shopper back 5 cents for reusing the bags. I use a couple of different ones, and my mom has always used the same green mesh one since I can remember.

I think the key is having one small enough to pack along so that I have one for the "random" stops at the bodega or wherever.

I have been using a canvas bag that a friend bought for me for about one year now. I also recently switched all the light bulbs in my house to the low energy spiral ones. I bought a yard sale bicycle to use for close trips instead of my car.

I haven't been perfect but I'm really committed to no more plastic bags! I love that it's becoming more and more of a public effort, and some businesses (Trader Joe's, Whole Foods) are starting to make it a bit easier. I started about 6 months ago but I don't have a foldup bag to carry around with me, so this Method bag would definitely help. I think that's the next step for me -- to always be prepared. I'm switching over to natural cleaning products as the old ones run out (unfortunately I do have some old ones around -- they get used up slowly -- I guess I don't clean enough!) and am looking at my daily habits to see what else I can do. Thanks AT for being supportive!

Cool contest! I use reusable bags every week for grocery shopping, the farmers market, and even keep a few small canvas bags in my purse for on-the-go bagging.

I already try to go green when it comes to cleansers, and am moving into a new apartment at the end of the month. I'm looking forward to stocking up on cleansers that will be good for the environment and my new home!

I've been lugging the Ikea blue bag with me lately, mostly using it for the farmers market and to bring my CSA haul home. We've replaced our lights with CFL bulbs and also installed new ceiling fans so we don't have to run the AC as much next summer. So far, our down comforter has been keeping us warm enough that we haven't had to run the heater at night, either.

All my cleaning products have been replaced by Method products and Dr. Bronner's soap. They smell good and I don't have to worry about the dogs licking anything anymore!

I've been using Dr Bronner's soap for pretty much everything for many many many years now: laundry, dishwashing, hand soap, shower soap. Surfaces I clean with 7th Generation or Mia Rose Citri-Glow cleaners and/or vinegar with water.

I've been doing much construction/renovation in my apt and to remove grease, paint, sticky stuff from my hands (as well as surfaces) I use Citri-Glow Solvent. I use vinegar or rubbing alcohol to remove oils from whatever.

I belong to the local food co-op (Park Slope) and run through the park with the cloth bag tucked within a hip pack and walk back with my groceries. Every plastic bag gets re-used as garbage, kitty poo bag. Every paper towel gets re-used until it falls apart (when I'm not using cloth towels). Plastic water bottles would get re-used until they fell apart (I've since switched to buying only single-use glass bottles -- when I do which is not often -- and those get re-used even more). I wash and dry and recycle #5 plastic containers (yogurt, etc.) that the city doesn't take (but the co-op does). Every piece of paper gets recycled and/or re-used.

I hold onto whatever wood scrap is created from the construction and try to re-use in future projects.

The list goes on. Thanks.

Olga

Right now, I'm eating lunch at my workdesk: leftover rice & beans in a reused organic-yogurt container and cold tap/Brita'd water from home, all carried here in my bright-red Built NY lunch tote. I admit saving plastic bags, but I reuse for trash and cat pine-litter (not sure what I'd do for that without ANY plastic bags, since I'm in a NY apt. and can't really compost). I now clean with Seventh Generation products, use Method liquid soaps and in my bright new apartment unless it's really dark out, I don't turn on any lights until evening except in the enclosed bathroom and kitchen; I don't use a hairdryer, hand-wash and hang-dry my clothes (only use machines for sheets/towels). For a girl on a budget, I try my best to live green and without excess waste.

I just started trying to "green" my home earlier this year. I've been switching to green cleaning products gradually as the old ones run out. So far, I love the Mrs. Meyers products (the dish soap smells lovely and non-soapy), and I've used the Method laundry soap which doesn't irritate my sensitive skin the way Tide would. I haven't picked up any Dr. Bronner's yet, but that's next on my list.

I haven't made the jump to re-usable bags yet, but I'm getting there. I've been looking at some of the cute reusable bags online. I also plan to make my own bag out of cut-up plastic bag "yarn", just as soon as I get around to cutting up the pile of bags in my pantry.

I'm gradually trying to use more eco-friendly products too. I've gotten pretty good about using reusable bags, but I do forget to carry them sometimes. And I have also started using Mrs. Meyers products (thanks to the tips on AT). I've been thrilled with how well they work. Switching to energy efficient light bulbs is next on the list.

The bags I've been using were meant for carrying around leaflets at ICFF--while they have convenient long shoulder straps, they are also pretty pilled and worn, and I always worry that heavy shopping will tear the straps off. I love the move to reusable bags, though--in addition to being environmentally friendly, I feel like it reduces clutter at home since I don't have as many extra bags floating around!

I'm early in my greening efforts. One of my quests is to replace any cleaning product that uses chlorine and/or phosphates with a product that does not. And I'm on the white vinegar wagon at last (have used baking soda to clean for years).

As for bags, sometimes a cute accessory is key! The first time I went to Japan, I saw The Cutest Reusable Bags Ever in the greatest home products store in Tokyo: Loft. It's just a nylon bag, but you fold it just so and stuff it into a minature replica of itself. My toddler carries it in its mini version to the farmers market, and then I unfold it and fill it. I get a kick out of it, so I don't forget it. And it's so small when it's folded that it's easy to take along even when I'm loaded down with a ton of stuff.

Confessions of a costco shopper:
I will go green with my cleaning products but here's the thing: having enough dishsoap and windex to last until Armageddon makes it difficult for me to justify buying more cleaning products. After all, buying needlessly is also bad for the planet and bad for the budget/space constraints of my apartment. If I got this bag of method products I would freecycle my (metaphorical) mountain of costco cleaning products and use the new stuff to go green.

Plastic bags have long bothered me but I used to live in Alaska (where you could recycle the bags) so I never commited to making the reuseable bag switch. Then I started living half my year in Texas (and the area I'm in doesn't seem to know global warming from an electric blanket) and there is no plastic bag recycling here. So, after reading a post on AT:Green about the Baggu Bags- I bought 6. And I love them. I keep a couple in my purse (for trips to Target or whatnot) and the rest are by the front door. I grab them all for trips to the grocery (which does not offer reuseable bag rebates). The first time we used the bags we were able to make one trip from the car to house instead of the normal four. I am such a fan of reuseable bags now that I want to give them to my friends!

I've also began the big switch over to all non-toxic cleaners. Thanks to tips from AT:Kitchen, I've been cleaning with vinegar a lot. I need to use up a few leftover "bad" cleaners (I refused to toss them out- wasteful) but when I'm done I'm hoping to try out some method or Mrs. Meyer's products.

we've been using canvas bags for a while- and we buy earth-friendly cleansers at trader joe's and whole foods.

our big earth friendli-ness is that we live close to work- I bike to work, and my husband bikes there at least once a week. we do all our chores by bike or foot; (or the occasional zip car), and I don't eat any meat or dairy- which also helps the earth.

I have been using canvas bags for years, a habit I picked up from my mother, along with recycling EVERYTHING. It used to embarrass me quite a bit, now I see she was ahead of the game :-)

If I am in an area that does not recycle, I hold onto my recyclables (i.e. toss them in the backseat of my car) until I get home.

I use my bags for everything, from shopping, beach trips, bringing my stash of candy and Red Bull into work, you name it. Most of the bags I've picked up at local produce markets, and they are so worn, you can't see the designs any longer!

My boyfriend and I walk to the market 3-4 times a week to pick up dinner supplies. I always toss my wallet into one our bags for the walk, and it always ends up buried under groceries. I'd love to have these bags!

They're snazzy.

seeing how many plastic bags get wasted every day makes me apoplectic - in addition to trying to be a good example by carrying my own reusable bags with me, and making a point of asking for 'no bag' at the stores, this year my holiday gifts will definitely include giving away reusable totes in their own tiny pouches to friends and family. hopefully what they might see as a cute accessory will have a positive impact on changing their own habits to be a little greener.
i also use lots of DIY green cleaners and compact fluorescent bulbs. take my coffee to work in a thermos - no disposable coffee cups - and carry a nalgene bottle to avoid wasteful bottled water.
i belong to a local CSA for organic farm-fresh produce, and grow quite a few vegetables in my brooklyn backyard. my next 'big' green project will be starting a worm bin for composting -- i'm just having a hard time finding a space that will accomodate it.

Excellent contest! I was raised in a recycling household, so I either ask for paper over plastic or collect the plastic bags and take them to a recycling center. This year I bought a red Trader Joe's bag and have just recently started taking it to other grocery stores (some of them give you a discount if you bring your own bag). The next step on my list of ways to live greener is to stop using harsh cleaning chemicals and get back to basics!

We use radiant-heat flooring, which is more energy efficient than forced air. Am also trying to train my husband to turn off the water when he does dishes and to take shorter showers (more difficult than I had imagined). We take public transport/bike to work daily and line-dry all our clothing.
I also bring various reusable bags when I go shopping and am trying to phase out the harsh chemical cleaners we have accumulated around the house.
Working at changing one habit at a time.

I've been using my Trader Joe's bags for years and am trying to pick up other "green" habits (like carpooling, taking shorter showers, refraining from using disposable utensils/plates)because I believe that every little bit does help. And now even the larger chain grocery stores (Vons and Ralphs in So Cal) will deduct 5 cents from your total when you bring in your own bag. Baby steps, right?

I've been a proud devotee of reusable shopping bags (mine are Chico Bags, and I love them) for at least a year, but green cleaning products are harder for me. I have trouble breaking the bleach addiction - how will I know it's really clean otherwise? - while in every other aspect of my life I'm *not* a slave to antibacterial paranoia. But green cleaners make me wary, and I don't have the financial security to experiment until I find one I love.

Since I live in Manhattan, I walk or take the subway almost everywhere. I have been using a canvas shopping bag for about two months now, and I love it - especially taking it to the local farmer's market, although I wish it was smaller so it took up less purse space. I also try to buy "greener" cleaning products like dish soap and laundry detergent and use a Nalgene to drink all my water, since I hate all the extra bottles that drinking bottled water wastes and I also hate paying $2 for something that should be free.

I use 15 year old green mesh bags my mom purchased at the Giant grocery store in the 90s. They're ugly but functional - and carry so much! I also use energy efficient light bulbs, a water reducing (and fabulous) shower head, recycle glass/aluminum/plastic and paper/cardboard...and try to carpool when I can. I am part of a local organic CSA(community sponsored agricultural program) where I receive weekly 'shares' of fresh local organic produce, and buy only organic meats/products. I love living green!

I gots a couple things doing over here.

1) As an owner of two larger dogs living in a city condo, poop pickup is a major part of our life. They take 3-4 walks a day and we were sick of buying poop bags, and couldn't afford the crunchy green bio bags. One day a few months ago we were at our local supermarket and I noticed they had set up a plastic bag depository (I assume to collect them for recycling). Well, after a quick glance around I was able to stuff almost the entire container's worth into my grocery bag. And WOW! The big ball of stuffed, crumpled bags I grabbed turned out to be almost 200 bags, and we have not bought poop bags in a few months now. And I plan on doing it again.

2) I inherited my hippie parents' old canvas co-op bag, the very same one that carted home refilled jars of that nasty old bulk co-op peanut butter, bags of carob raisins and "GORP" all throughout my childhood. The name of the co-op was long faded, it had been stained and washed and repaired about a million times. It was a family relic that had a lot of good old 70's I'm-OK-you're-OK kinda value that we were all oddly sentimental about, and its age and funkiness was a long running joke.

Wellz, I got a puppy a couple months ago, and about two weeks back he came running up to me with a BIG TORN SQUARE of it in his mouth, shaking it like mad, ready to play. My heart sank. But you know what? A fitting end.

I find reusable tote bags to be the most useful when they fold up nice and small and one can tuck them into whatever bag one carries around every day. Finding some very little and very lightweight fold-up bags at The Container Store made this a part of my everyday routine instead of something I did only occasionally.

I make my own tote bags and give them to friends as gifts. Also, I've switched from even the gentlest other cleansers to method, because all the others made my asthma act up (plus, who wants their dog breathing that stuff, too?).

I have been working so hard this year on not taking plastic bags! My mom and I, during Christmas last year, made a small pact to try and not use any more plastic bags this year. I've gotten her beat this year so far (if I don't have a canvas bag, I just walk out of the store with the purchase in my hands, along with my receipt.) I'm trying! This bag would help me out a lot (and the method products inside would be a definite bonus!) I think I'll even get my mom one, and help her out! Ever since I found out about that mass of melting plastic in the Pacific Ocean, it's freaked me out!

Awesome. So, I'm making a commitment to reuse shopping bags. I feel so guilty going to the market without my own bag. Plus, those supermarket plastic bags are just yucky looking... it's embarrassing to have to walk around carrying one. The madness stops here. I'm committed. ___ (P.S. Method, if you're reading this: I think you should sell a DISH soap refill. I know you have the hand soap refill, but I need the DISH soap refill. Many of us use our own dish soap dispenser and we don't need the squeeze bottle. In the lavender scent, please.)___

Free green cleaning products, yay! :-)

About three or four months ago I decided to start making one hundred little changes in my life that would make it more socially and environmentally responsible. So far, among many other things, I've

--switched to washing dishes in a tub of water instead of leaving the tap on
-- stopped turning the bathroom light on at all during the day, even if it's a bit gray
-- stopped preheating the oven
-- begun running the washer on cold
-- started saving all kinds of little packaging materials for re-use; I put a lime in a bag that had come with our picture-hanging nails, instead of covering it in cling wrap
-- used this company to offset the carbon from my travels

...and a bunch of other rather boring things that I'm nevertheless very proud of. Now I just need to work up the courage to talk to the person down the street whose sprinkler seems to have been running 24 hours a day for the past week. Grrr!

I've been replacing toxic household cleaning products with "greener" products.

I use cloth bags for grocery shopping, method products for cleaning, paper towels as infrequently as possible [with a cat, they're still necessary], etc etc etc... But I can always use more! Poor student!

I buy my paper towels and toilet paper from Seventh Generation, but I buy it in bulk. Through Amazon, you can get huge boxes of both. That saves the extra trips to the store as well as the plastic wrapping.

We've been re-using our paper bags from Trader Joe's over and over until they fall apart - it would probably be good to get some real cloth bags at some point! When I first started bringing my own bags to stores, I used to get a lot of weird looks or non-understanding clerks, but that really seems to have changed lately. Even the checkout people at the conventional grocery store don't mind my reuseable bags - yay!

Everyone's mentioned what they do at home and shopping-- what about environmentally friendly practices in the workplace/office? At the local gift shop I work at, we recycle carboard boxes, papers, and aluminum cans, reuse packaging tissue, boxes, ribbons and wrapping that we receive in merchandise shipments (no one seems to mind!). I've also gotten the owner interested in selling trendy reusable grocery bags, by convincing her that there is a demand for cute but functional bags. Lastly, for the past 2 years, I've started asking customers if they need a bag with their purchase. To our surprise, folks appreciate this- often they don't think about it but don't need an extra bag.... it's amazing the small things one can do to make an environmental impact!

Oh, I love Method products! I have incredibly bad asthma, and can't clean with most "common" cleaners, which is how I started using Method. I stick with them because in my experience, they clean much better than the usual suspects--and the other environmentally friendly cleaners I've tried over the years. Plus they smell good afterward and I don't feel like I need to wear a gas mask in my house.

The fact that Method products are environmentally friendly are the icing on the cake. How could anybody not like having all these benefits?

I use environmentally friendly products whenever I can. I always buy Energy Star appliances (and I love my front-loading washing machine!), floresent bulbs, and organic food and clothing whenever possible. I love buying local organic produce; nothing inspires my cooking more than what I find at the local farmer's markets. I've tried more new vegetables in the past year than I ever did growing up (which tells you something about the parents).

The bag sounds nice too. Right now I have a pile of canvas totes I use for shopping. They're cute, but there's no interior pockets so I still need to carry a purse with them, which can get cumbersome if I'm just trying to get a few things at the market.

My parents refuse to use totes to grocery shop, so whenever they bring treats over I end up with a pile of plastic bags at my house. I use them for my kitchen garbage, because they fill up quickly so I take them out to the dumpster before anything starts to stink. I know it's not the most eco-friendly solution, but living in a condo I haven't a lot of other choices and I can't find anyplace in the area at which to recycle them. We do what we can, right?

I use my mesh LL Bean beach bag for toting groceries, if I have a lot to carry I go with a shopping cart. When I do get plastic bags, I re-use them for garbage. Thus I never have to buy dedicated trash bags. I save larger shopping bags for those times when I might have something bigger to throw out, etc.

I'm about to go far out of my way to dispose of a spent fluorescent tube light from my kitchen. This concerns me in general: the compact fluorescents might be more efficient and cheaper in the long run but I am betting most people don't know you shouldn't just throw them out. Not enough is being done to emphasize this and make it somewhat easier for the average person. NO matter what we do, there are always going to be people who don't care and will do whatever is easiest for them.

At work I have been involved in an office-wide effort to improve our sustainability practices. We've introduced Fair Trade coffee, got management to agree to set printers to print doubled-sided as a default (copiers, too), and we encouraged the beginnings of electronics recycling.

Moving to New York has really opened my eyes to the need to be green. I carry a "green" grocery or shopping bag everywhere I go. All of my furniture is from craigslist or the street. I waste nothing in my apartment. But I have a cleaning lady who insists upon certain cleaning products that are not green, like paper towels (eek!) even though I have many rags I encourage her to use.

Instead of using the plastic bags at the library to put all of our books in (we get a lot!), we take a laundry basket to tote them back in forth in.

- I have a big basket that I use every time I go to the market. It's not only "Green" but also much easier for carrying my errands.

As a teacher, I believe I need to walk the talk to my students encouraging them to tread lightly and make as small a footprint on the earth as possible. We just finished spending a week at a bird sanctuary where we studied about important environmental issues and stewardship. Next week we are having garbageless lunches to encourage minimizing waste at school. I hope that my practises and example in the class encourage wise behavior regarding waste and caring for the world around us. When we study the unit, "Waste and Our World," we discuss non-toxic cleaners and I send home info for parents use and at least consider. I reuse plastic bags in the class for book totes and ice cream and yogurt containers for paint and crayon holders. I keep cloth bags in my car trunk and pull them out for use whenever I go shopping.

I have been trying harder to when ever I go to the store I ask for paper bags and then reuse them for other things around the house. I don't like using plastic anymore so it's a start. That bag would come in handy too in teaching my daughter the importance of recycling and reusing things as well.

I'm a recycle freak. Paper, plastic, bottle, food can I bring it to the recycle bin on a weekly basis. Pretty much all the take-out food container I wash and put it in the recycle bin as well. Every now and then when I buy stuff in the grocery store, if the item fit into my tote bag I don't need an extra bag. And I bring my own cups to the offfice eventhough they provide paper cups. It is the little step that count to bring the world less of garbage.

I've been taking back and reusing plastic bags @ grocery stores...they often give you a little discount for your trouble. I also make my own cleaning solutions with vinegar.
Love Methods products.

I try to avoid the supermarkets and only shop at Farmers Markets and local village shops. With reusable bags. But I don't look very chic, so this bag would really help.

I threw away the bleach! I try not to use anything that seems like it would kill my pets or kids. Method is great but I do wish they would take the dye out of their hand soaps since it's not really necessary...

I'm guilty of using plastic bags, but I save them and use them for everything I can think of. If I take my dog for a walk and clean up after her, cleaning out my car, getting rid of my kids' clothes, etc. I've wanted to switch to reusable bags, but I can't find anything I really like. Plus I don't want the people at the store to think I'm stealing anything but putting it in a bag. Weird I know, but that's me.

perfect! count me in.

i am trying my hardest to become more environmentally safe. this bag will get me on my way :)

I find that by simply asking for no bag I save a lot of plastic from entering the house. If I buy some toothpaste at Duane Reade, say, I ask for no bag and put it in my briefcase that I'm already carrying. Simple.

Great give-away!! Well, let's see I'm just starting out going on more 'green'! I would love to win one of these bags to help me on my way. I would like to receive some non-toxic household items, that would be awesome!

This week's winners (selected at random by Random.org) are nycek, leanneabe and meeralee - congratulations!

nycek said:
"Moving to New York has really opened my eyes to the need to be green..."

leanneabe said:
"I've been lugging the Ikea blue bag with me lately, mostly using it for the farmers market and to bring my CSA haul home..."

meeralee said:
"About three or four months ago I decided to start making one hundred little changes in my life that would make it more socially and environmentally responsible..."

I too am new on the force of recycling and being green! However, I have tried to buy trader joe's reusable grocery bags! I love it when I feel I am doing a small part to help mother earth. I will continue to do better at this and other ways to save the earth. Please let me win this great, reusable tote bag and I promise to use it wherever and whenever I shop!

after i ed begley my countertops, i always reach for the method to conquer the floors and wood. and i always keep a permanent stash of canvas totes and reusable bags in my car for spontaneous shopping!

We use canvas totes for groceries and I have used baking soda and vinegar to unclog drains.