Survey: How Much Control Do You Have?

I wouldn't listen to that criticism because it isn't true. I haven't seen a form of eco-consciousness that treehugger wasn't eager to embrace. Perhaps the reason the critics don't see you addressing these major issues, is they are already established as strong energy conservation methods, and this is a news site. A regular reader has received resources from this very site, such as the Tip The Planet Wiki, which more than covers the points TH was criticized for "not" addressing. Look up every facet of your life that involves buying or throwing away, and post any better ideas you have! Have a better idea than THAT? Let's see IT, rather than competetive complaining.

Well,if you ask me where fame plays in part,criticism always have a word of mouth,but i guess raising poll like these will really help out with things and prove the small group wrong.

Yes absolutely! Small is indeed beautiful and it is the little things everyone can do that have the greatest potential to change the world. We cannot all be politicians, but we are all citizens.

Hi Lloyd;
I enjoyed your response to the criticism that Treehugger received regarding the type of posts it focuses on. Criticism can be a good thing in most cases, and in a very buddhist way, you seem to have reflected on the issue that was brought up, and offered the reader even more points of view. Interesting and very smooth,

Shane Bradley
Montreal

OK, there is no reason that ANYBODY can't do the following:

Change all bulbs to CFLs.

Turn lights off when not in room.

Turn down thermostat.

Turn down hot water heater.

Drive less/more efficiently.

Keep tires inflated properly or 2-4psi above recommended.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: demand action of your public servants and vote accordingly. THIS IS A BIG THING.

Other than the minor cost of the CFLs, none of these cost money or are contingent upon owning your house/apartment.

Not only is it about if you have permission to change insulation or furnace or roof, it's are you able to financially. All over those cost several thousand dollars. I need a new roof, a green or solar roof will just cost too much. I just had to get a new refrigerator, but could not afford the high efficiency models since they come with bells and whistles I don't need. Being green is still really expensive. People can afford $3 light bulbs though.

Actually, I can't turn down my water heater. It is in a locked closet. I can call my building maintenance and have them adjust it, but my water heater is the source of heat for my apartment, and it's already so low that on cold days I can either have heat or a hot shower, but not both.

If it didn't cause a problem with my heat, there's a good chance I still wouldn't adjust the heater down, simply because I don't know how low I can tolerate, and I can see it devolving into three or four days of calling maintenance every day as I fine-tune the temperature.

It's amazing to me that I'm not supposed to touch the darn thing myself, but there you go.

As someone who lives with roommates, trust me, there are a lot of things, WIlly Bio, that you can try to do but somehow gets undone because your roommates don't want it.

I tried installing CFC bulbs in the living room (i have them in my bedroom) and my roommates took em out and put in new regular bulbs. They thought the CFCs were too cold.

I have no control over the heater, or else I'd never use it. My roommate blasts it 24/7 since we're in a loft and he has one wall that's entirely windows.

I asked for permission to and set up recycling trash cans (next to the regular trash can and conveniently located, or so i thought). When I came back from a trip, they had mysteriously disappeared. I'm trying to figure out what to do.

And should I wake up in the middle of the night, I always end up having to turn out lights in the living room.

Even though I unplug EVERYTHING (except for this one water purifier for my cat) IN MY ROOM before I leave the house, our electricity/gas bill constantly exceeds $250... can you imagine how frustrating it is to shell out money for things you know you aren't using?

*sigh* But really, what can you do but keep trying? I'll re-set up the recycling bins again. Since I'm not leaving for a while, my roommate might actually get used to it.

The criticism is valid as far as it goes. (I do agree that Lloyd's posts often stand out from the rest!) Compact fluorescents are a good idea, and making your home energy-efficient in bigger ways is even better. However, my biggest beef with Treehugger is the assumption that everything will be fine if we just buy "green stuff" rather than "regular stuff". In fact, we have to discard the consumeristic attitude altogether. We need to consume less, not just switch to consuming "green" products. We have to make drastic lifestyle changes. Buy less, shop at thrift stores, barter and trade, enjoy life rather than accumulating stuff, get around on foot or by bike, share our belongings or own them cooperatively with others, privilege the handmade over the factory made, etc. Don't be part of the consumerism machine.

Actually, Willy Bio, I've lived in many apartments (and, if you go a bit further back in time, dorm rooms) where I couldn't adjust the thermostat or the hot water heater.

I applaud TH for realizing that people are coming to their website from a variety of different backgrounds that might limit their possibilities for affecting change. "Changing your appliances and re-insulating your house" have never been options for me personally, but changing what I eat, what I wear, where I shop, how I get around, modes of lighting-these are all practical suggestions for me.

I for one appluad TH and it's dedication to making a difference on every level. Common sense is all it takes to realize that we have to start small, people come from different backgrounds, different geographical locations, different economical situations, if all that is presented are the "big" ticket changes it would only serve as a source of frustration and turn people away from the green movement.

The last thing we need at this point in time is to get people started on the thinking that they can't help. They can and these small steps are great sources of inspiration to help them do just that. Rock on, TH!

Thanks for the link, Lloyd! I think your summary of my critique is pretty appropriate, but for those who haven't read the post, let me add just one thing. I was reflecting on the general "positive" mode of Treehugger, where there is little negative information about eco-sensitive products and practices. My beef wasn't that there's anything WRONG with CFL's or other simple measures (I use and advocate them too), but that the consistently positive presentation on the Treehugger site gives readers little perspective about which actions or purchases can make the biggest difference. If you read the post you'll get the whole argument. Cheers! bottleman.

Willy Bio, perhaps you shouldn't assume you know the circumstances of "anybody": I live in a medium-sized apartment complex, which has one huge shared gas hot-water system, in a locked room in the basement carpark area. So, no, I am not able to turn it down. What's more, I'm pretty sure there are a lot of buildings where the airconditioning/heating is controlled centrally by the building caretaker, so, no, not everyone can turn down the thermostat.

Canadian, you must not be reading the same posts as me, 'cos I recall reading numerous articles on this site suggesting ways to reduce consumption, or stories about people who have done so (this was the first place I read about those people who pledged to buy nothing new for a year, for instance). Sure, there are occassions when Treehugger gets perhaps a bit over-enthusiastic about some new whiz-bang doohicky, but I've been known to do that myself, so I shan't criticise.

Treehugger is my favourite site. I have found it hope-inducing, which has inspired me to start making all those changes I know I should make in my life to reduce my ecological footprint. Most of those changes have been minor, because they are the changes I have been in a position to make. When I'm in a position to make a decision about insulation, well, then Treehugger will definitely be one of my reference points.

Green living doesn't have to be expensive, in fact it can be far cheaper than non-sustainable living. What's expensive is new technology. If you can afford the fancy new fridge, wind electric power system, and hybrid car, and super insulated home, then go for it. If not, then try a very affordable root cellar, used oil lamps and pedal powered appliances, some good walking shoes, and some warm roommates!

And as far as Treehugger's focus, I think diversity is the best route. And encouraging people to think outside of the box, so that they can actually exert more control over their lives. You may not have access to the thermostat, but you may have access to the hearts and minds of those who do. A little sweet talk can go a long way :-) Maybe Treehugger can do a series on effective negotiation and education techniques so that Treehugger readers can make a difference in social way, as well as a material way?

There will always be someone out there who is critical - you can't help that. Although there is a lot about clothing and bulbs, I have been increasingly educated and enlightened by the articles, on Treehugger, about such things as composting, modular building, fuel alternatives, the damage caused by airflight, organic living in New Zealand, etc... the list is very long indeed. Even if it was just a small hint to a tip or aticle elsewhere- Treehugger has been a constant inspiration and reference source.
I'm sure there are steps and actions folks could take to change their lives drastically in order to be more environmentally friendly - but the fact is most don't think about it, or are resistant to change. If getting them to do something they do anyways- buying food and bulbs and clothes (or at least making them aware that they CAN) - in a more conscientious way, is certainly an admirable feat.

At any rate - DOING anything to coax us to change our habits is a positive thing. It is action, which is what is needed.

Kudos to you folks at Treehugger! Keep it coming;)

My brother and parents are politically conservative and they generally think that criticisms of policies that are bad for the environment as "complaining" and turn a deaf ear. The only way that I have been able to make in-roads is by exposing them to information that is upbeat, often business-friendly, that focuses on efficiency and solutions. After many years of my brother rubbing the Bush presidency in my face, invoking Rush Limbaugh even when I purposely avoided talking about politics, he is now calling me once a week to discuss ecological topics -particularly car technology and energy efficiency- and he recently said, "we don't need to talk about politics. We can just talk about the environment." How did I get him to this point? By insisting that environmental issues are bi-partisan -the one place we should be able to connect and agree-, and by sending him Treehugger articles and a subscription to Plenty magazine. He now peruses Treehugger regularly and cites articles often. Treehugger is a place where he can find out how the little things he CAN control add up and be exposed to forward-thinking environmental movement that is nothing like what Rush Limbaugh makes it out to be. Thank you treehugger!

Its time to share, trade, freecycle, and set up local venues in our communities to take the emphasis away from consuming and bring back vitality into our living spaces. The value of individuals uniting and networking in person would substitute many of our costly imports while boosting the local economy all together. I think all of us who frequent TH understand the value of our dollar as a vote that effects the future, but we can go beyond that without paying high prices and reduce and reuse the material we already have.

Thanks for the awareness & reminder,

Hope more will know,

All the best

Tracy Ho
Wisdom Getting Loaded

Thanks for the awareness & reminder,

Hope more will know,

All the best

Tracy Ho
Wisdom Getting Loaded

Hi Fellow "Tree Huggers",
Every year I ask my friends to donate their old holiday cards (the ones they usually toss in the garbage after the holiday). I use them in my classroom with my first grade students. We keep the image and toss the portions written on in the recycle bin. The kids use them to make cards for family members and friends, send cards to their pen pals - we even use them to decorate our class bulletin boards. I try to use every scrap of card donated. This is my own little way of saving trees and making the next generation mindful of the many ways to recycle our resources.So friends, if you still have some of those old cards collecting dust, my kid would welcome your donation this time of the year.Just write to me and I will be glad to give you an address to send them to. Please email me at Bagitup4me@gmail.com
Thanks,Happy Holiday

Great Way to Recycle!
Bagitup4me: Recycling Tips!Ever wonder what to do with the "stuff" that is left-over when you finish an art project. Stuff like yarn, paper, fabric - those things just a bit too small to use. Well, here's an idea! Why not donate them to your local school. Primary teachers are always looking for items to incorporate into their lessons. Varying the materials that are used to teach will provide a full sensory experience and make learning more hands-on and fun.

As an artist, I try to recycle on a daily basis. Any items I have left-over from a completed project are donated to a school. It's my way of doing something for our environment - it reduces the cost for the teacher and the kids have fun.