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Outrageous Green Ideas & #UseOneLess
Started by Shortpoet-GTD, Apr 01 2012 02:25 PM
49 replies to this topic
#23
Posted 01 May 2012 - 11:17 AM
mariaandrea, on 30 April 2012 - 05:45 PM, said:
That's true, but most technology starts out like that - expensive and experimental until people figure out a way to make it work or abandon it and move on to something else.
I see this as a "think tank" thread. There are lots of organizations that spend most of their time just thinking up stuff. I think it's a very useful endeavor because you never know where the seed of the next great idea will come from.
I remember a woman who posted about a year she spend wearing only one dress. The same dress. Dressed up and down with accessories, but still, just the one dress. Something like that is both limiting and freeing in a way. So many of our habits and likes are artificial constructs, like fashion and what we think is necessary. It wasn't all that long ago that the average person had just one pair of shoes at a time and only replaced them when they wore out. Even people who aren't all that fashion conscious still have more than one pair of shoes. On the other hand, if society decided we didn't need fashion or more than just basic clothing, it would also have secondary and tertiary effects - job loss (maybe not so much in manufacturing here, but definitely retail) and all sorts of things. But we'd use fewer resources producing less clothing. Unless only clothing made from recycled materials got popular. Then Goodwill would empty out in a hurry.
See, I'm just thinking out loud in a stream of consciousness way, and it's fun and possibly useful. Possibly not in a practical way, but our brains need "exercise" too.
I see this as a "think tank" thread. There are lots of organizations that spend most of their time just thinking up stuff. I think it's a very useful endeavor because you never know where the seed of the next great idea will come from.
I remember a woman who posted about a year she spend wearing only one dress. The same dress. Dressed up and down with accessories, but still, just the one dress. Something like that is both limiting and freeing in a way. So many of our habits and likes are artificial constructs, like fashion and what we think is necessary. It wasn't all that long ago that the average person had just one pair of shoes at a time and only replaced them when they wore out. Even people who aren't all that fashion conscious still have more than one pair of shoes. On the other hand, if society decided we didn't need fashion or more than just basic clothing, it would also have secondary and tertiary effects - job loss (maybe not so much in manufacturing here, but definitely retail) and all sorts of things. But we'd use fewer resources producing less clothing. Unless only clothing made from recycled materials got popular. Then Goodwill would empty out in a hurry.
See, I'm just thinking out loud in a stream of consciousness way, and it's fun and possibly useful. Possibly not in a practical way, but our brains need "exercise" too.
Need is the greatest developer of technology.
Also, one dress? That's cartoon character territory.
#24
Posted 01 May 2012 - 09:59 PM
Shortpoet-GTD, on 30 April 2012 - 08:57 AM, said:
Tomorrow - May Day is buy nothing day.
Show your support-not just #UseOneLess
but nothing at all tomorrow.
Show your support-not just #UseOneLess
but nothing at all tomorrow.
Everybody should have a BUYNOTHINGDAY atleast once a week! Imagine how much you can reduce that way (except of course when every time you do that you get into a real shopping spree in advance in a way you don’t need to buy anything in a couple of days. Pffft.)
I always wish this idea could be possible since I watched it on Dragon Ball Z, where stuffs could be compacted on a small capsule. Imagine having a camp and all you have is a pouch where all your stuffs like tent are kept in the capsule, same with vehicles and even a house. Anyway, I was thinking that the appliances or device in the future can be folded and compressed in a sense that it will fit in a small package. So it will definitely be designed and made from fewer materials.
#25
Posted 02 May 2012 - 03:49 AM
Green Thumb, on 01 May 2012 - 09:59 PM, said:
Everybody should have a BUYNOTHINGDAY at least once a week!
buying too much.
#26
Posted 02 May 2012 - 12:10 PM
"Look at all the money I saved. They had this BIG SALE and I saved a ton of money."
Show Me The Money!
"Well I don't really have any money, I just saved a lot of money, by not having to pay full price."
In the first place, you bought on impulse, what you WANT,
. . . not what you NEED.
Secondly, you paid for it with a credit card,
. . . which you pay the minimum on each month,
. . . ending up paying more and more in interest on the balance every month.
Thirdly, that interest money could have gone to reduce your energy expenses,
. . . changing to more efficient lights and power-strips, to lower Electric bills,
. . . for insulation, to lower your Heat and Air-conditioning bills.
But instead, you've spent money you don't have, on things you don't need, and are paying interest for doing it.
That's . . . Outrageous!
Source: money
Show Me The Money!
"Well I don't really have any money, I just saved a lot of money, by not having to pay full price."
In the first place, you bought on impulse, what you WANT,
. . . not what you NEED.
Secondly, you paid for it with a credit card,
. . . which you pay the minimum on each month,
. . . ending up paying more and more in interest on the balance every month.
Thirdly, that interest money could have gone to reduce your energy expenses,
. . . changing to more efficient lights and power-strips, to lower Electric bills,
. . . for insulation, to lower your Heat and Air-conditioning bills.
But instead, you've spent money you don't have, on things you don't need, and are paying interest for doing it.
That's . . . Outrageous!
Source: money
#28
Posted 03 May 2012 - 11:08 PM
Cool! Come to think of it, gone are the days when most folks would spend less on personal items and would want to save more to buy a land, a retreat house or acquire bigger houses or start a business. Those used to be in your dreams sadly when reality offers you wonderful goodies; you tend to forget about it. Everytime there’s something new, you WANT to have that, too. What of your old gadget? Do we still make gadgets that can be upgraded? Today when you say upgrade, it’s like you have to buy the latest. Disposables are outrageous. Good thing recycling and reusing are conceived.
#30
Posted 06 May 2012 - 02:40 AM
Marbles that look like the Earth.
Not just for kids, but businesses could give them away to encourage recycling.
http://mrsroger.edub...pace-africa.jpg
Not just for kids, but businesses could give them away to encourage recycling.
http://mrsroger.edub...pace-africa.jpg
#31
Posted 06 May 2012 - 08:02 AM
Ha. I have 4 "buy nothing" days every week. And I'm including groceries and bus fare in that. And I don't wildly make up for it on spending days - just get our basic necessities. Days without spending anything feel good to me.
#32
Posted 06 May 2012 - 10:00 AM
mariaandrea, on 06 May 2012 - 08:02 AM, said:
Ha. I have 4 "buy nothing" days every week. And I'm including groceries and bus fare in that. And I don't wildly make up for it on spending days - just get our basic necessities. Days without spending anything feel good to me.
. . . we catered our own reception, in our home, we had no savings, and were so broke,
. . . we had to open the wedding gifts that had money in them, to see if we could go on a honeymoon.
When I returned to work, I was notified that I had been laid off from work.
. . . I found odd jobs, but I'll never forget that 1st year, we hung on to our home,
. . . but couldn't afford meat of any kind. And I swore that I would pay that 25 year mortgage, in 10 years.
. . . (It took 11 1/2 years, because my son was born the next year, and I hadn't figured on that expense)
It's a HARD way to learn about the difference between a NEED and a WANT,
. . . but one a lot of people are learning, during this Recession.
The wife and I, were children of the Depression and knew how to SAVE and get by on very little,
. . . but we still got caught off guard.
#33
Posted 09 May 2012 - 08:09 PM
eds, on 06 May 2012 - 10:00 AM, said:
mariaandrea, on 06 May 2012 - 08:02 AM, said:
Ha. I have 4 "buy nothing" days every week. And I'm including groceries and bus fare in that. And I don't wildly make up for it on spending days - just get our basic necessities. Days without spending anything feel good to me.
. . . but we still got caught off guard.
I see. I remember when my father despises my aunt and her family with their expenditure because when they have money they would really spend it all on great foods and personal items going out and all. Then when they don’t have money, they would settle on what they could find on their kitchen (usually spices & food seasoning and well, water) or on what little amount their money could afford and most of the time they would borrow money from my grandmother and the children could only lazy around at home. I guess it’s outrageous to rest your happiness solely on what your money can buy but it’s also outrageous not knowing how to use your money wisely. I could have a “buy nothing day” at the expanse of two weeks (except when I have to buy food in the canteen at work, isn’t that valid?) because usually when I have received my salary I would shop on my prime needs for the whole of two weeks, sometimes a month. My mom in the province would only go down to the market once or twice a month because of the need to buy feeds for her pigs and chickens and then buy personal hygiene products and other necessities and pay for electricity and water bill. She has no problem with food because she could get it in her little farm.
#35
Posted 10 May 2012 - 07:41 AM
Maybe the saying "Do not fix it if it's not broken" can/should be applied too.
If a thing like clothes can still be used, better not to buy and stock clothes in the closet. It can be recycled like adding/changing styles or donate it.
And also but those that are necessary only just like not buying several cellphones that you will not really use.
If a thing like clothes can still be used, better not to buy and stock clothes in the closet. It can be recycled like adding/changing styles or donate it.
And also but those that are necessary only just like not buying several cellphones that you will not really use.
#36
Posted 11 May 2012 - 01:28 AM
Outrageous idea of mine- create a comprehensive program of extremely enticing government incentives for breastfeeding, cloth diapering, and toddler/preschooler nutrition.
As in-
a stipend/monetary reward for mothers who breastfeed exclusively for 6 months and another reward for those who continue to breastfeed through the end of the first year. Monetary support for breastfeeding education in every hospital or birth center, and maybe coupons for three free sessions with a board certified lactation consultant if the new mom encounters problems.
A stipend or tax credit for the entirety of the cost of cloth diapers or a cloth diapering system (like those stylish ones with the removable pads inside so you only have to wash the pads, not the whole diaper, each time) for at least the first 2 years of life
Free healthy fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins for families with a toddler or preschooler. Not stamps or cards where the parents can buy the kids cookies and chips, fast food hamburgers, or empty-calorie white bread for lunch. Just the real food, delivered to the family's doorstep once or twice a week. A freely available basic cooking class to go with this program.
All of this makes for healthier children and healthier individuals their entire lives and trains the children early (in both a biological fashion and in establishing psychological habits) to make sustainable choices for the rest of their lives.
As in-
a stipend/monetary reward for mothers who breastfeed exclusively for 6 months and another reward for those who continue to breastfeed through the end of the first year. Monetary support for breastfeeding education in every hospital or birth center, and maybe coupons for three free sessions with a board certified lactation consultant if the new mom encounters problems.
A stipend or tax credit for the entirety of the cost of cloth diapers or a cloth diapering system (like those stylish ones with the removable pads inside so you only have to wash the pads, not the whole diaper, each time) for at least the first 2 years of life
Free healthy fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins for families with a toddler or preschooler. Not stamps or cards where the parents can buy the kids cookies and chips, fast food hamburgers, or empty-calorie white bread for lunch. Just the real food, delivered to the family's doorstep once or twice a week. A freely available basic cooking class to go with this program.
All of this makes for healthier children and healthier individuals their entire lives and trains the children early (in both a biological fashion and in establishing psychological habits) to make sustainable choices for the rest of their lives.
#38
Posted 11 May 2012 - 05:56 PM
How about if we put mini machines on hamster wheels that generate electricity? Every time the hamster runs in his wheel, he's lighting up the kitchen.
Do guinea pigs run on those wheels? They are bigger and could generate more energy.
We could even attach these "energy machines" to those plastic balls that hamsters run around the house in. They won't even know the service they are providing to their humans.
Do guinea pigs run on those wheels? They are bigger and could generate more energy.
We could even attach these "energy machines" to those plastic balls that hamsters run around the house in. They won't even know the service they are providing to their humans.
#39
Posted 18 May 2012 - 05:03 PM
Holy moly. Someone had their thinking caps on.........
"Diminishing eyesight is one of the most damaging effects of aging, especially to those who love to read or watch movies and TV. Your best option right now is retinal implants, but you need to go through a complicated surgery to get them set up. A group of researchers from Stanford University and the University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom believe they have developed a solution to the problem in the form of a thin silicon chip implant.
The chip is not as bulky as traditional retinal implants, so it fits better inside the eye. And since it's also a solar-powered device, it doesn't need the battery setup that makes traditional eye implant operations so complicated."
Source
"Diminishing eyesight is one of the most damaging effects of aging, especially to those who love to read or watch movies and TV. Your best option right now is retinal implants, but you need to go through a complicated surgery to get them set up. A group of researchers from Stanford University and the University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom believe they have developed a solution to the problem in the form of a thin silicon chip implant.
The chip is not as bulky as traditional retinal implants, so it fits better inside the eye. And since it's also a solar-powered device, it doesn't need the battery setup that makes traditional eye implant operations so complicated."
Source
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