PROGRAMMING NOTE: I'm adding a new feature to our challenges. Currently if you write an article in support of our challenge, it is shared on the social networks on Tuesday. Last week I decided to share them an additional time. So, from here on, if you get your article written early (and please be sure to let me know you did), there's a chance it will be promoted more than once. This will be a random thing ... some weeks I'll promote them once, other weeks more than once. What do you think ... worth your effort?
There's a lot of great information in this post and I encourage you to read through it ... however, if you'd rather jump straight to the current challenge, you can do so by clicking here: This Week's Challenge
Last week we headed outside for a walk ... not just any walk but a walk to pick up litter. Argentum Vulgaris upped the ante by challenging us to actually say something to people who litter (suggesting that they use a trash bin) ... and Harold Shaw raised the ante by asking that we take pictures of the trash we collect and post it for the world to see. So how did you do with this activity?
We lovingly refer to them as our #CTWW Gang. They are people who tweet about our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're on twitter, these are great folks to follow. Let's meet them:
Our fabulous Honor Society is comprised of folks who write articles and/or leave comments. Here's what they had to say this week:
Sarah spent a long weekend in a National Park and made it her goal to pick up trash. How did it go Sarah? The idea of cleaning the park so that others will it enjoy it more is lovely and generous! Thank you, Sarah!
For our previous challenge, Brenna wrote an article entitled "Is Electricity Natural". In it, she talks about a discussion she overheard ... you won't believe who was having the discussion. The article also contains some facts about how electricity is generated and how much comes from wind, water, etc. Brenna follows all of this up with some great ideas for getting kids to care about reducing their energy use. For this week's challenge she brings up an interesting thought ... from a parent's perspective, picking up litter can be dangerous for children. She recently found hypodermic needles on a recent walk. So parents ... how do you deal with this kind of thing?
Rachel is lucky ... in her area one doesn't find much litter. But she says that she'll keep her eyes peeled when she's out for her walk. So ... the second half of the challenge, to enjoy nature, was more for her. In this POST, she shares something she discovered while out walking.
Argentum Vulgaris lives in an area where people are not so conscientious about litter. In fact, in the post you'll find HERE, you'll see that even the government doesn't especially care about trash and public bins are left overflowing. AV doesn't give up, though ... when he sees someone litter, he says something to them.
Jennifer feels a bit squeamish about picking up other people's trash. To solve the problem, she suggests carrying gloves and a bag. Here's an interesting question to ask ourselves ... how much responsibility do we feel in picking up other people's trash? As always, Jennifer, you make me think!
Amy is another lucky person who lives in an area with very few litter bugs. She and her family, however, have made it their mission to clean up in another way. Here's a hint ... she says that they leave this area better than they found it. Can you guess where they collect litter? You'll find out HERE.
Good Girl Gone Green is actually way ahead of us and started picking up litter a few weeks ago. In this POST, she shares pictures of what she's collected ... and it seems that her activity has been noticed ... you won't believe what one man asked her while she was cleaning up.
In Have a Trashy Time Kelleigh shares a fun video. She also offers a wonderful idea about finding trash inside your home ... and reusing it. While most of us find plastic and paper on a walk, Kalleigh finds semi tires, coolant containers, food wrappers, etc.
You will not believe what kind of litter Lynn found at the beach. One word ... Eeeeuuuuuwwwwww! But like a trooper, she picked it up. You can read about it HERE. And yep, Lynn ... changing the world with our challenges is good on any day!
Harold Shaw has a cute little Jack Russell named Bennie who gets him out and about so Harold decided to carry a bag on their walks. In this POST you'll learn about another incentive to collect litter ... think "retirement fund".
Kelly L. has been busy traveling but she took the time to drop in and accept the challenge. Thanks, Kelly ... hope you enjoyed your vacation!
Jen is training for the "Weekend to End Women's Cancers Walk" ... so while she's out, she's going to pick up litter. Wow Jen ... what a great cause to participate in. Let us know how it goes!
In Dawn Patrol for Trash, Rewinn talks about some unexpected benefits to walking and picking up litter ... some that have nothing to do with trash ... and some that have to do with reusing. Can you guess what they are?
Alicia shares that it's very easy to carry a bag in one's pocket and pick up litter while walking. She finds mostly paper and plastic which she drops in the recycle bin at the end of her walk. Very nice!
Awhile back, on our challenge to give up paper towels, Mrs. Green broached the subject of "wee towels". Wowee ... that got some attention! She's given us an update on that idea HERE. By the way, be sure to check out the posts which Mrs. Green has written for her "happiness" series. So many great posts including one about trees and one about a spider web. Mrs. Green ... I've headed out to get "Autumn Rush" just because of your recommendation!
Great job everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it.
Are you ready for something new? I know that you are!!
This Week's Challenge:
Have you felt the change in the climate? Yep, fall is just around the corner. So, let's get started on some activities which will help us head into the cooler months in an Eco-friendly, efficient way. Here you go:
This week clean and test the furnace. Did you know that your furnace needs cleaning? Yep ... it collects all kinds of dust and debris which not only affects it's performance but could cause a fire. Before you really need the heat, get out your owner's manual for instructions on how to clean it. No manual? Check here or call a furnace maintenance company. If you have a gas furnace, have it professionally inspected once a year.
Or ...
Have you already accomplished this task ... or don't use a furnace? Then we'd like to hear another Eco-tip or idea for the coming months.
Ready for our mantra? All together now ...
WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!
Thank you for the mention! Much appreciated! Umm, dont have a furnace. Our heat comes from the floors..I will have to come up with an eco-friendly tip for the fall.I have to put my thinking cap on! :)
ReplyDeleteWe do not have a furnace. We burn wood from fallen trees or trees people have cut down in thier yard. This year has been a great year for that. Lots of trees blown down. We do clean our chimney several times a year. Also you need to have your air ducts cleaned out. They have a service for that too. :)
ReplyDeletei am lucky to have a high efficiency gas furnace installed when i bought my house and had the oil tank decommissioned. each fall i change out the filter - i don't do it more than that as in oregon, i only run the furnace a couple months. i'll be honest, i've never had a professional inspection on it since they put it in, at $150+ a pop, it's not even close to being in my budget. hmm, so not sure if i can do the challenge as i don't have the $ to get a service to come out :(
ReplyDeleteYou're going to have to speak slowly and clearly for your friend across the pond here. *What* on god's earth is a furnace? Here it's something that reaches about 2000 degrees and is used for smelting metal - I don't think I have one of those in my house, except when I leave the hob unattended LOL!
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming I don't have one but would we call it a heating boiler? Is it the thing that sends hot water through the radiators to heat the home?
I'm spotting some international differences here - furnace? air ducts? These are not part of usual UK heating systems. I'm not sure whether 'furnace' is the same thing as 'boiler' in the UK, or whether these are different technologies. Here, the usual central heating system is water-based. A boiler (usually burning gas) heats water that is then circulated round radiators in the rooms. There are other systems that use air ducts and other methods, but they are much less common. Maybe it's exactly the same in the US, just different words.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I feel it may be time for an update on my heating project. I last blogged about it at Easter - it's been very slow going!
This week, I feature on a restoration of a ship that had been junked. What a great project it is.
ReplyDeletehttp://annkschin.blogspot.com/2011/08/save-world-save-titan.html
We don't have a furnace here but we do have to make sure our air conditioners are properly cleaned at all times. We also don't have much of a fall here but every fall we do fall cleaning and check for insulation issues so we stay toasty and warm on the few cold days we get.
ReplyDeleteCTWW is up and running, an update, just a little tip and some news.
ReplyDeletehttp://av1labyrinth.blogspot.com/p/eco-crap.html
AV
EcoGrrl - I understand about the cost limitations. I think that cleaning around the unit & changing the filter helps it to run more efficiently so ... I think you've met the challenge.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Green and Rachel ... well, I learned something new ... didn't know that the majority of homes in your area are heated with water. So, is there any maintenance which must be performed on your boiler to keep it running efficiently? If so, that would qualify for this challenge. If not ... perhaps the second part of the challenge works better for you?
Well, it's recommended that boilers are serviced regularly, though I'm never sure whether that's for the sake of efficiency or just to keep the heating engineers in work ;-)
ReplyDeleteI had to look up US heating systems as I had no idea you used a different technology. It turns out that it was a close-run thing - here's a link in case anyone else is interested:
A brief history of heating and cooling America's homes
Organic Blonde ... thanks for the reminder that some folks don't require any heat at all. I've modified the second part of the challenge a bit for everyone who doesn't use a furnace, lives in a warm "year-round" climate, or is moving into spring instead of fall. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for the mention! I, like Jenn, burn wood, so I am gonna have to make sure the stove pipe is good and clean. And, like Good Girl Gone Green, I have to put on my thinking cap and come up with some other good fall eco-chores. Stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder! this is a task that is too easily put off. Doing it today meant I could clean the filter and grillwork outdoors in the sunshine, letting the dust rejoin the soil naturally, instead of huddled inside when winter finally hits.
ReplyDeleteBut mostly ... I am grateful that this was a bit of fun for A Boy And His Shop-Vac
http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2011/08/out-door-wednesdaysave-world-use-your.html
ReplyDeleteI met a man who made real planes out of old car engines.
Great blog! I'm going to add your button or link to my blog on my page of OTHER blogs I want to look at closer. Once I have my computer back (it crashed) I'd love to have some ideas on how to conserve heat in a drafty old basement apartment w/ lots of windows. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteTina "The Book Lady"
I'm following you and would love a follow back if you're interested. =D
http://familyliteracyandyou.blogspot.com
http://givingnsharing.blogspot.com
We always clean our filters monthly and change them about every six months. We also check around all of our doors and windows for any leaks and insulate and caulk them. This can make a world of difference.If you set your thermostat in the cooler months to 60 degrees when you are not home and 68 degrees when you are it can save you 10% or more on your heating bill. Most utility companies offer a service for free that is called a report card. They will come to your home and check it out and show you where you have leaks or need insulation. Just an overall energy efficient check.What a blessing to get this information for free!!Doing just these few things can add up to big savings during the Winter months!!
ReplyDelete