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How does an apartment dweller make the world a better place?

paul wheaton

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Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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I just wanted the thread where we could have a giant list of all the things that people can do when they don't have soil to work with.

I thought about phrasing this as carbon footprint or Eco footprint... but I think this can be far richer than that.

I am hoping that each item on this list is not a long item just a few words. No more than a sentence or two.

And I hope people will give a thumbs up or apple or pie for their favorites.

UPDATE! We ended up making a whole book about this! https://permies.com/bwb

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Go poo-less. No more soap or shampoo in the shower. It turns out that our body Funk is entirely water soluble.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Dry our clothes with a drying rack. It saves an incredible amount of energy and your clothes last about 10 times longer.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Turn off lights when not in use. It is amazing how a lot of people will leave a dozen lights on in the house.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Move lights closer to what you want to see. Example: Use a reading lamp instead of turning on the lights for all of the room.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Wash and rinse your clothes with cold water. Most of the time your clothes will be just as clean and the energy cost is usually less than 1/10.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Eliminate toxic cleaners. Nearly every toxic cleaner can be replaced with something non-toxic. You might be surprised at the health benefits.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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If you have a bug or insect problem use diatomaceous earth.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Embrace daddy long legs and jumping spiders in your home. They will keep other bugs out which might attract scarier spiders.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Explore ways to reduce or eliminate a long commute.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Having a housemate will cut your environmental footprint in half.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Eat organic or better.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Study permaculture.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Live a life of decency and integrity.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Explore City repair.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Vote with your dollar. Vote with your fork.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Explore the possibility of having less stuff.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Do good at your job. Do really good. Set the pace for being excellent.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

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Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Get out of debt. Stay out of debt.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Build residual income streams.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Eliminate Teflon pans.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Eliminate palm oil from everything you eat. This is a shout out to Willie Smits and his work to try to undo the damage caused by palm oil plantations.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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If you make a mistake, own your shit and make it right.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Promote permaculture ideas on your favorite social media.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Learn about Guerrilla gardening. Planting seeds in places that are uncared-for. Learn about planting tree seeds.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

r ranson

steward & author

Posts: 38369

Location: Left Coast Canada

13630

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posted 8 years ago

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Think about getting an allotment, then go out and get one.

how permies works
homegrown linen | crazy chicken lady grows yarn!

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paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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I like...

posted 8 years ago

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Explore using your bicycle more. Walk more.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Reduce. Reuse. Repair. Recycle. Learn about techniques to dramatically reduce the amount of garbage that goes into the landfill.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Explore getting a plot at a community garden.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

r ranson

steward & author

Posts: 38369

Location: Left Coast Canada

13630

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posted 8 years ago

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Grow something edible. Basil on the windowsill, sprouts, or beans on the balcony.

how permies works
homegrown linen | crazy chicken lady grows yarn!

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52410

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

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posted 8 years ago

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Set the thermostat on your water heater to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This might seem counterintuitive, but lower temperatures lead to people getting sick. If your water heater ever needs to be replaced, maybe get a smaller one.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

Tobias Ber

Posts: 525

Location: Northern Germany (Zone 8a)

posted 8 years ago

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take your kitchenscraps to that allotment or garden space and compost...

or do indoor composting / worm-composting

if you re really far out: get a coposting toilet and carry your bodily wastes to that garden to be safely composted there... urine diversion would be a plus

... it´s about time to get a signature ...

r ranson

steward & author

Posts: 38369

Location: Left Coast Canada

13630

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posted 8 years ago

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Darn your socks.

how permies works
homegrown linen | crazy chicken lady grows yarn!

Tobias Ber

Posts: 525

Location: Northern Germany (Zone 8a)

posted 8 years ago

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see your living place as a place of production ... not just as a place of consumption

(this mindset might lead one to explore many different ways to create, recycle, upcycle, make stuff, get hobbies etc. )

... it´s about time to get a signature ...

Dale Hodgins

Posts: 9002

Location: Victoria British Columbia-Canada

707

posted 8 years ago

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Develop a job that makes some difference.

Recycling business, gas free landscaping business, weather proofing homes...

Tobias Ber

Posts: 525

Location: Northern Germany (Zone 8a)

posted 8 years ago

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give used stuff away, sell it, share it ... instead of throwing it away

look for used stuff (flea markets, online-auctions, garage sales, ask around etc.)

... it´s about time to get a signature ...

Tobias Ber

Posts: 525

Location: Northern Germany (Zone 8a)

posted 8 years ago

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cook huge amounts of dried beans, chick-peas, grains, potatoes, eggs, rice etc.
store them in the fridge for days
you can eat them cold, in salads, use them in various dishes etc.

... it´s about time to get a signature ...

Dale Hodgins

Posts: 9002

Location: Victoria British Columbia-Canada

707

posted 8 years ago

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Learn how your building works. If all of the heat finds its way to the top floor, do something about that. Use the windows and doors along with curtains and blinds, to regulate temperature and air flow.

Tobias Ber

Posts: 525

Location: Northern Germany (Zone 8a)

posted 8 years ago

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use natural building techniques even inside your flat. like: lime-paint, lime-stucco, clay-paint, clay-stucco
use pallet-wood
use natural finishes (linseed-oil ...)
make a paperbag-floor

... it´s about time to get a signature ...

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