Stand For Less

I do several things - recycle always - my recycling is larger then my other trash. At work I'm known as the recycle tyrant! I do pull things out of the trash and say "Who threw this in the trash!" All in good fun though. I use a reusable mug for my coffee.

I turn water off when washing my hair, then turn it back on and I use the water from my dehumidifier to water my plants.

I drive a Prius even though it does cost more to build it, it is a statement. I try not to drive at least one day of the weekend, walking instead.

I believe education and learning are the keys to changing the world. My hope is to create opportunities for individuals to learn about the purpose of STAND FOR LESS, although I haven't atually used those words. I currently work for Urban Corps of San Diego County, an organization committed to conservation. In the past I worked at UC San Diego were I created a student driven environmentally focused organization responsible for hosting a dumpster dive on the residence hall quad to educate about recycling, coordinating a lights out campaign and organizing the first annual residence hall recycling competition.

As a homeowner, I make recycling a priority by placing my in-home recycling bin in front of the trash bin. Although many guests can't understand why I do that, I say "because it makes you stop and think about it." My thought is my guests might leave my house with a little more personal responsibility to STAND FOR LESS. I have also upgraded my appliances to low energy. As an individual I find it most important to do what I can, even thought I am only one person. If everyone takes responsibility, we will see a difference.

Learn more about Urban Corps here.

I practice the consumer method of: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, repair, redesign, regulate and rot. Moreover, I have taught myself a less omnivorous way to want. But I do want to go to La Valencia.

Note from STAND FOR LESS: Norm has one of the more creative entries so far! Good luck Norm, and all of our entrants. We are working on the website to be sure that all entries show up. Currently they're scrolling off the page. Rest assured, so far we've approved everyone who has entered.

I bring my own re-usable bags to the market and I use Pyrex and Tupperware containers for left overs and things that others might wrap in Saran Wrap or foil.

I turn off the faucet when lathering while washing my hands or showering.

I also pick up trash every time I visit the beach.

Cheers!

Recycle paper, magazines, plastic and aluminum; give coffee grounds to neighbors for their gardens.

Honestly, what I do doesn't even come close to most of your entries, so let's just say I'm going to be more mindful of the example I'm setting for my daughter.

NOTE from STAND FOR LESS:

Jan, thanks for your entry. What you're doing is arguably the most important thing.

To everyone else, there are many people taking amazing stands here, however, don't let that stop you from entering. Whatever you do, however large or small, we want to know! Thanks everyone.

I am committed to making less trash and waste when I make my three kids their lunches. While making their lunches this morning and thinking about Earth Week, I realized that we create a LOT of unneccessary waste every week day. So, I am going to send them with reusable containers and lunch boxes instead of baggies and paper bags. It all matters.

I stand for less by using or doing the following: cfl lightbulbs in all fixtures,aerators in faucets, low flow showerhead and short showers, reusable bags for shopping and recycling any plastic bags I may encounter, a refillable water bottle and drinking tap water, opening windows to get the air flow moving (since I don't have a/c) or using fans when necessary in the summer, recycle cardboard, paper, plastic, glass, steel, and aluminum.

I ecourage family members to recycle, ride my bike or walk to the store, go to a car wash to have the water recycled, unplug kitchen appliances (coffee maker and blender)to save energy, full loads of laundry once/week to save water and energy and encouraging the use of non-toxic cleansers.

I stand for less by doing all I can in daily life to reduce my impact on our planet. I pick up trash daily on the beach and on my street, and volunteer for clean ups in the river parks (with WildCoast, Surfrider, I love a Clean SD, and SD River Park Fndtn).

I buy no single use plastics or highly packaged items. I drink tap water at home and at work. I recycle at home and work, make all disposables as compact as I can, reuse rinse water for plants, and stay off mailing lists to reduce incoming junk mail. I buy local and organic whenever possible, eat a vegetarian diet, and help spread awareness about how most food is made (big agribusiness).

I donate what I can to Coastkeeper and Ocean Conservancy, and annually support the California Coastal Commission's Whale Tail license plate program.

I STAND FOR LESS by: owning 2 Prius', having artifical turf in my back yard; having drought-tolerant plant species in my front and back yard; having a 670-gallon water-holding tank to water my garden; using a composter and vermiculture (worms)for my plant-based food waste; recycling all paper, glass, plastics, and tin cans; washing and reuseing my plstic bags; donating my old clothes; let "it" mellow when it's yellow (3 pees before flushing); having a 5-gallon bucket in the shower in which I catch the warm-up water to water plants; rinsing my veggies and fruit in a bowl so that I can water plants with it; but best of all, take my bamboo utensils and a cup and plate to functions where I know there will be plastic used (and make my husband do it too).

With no air conditioner, I stand for less saving electricity by visiting a cool zone—our library. I don’t water my lawn—it saves water plus gas and oil for the lawnmower. With no dishwasher, I wash the dishes by hand saving on both water and electricity. My household water is treated, so we drink from the tap.

My son plays sports. I refill plastic bottles for him to take to his practice and games. When it’s raining, I put the patio plants and the watering can out in the yard to catch rainwater. I keep a separate garbage can for the recyclables at home and work.

At work there is not a separate bin for garbage pickup of the recyclables, so I take them home to properly recycle. I separate the plastic bottles and aluminum cans to take to the recycling center. I reuse printer paper either for scrap paper or, if there’s only a little bit printed on one side, I reuse it in the printer. Some light bulbs have been replaced with florescent bulbs.

I use canvas bags at the grocery store and power strips that turn off for the modem and stereo.

Repiped my home to capture SINK water. Use this for gardening. WALK to town for shopping/mail/services. GROW some food/WALK to Farmer's Markets for LOCALLY GROWN food. DRIVE only in emergencies.

NO A/C or HEAT used. LIGHTS out at 10PM. CAPTURE cold water while waiting for HOT. ENERGY-STAR appliances. RECYCLE everything the centers accept. PETITION Sacramento to enlarge the recycling guidelines to accept more items.

My knees and legs are better because I ride a BICYCLE. I KINDLY ENCOURAGE others to help by RECYCLING. I WORRY about plastic in our oceans and given the choice, will not purchase plastic containers.

I BELIEVE I can make a difference and I want my footprint as small as possible.

Water Consumption - We use the dishwasher only when it's full, turn our water heater down to low (insulation around it). We use water wasted when waiting for it to get hot & water plants w/it. We do not wash cars at home, nor use it to wash off patio. Automobile - We carpool often and walk to school. e use 2nd car only if necessary. Reuse/Recycle - We have a recycle bin for everything. We go to the extend of crushing and recycling our paper, food boxes and more. We make regular donations to, Goodwill as to not throw anything away that might be reused or salvaged. I save everything from crayons at restaurants to toilet pr. rolls, to juice can tops...their lives are not over yet. We donate them to the art dept. at kids' schools. Lastly, a few x a wk. I collect cigarette butts from streets and disgard of them so they don't get into the drains. Food - We focus on eating more raw foods and do not pour oil down the drain. We save all leftovers for lunches. Toys - We keep all parts of our toy sets in-tact as so another can inherit them. More sports/crafts=less

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-got rid of the 325i for a USED prius

-livestrong commuter mug for travel and office, to include my purchases at starbucks

-regular recyling-home, office (purchased my own bin)

-reduced watering at home

AWARENESS IN GENERAL IS BETTER THANKS

I am a teacher and I stand for less by standing for more understanding and knowledge about biodiversity. We are so fortunate to live near the San Diego Zoo--world leaders in conservation and research into some of our planet's most threatened and precious animals. I use online resources from the zoo all of the time in my classes and take the kids to the zoo every chance I get. Less human excess and waste means a healthier planet that respects all life.

I stand for less by helping corporations realize that by being more efficient and non toxic they can make their employees,their customer and their bottom line happy. I stand for less by working with non-profit environmental groups to help them understand that this struggle for waste prevention and redesign is a common deonminator in the environmental movment. I stand for less by working with voters in san diego to let elected officals know that zero waste should be a part of our life style and our social contract. I stand for less by recognizing that I am living and acting in world where resources are finite and that I must act acordingly. Yes we must.

I refill my water bottles with my own filtered water. I recycle my plastic and paper items. I walk to and shop at the local farmers market for fresh vegetables to minimize the carbon footprint. I use my reusable grocery bags when shopping. I turn off the lights when I leave a room.

I have installed compact fluorescent lights in almost all my light fixtures. I use power strips to completely turn off the power on my computer & modem. I have energy star electronics. I installed low-e windows. I keep a bucket in the shower to collect water while waiting for it to heat up. I reduce, reuse, recycle, & rescue items from the dumpster. I compost food scraps. I take public transportation when I can.

Water - adjust sprinkler times with seasons and turn them off when it rains. Plastic - no bottled water, avoid bottled drinks and reuse containers before recycling. Make car trips as efficient as possible. Use sustainable products. Find alternative cleaning products and fertilizers that aren't poison. Look for new ideas that will help us be better stewards of our planet.

I stand for less by staying educated on the topic and spreading the word to my students. Children are so eager to do what they can to help this cause, they just need to tools, knowledge, ideas, and help in order to do it! By teaching the kids in my classroom what to do, that is about 28 families that have the ideas and tools to conserve water, conserve energy, recycle, by local product etc;. In my classroom we learn how to compost, we learn how to reuse water to water our plants and wash cars, we collect recyclables each week throughout the school, I give homework assignments like to measure how much water you can reuse, I urge the parents who can, to walk their children to school instead of drive, etc; There are so many different ideas we can teach our children and WHY it is important to do all of these things. Some of us may not be able to afford all the upgrades to our houses and new items on the market to help conserve, but we can remain educated and share our knowledge and ideas with others.