re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I try to unplug alot of smaller electronic gadgets, like cell phone chargers, camera battery chargers, table lamps, curling iron, hair dryer, etc. when I leave our house to save energy.

Posted by rockandrollbaby    Thursday, August 28, 2008 1:25 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Turn off lights/ac when not home and changed to energy saving light bulbs.

Posted by Nipster    Thursday, August 28, 2008 1:48 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

My husband and I always forgot to adjust the temperature when we were leaving for the day (turn it down in winter and up in summer).  We replaced our thermostat with an electronic one, and have programmed it to adjust automatically for when we leave the house.  We've also added insulation to our attic and replaced the weatherstripping on our doors.  Very important in our old, drafty house!

Posted by carrieongrove    Thursday, August 28, 2008 2:07 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We have use energy saver light bulbs. We also have our air on a timer so its not running all day. also unplug unneeded appliances like the toaster oven and microwave

Posted by jannovak    Thursday, August 28, 2008 3:02 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I am in a business that, unfortunately, uses a ton of paper.  I save every piece I print and make sure I find a use for the paper prior to recycling (i.e. cutting it up for notes, reprinting on back sides, etc.)

Posted by Seababy    Thursday, August 28, 2008 3:07 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Haa haa...what great timing...I just nagged my husband this morning about leaving all the lights on in the house!!

Other things that I do include grocery shopping with the reusable bags, turning the water off when I brush my teeth and using the energy efficient light bulbs.  My husband and I also carpool to work everyday, so we only drive one car a day.  I would like to start recycling as well, but my neighborhood doesn't offer a recycling program!

Posted by diverco    Thursday, August 28, 2008 3:28 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I make all my own babyfood (no waste with jars/packages), cloth diaper (wipes too) and breastfeed (no bottles or formula cans)!

Posted by PortlandMom    Thursday, August 28, 2008 5:08 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

My husband and I reuse every container possible instead of tupperware. If we do not use it, then we recycle!

Posted by ELucky14    Thursday, August 28, 2008 5:14 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We are doing SO MUCH LAUNDRY now that we have a little one in the house. To cut back on energy use, we only use the "Cold Wash" cycle.

Posted by joelsgrl    Thursday, August 28, 2008 5:17 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I hang all our laundry out to dry in the hot summer sun instead of using the dryer...saves money and energy!

Posted by canuckgirl16    Thursday, August 28, 2008 5:20 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Recycle maternity clothes. Save them for a friend or family member that will need them. They can buy a few, add them to the "wardrobe" and give them back to you or pass them on. Also, since most of us go through 3 seasons during the year we are pregnant, the cost and use of materials (not good for the environment) adds up quick!

Posted by materqueen    Thursday, August 28, 2008 5:40 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I drive an SUV for work which uses too much gas for my preference, so I drive as little as possible, take shortcuts, turn off the air and open the windows, and ride my bike and walk during the weekends.  

I've also cut down on traveling as much since gas prices began soaring and since I've gotten a more eco friendly mindset.

Posted by skrhoades    Thursday, August 28, 2008 5:44 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We buy the most of our fruits, veggies and dairy from the local farmers market.  It saves all the gas from the food having to be shipped long distances.  And the market is only about a block from my house, so we can walk there and save that gas too!

Posted by jnealet    Thursday, August 28, 2008 5:49 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I like to compost all food waste for the garden.

Posted by pielum    Thursday, August 28, 2008 6:52 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We have a clothes line....in the summer I make it a goal to never use the dryer.

Posted by TheBrowns    Thursday, August 28, 2008 7:10 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We use a lot of "gray water" - like when warming up the water for showers, I collect the water in a bucket and use it to water plants.  I also boil the water and use it as a weed killer.  

Posted by summrbride2006    Thursday, August 28, 2008 7:19 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I borrowed all of SIL's maternity clothes, so I didn't have to buy many while I was pregnant. We also have been lucky to be able to borrow all of their son's clothes, since he is a year older than DS, so we haven't had to buy as many clothes for our baby. They also loaned us a swing and bouncy seat, which saved more money and packaging that would have been tossed if we'd bought our own. We turn off all the lights when we are not in a room, and as light bulbs burn out we replace them with CFL bulbs (assuming the fixture is compatible, they aren't all). We also use cloth diapers, and wash them with an environmentally friendly detergent. I wash everything other than diapers in only cold water, and only wash and dry full loads. We also don't use the heated dry cycle on the dishwasher, which saves energy. In the winter, we do a lot of baking which actually warms the house, and then we don't have to have the furnace running as much. In the summer, we use fans to blow cool air up from the basement, and circulate it around the house, instead of having air conditioning. We also only have 1 car, which can be tough but we make it work. DH is a SAHD, and on the mornings he does work I drop DS off with a stroller and they walk home together while I take the car. We save a lot of gas that way!

Posted by ckolak:-)    Thursday, August 28, 2008 7:23 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

i just started a new thing this week. when all the shampoo, shaving cream, etc was used up. it was replced with a single bar of soap! less waste from packaging!

Posted by quitecontrary1977    Thursday, August 28, 2008 7:23 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

If either my husband or I leave a light on, the other shuts it off and yells out energy hog.  We also, turn up the air during the day when we are home.  I have noticed the little things we have done has helped our electric bill go down $10 from last month to this month.  I am looking forward to see how it goes down in the coming months, but being more aware of what we are doing.

Posted by michellehuber    Thursday, August 28, 2008 7:35 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We do a ton of stuff to save energy: turn A/C off at night and open windows when it cools below 78 outside, have A/C set at 78 or 80 and heat at 60 or 65, I showerin teh afternoon whenever possible so the light from the windows lights up the bathroom enough not to need electric lights, and we make sun tea instead of boiling water for brewing tea.  

Posted by kellyjean7695    Thursday, August 28, 2008 7:52 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I use all of the baby food jars to pack parts of my husband's lunch each day.  I also turn off the AC during the day when hubby isn't home to complain it's too hot! My community doesn't have a pickup recycling program, but I decided this past earth day to recycle and take it to the place each week.  I bought a container to dump it in each week instead of collecting it in plastic bags.  I am also buying earth friendly cleaners as my old ones run out.

Posted by swillnau    Thursday, August 28, 2008 8:05 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We use cloth diapers and wipes and I make my own laundry detergent and all-purpose cleaner.  We also started vermi-composting this summer to reduce waste and fertilize our vegetable garden.

Posted by Mrs.SaraSmiles07    Thursday, August 28, 2008 8:11 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

there is so much that we do, recycle, energy star appliances, breastfeed, solar water heating, we hardly use lights unless at night, solar shades so that we do not have to run the a/c as much, i walk in town to do errands, light bulbs, steam cleaner that uses water to clean the house.  I know I am forgetting somthing but at this moment i can not remember.  GO GREEN!

Posted by smatiritas    Thursday, August 28, 2008 9:07 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I was using way too many paper towels so we switched to microfiber cloths.  They're pretty cheap when you buy car cleaning cloths at target and are great at dusting.

Posted by aahaft    Thursday, August 28, 2008 10:46 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I buy almost all of my daughter's clothes and many linens, etc.  second hand.  It saves me money and I love that we are doing something good for the environment at the same time.  Honestly, in a lot of cases, I simply can not afford to "be green."  I'm a single mom and a disabled veteran so money is pretty tight. In these situations where it saves me money and helps the environment everyone wins!

Posted by anastasia_lorraine    Thursday, August 28, 2008 11:07 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Thanks to the web, it's easy to coordinate clothing and toy swaps/exchanges in your community.  Our new moms group got together and found that it's a great and free way to clear your home of outgrown clothes and toys as well as share parenting tips with those just a few months or years ahead of you in this parenting gig.  Everyone can walk away with something from a shared event like this.  All it takes is someone to start the idea going.

Posted by cavalletta    Thursday, August 28, 2008 11:49 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

we use energy saving light bulbs (switched them all out about 3 months ago); programmable thermostat; when we are leaving for overnight we unplug everything and turn the thermostat way up or down (depending); try not to turn lights on in the evenings unless needed.

Posted by ugabrat@yahoo.com    Friday, August 29, 2008 6:54 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Cloth diapers.  We should all use them!

Posted by ysoffer    Friday, August 29, 2008 7:44 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We use energy efficient light bulbs.  Plus I try to keep the AC at a reasonable setting (no 70 degrees for me even though I'm 7 months pregnant).  I also do my grocery shopping on the way home from work so on the weekends I don't drive much.

Posted by lisamercy    Friday, August 29, 2008 8:07 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We have turned 'going green' into our new hobby! We installed screens on the front and back windows/doors of our townhouse to create a cross-breeze, thus eliminating the need for AC. We also rely on my parents' abundant garden for all of our fruits and veggies in the summer - you can't get more local or organic than that! I work from home so I only fill up the tank of my compact car about once a month or less.  We use reusable grocery bags at the supermarket and air dry most of our laundry. I can't wait to learn about more ways to help save the planet!

Posted by TheJohns    Friday, August 29, 2008 8:08 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

When grocery shopping, I like using the eco-friendly shopping bags that you can purchase. This means less plastic and paper bags are being used, and I can use these nice fabric bags at all stores, not just the grocery store. Besides, they actually hold a lot of stuff!

Another eco-friendly tip is to use a nightlight with a sensor. This way, I don't have to worry if I remembered to turn it off before I leave the house in the morning. It does it automatically!

Posted by Soon2BLoGiudice    Friday, August 29, 2008 8:08 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Cloth Diapers and wipes!!! What more can I say?

Posted by snailsandoxs    Friday, August 29, 2008 8:09 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Whenever we retrieve the mail, we stand directly over our shredder and paper recycling box (which are side by side). We shred stuff with our address, throw away extra inserts and envelopes, and keep what we need. We also recycle the shredded paper!

Posted by tanyateresa    Friday, August 29, 2008 8:10 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I just started composting!  Combined with recycling, it's reduced our weekly garbage output to one SMALL bag a week!  

Posted by meaghsb    Friday, August 29, 2008 8:18 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

It is surprising all the little things that we have done that saves us money and energy.  We save all our food scraps and I compost it for my garden - egg shells are the best I have found.  We have bought a programmable thermostat that we are installing this weekend.  I recycle everything possible, they even take my formula cans!  I also wash all of her clothes by hand - she doesn't have enough for a full load in the washing machine, I can also get the stains out a lot easier!  We no longer use our dishwasher for washing dishes - I use it as a drying rack now.  Saves a lot of water and it doesn't heat up the house.  

Posted by BeanaBaby    Friday, August 29, 2008 8:24 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Basically I keep this phrase in mind - "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without". So although I don't live by that, I have started recylcing whenever possible (including bringing home my "trash" from work). I always try buy something used instead new and thats after I have asked myself, do I really need it.

Posted by itsmyturn2    Friday, August 29, 2008 8:33 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Joining a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is a great way to support your local farms, while getting fresh, organic produce grown locally. It's pesticide-free and hasn't been trucked the whole way across the country. Local farm stands & farmers markets are a good place to buy from as well. Some do use plastic bags for their items, but we are sure to reuse them as trash bags in our smaller garbage cans. You save money by not buying trash bags. My husband also reuses large kitty litter pails as garbage cans in our basement. They're great for scooping the poop into- because it comes with a lid!

Posted by lovebug_kelli    Friday, August 29, 2008 8:57 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

My tips are to wipe baby with those tiny washclothes vs. disposable wipes, use eco friendly cleaning supplies or better yet, use vinegar. We compost and have for years, makes for a great garden. I make about 70% of our  babyfood and buy local and organic. I'm a little nutz about recycling. I started a recycling program at the last two companies I worked at when I noticed that they either didn't or recycled very little. Best of all I've joined an attachment parenting group where many Mom's try to reduce their impact on the environment and I've learned so much from them and they always have great tips on how to make living an eco friendly life easy and convenient.

Posted by LisiLynn    Friday, August 29, 2008 10:02 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

My husband and I start off by making sure all appliances that we are not using are left unplugged and we make sure to turn off all ceiling fans when we are not at home and not in that actual room.  We live in an apartment and for 2 years now our complex did not have a recycle bin for tenants use.  My husband and I researched the information on what we needed to do to get these bins to our complex, so we contacted our apartment manager and now we have bins for everyone to use.  It's convenient since we are able to comingle glass, plastic, paper, etc all in one and now we are able to recycle efficiently now.  We used to take all of our recycle to recycle centers and to our parent's homes where they have their own recycle bins.  This is not the case any longer.  :)

Posted by nbrock    Friday, August 29, 2008 10:52 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We make a point to use energy efficient light bulbs and turn lights off when we leave rooms.  We dont use fertilizers or pesticides on our yards or plants around the house.  Both my husband and I drive cars that are efficient and evronmentally friendly.  We buy organic and local products as often as possible.

Posted by jaredswife    Friday, August 29, 2008 11:05 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

get an electric programmable thermostat!

Posted by zephead16063    Friday, August 29, 2008 11:17 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We have energy saving lightbulbs, recycle every day, print only necessary documents with the duplex-sided feature, and go for long walks instead of long drives.

Posted by sfbridetobe74    Friday, August 29, 2008 11:38 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We look at 'going green' as a process, not an all at once thing.  So we started with CFLs, and have since added a programmable thermostat, got an energy audit on our house, installed an insulated garage door, broom sweep in non-carpeted areas of our house so we're not running the vacuum, grow our own vegetables, etc.  Now that our son is here, we use cloth diapers at home, bought organic cotton outfits for him, buy enviro and baby friendly bath products (like California Baby!!), hang things on our clothes line outside to dry,  and just try to live by the motto that we have to lessen our impact so that our son and his generation don't suffer the consequences of our wastefulness.

Posted by Rubygirl    Friday, August 29, 2008 12:45 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I have several things that I am currently trying to remind myself to do. Reusable grocery shopping backs, recycle everything (first give the rinsed plastic food containers to the kids to play with, then recycle them when they get bored with them!), turn off lights when they aren't needed (especially in the daytime! open the blinds!), and my personal favorite (ahem, husband) turn off the water while you brush your teeth.

Posted by Lyfling83    Friday, August 29, 2008 12:53 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I changed all of the bulbs in our house to the new engery saving kind, they actually have a lot more light than the old ones!

Posted by vlbauer    Friday, August 29, 2008 1:57 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I changed all of the bulbs in our house to the new engery saving kind, they actually have a lot more light than the old ones! We also both sold our trucks and bought new cars that are flex fuel, I sold a Chevrolet Avalanche and my husband sold his Ford F150 we bought a new Malibu and Impala in their places. Much better on Gas!!

Posted by vlbauer    Friday, August 29, 2008 1:59 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

recycle...recycle...recycle

Posted by lg9236    Friday, August 29, 2008 5:25 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We recycle all mail that doesn't need to get shredded.  I also buy local fruits and veggies to make my baby's food to reduce the energy needed to make the jarred food.  We turn off the ac and lights when we leave.

Posted by carajohnson    Friday, August 29, 2008 6:30 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We use cloth diapers and dry them outside on a clothesline. It saves electricity and keeps disposables out of landfills!

Posted by MegalynSunshine    Friday, August 29, 2008 8:26 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We both found co-workers to carpool with.  We each drive half as much as we did a year ago.  It's quite nice to sit back and relax when it's not my day to drive - I can enjoy my (organic) coffee in my (reusable) mug!

Posted by yellods    Friday, August 29, 2008 11:31 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

This one takes a little bit of planning, which is something I don't always do, but when I can I will bake vegetables together at one time and then store them for use later in the week. Besides saving on energy it helps with keeping our little apartment cooler in the summer.

Posted by monaldson    Saturday, August 30, 2008 10:51 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Air dry and you don't even have to use the appliance.  I always carry a metal refillable water bottle with me and pack lunch in re-usable containers.  Unplugging appliances when not in use is a good way to avoid sucking unnecessary energy.  We only use the air conditioner during a heat wave and use a programmable thermostat in the winter so the heat is only warming us when we're really there.  Baby-wise, I plan to use cloth diapers and use a food processor to chop baby food.  Breast feeding is also a great way to save money and energy (i.e. processing, refrigeration, packaging).

Posted by ezschunke    Saturday, August 30, 2008 12:17 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We air dry laundry whenever possible, make dinners that are good for several meals, and use our programmable thermostat.  And while it doesn't save on our energy bill we also save energy by cloth diapering, breastfeeding and making our own baby food.

Posted by Michelle&Russ    Saturday, August 30, 2008 2:23 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

This may sound strange, but my favorite eco-tip saves us on water consumption.  We have a bucket for the shower that we use to catch cold water.  While the shower water warms, we collect the water in the bucket and then, I pour it into the washing machine.  That way the cold water isn't wasted and we use less water to wash our clothes!

Posted by lilyjo    Saturday, August 30, 2008 7:01 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I am a preschool teacher and I keep a box in the classroom for extra paper.  I put the paper that would just be thrown away out of the office in the box so that my kids can use it for their artwork.  Things like the fax cover sheet, pages that don't print off the printer or copier correctly, etc.  The children know that they can just use the back, and it saves on paper! You'd be amazed how much paper would be thrown away otherwise!

Posted by PMJacobsen    Sunday, August 31, 2008 10:34 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Using cloth diapers and wipes has been great for our family and I save energy by hanging them on the clothesline to dry instead of using the dryer.  Also, I use a vinegar and water solution for most of my cleaning.  It works great, is very inexpensive and non-toxic.  Good for baby and the environment.  It also doubles as a great odor eliminator for the diaper pail!

Posted by Linnya    Sunday, August 31, 2008 11:28 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Our favorite eco-tip is rinsing out plastic water bottles and filling them with pennies and paper clips and closing them tightly and safely and using them as musical shakers for the baby to carry around and play with.

Then we don't feel so guilty using plastic bottles when we are out!

Posted by amychaddylan    Sunday, August 31, 2008 12:26 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

my husband and I swore off buying cases of plastic water bottles every week. We got ourselves a Brita water pitcher, and now use our trusty Nalgene or Camelback waterbottles, which are BPA free of course! Stop flooding landfills with plastic or even using the energy to recylcle all those bottles!

Posted by lola2sing    Sunday, August 31, 2008 1:07 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

wow! we'd love to try these out! we try to save energy and reduce our carbon footprint by walking as much as we can!!

Posted by cornellian2001    Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:11 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We leave the lights off in the house until just before dark.  Open the windows and let in some sun!

Posted by BennettFam07    Sunday, August 31, 2008 6:40 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We unplug appliances such as microwave, coffee maker, etc when not in use.  We shut all lights off in house and only keep lights on in the room we occupy.  We try to car pool to work.  The days that I work from home, my husband takes my car to work...which has better gas milage.  We use most green cleaning products.  I do not buy small bottles of water, but refeill a Nalgine daily (also helps me keep track of how much water I've had for the day!).  Use cloth bags for grocery shopping.  Use a lunch bag daily for work.  Hmm...what else?  We do a lot of things to try to be green and cut down on unnecessary waste.  

Posted by lucida07    Sunday, August 31, 2008 8:56 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

My students started recycling in school. We also try to do most things on the computer so that we don't use paper!

Posted by laurenFaith    Sunday, August 31, 2008 9:09 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

My students started recycling in school. We also try to do most things on the computer so that we don't use paper!

Posted by laurenFaith    Sunday, August 31, 2008 9:09 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

we recycle as much as possible, have changed our lightbulbs to energy savers, have an electric thermostat, unplug appliances and try to use our car as minimally as possible.

Posted by rubydeb    Monday, September 01, 2008 8:07 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We recycle and use natural light in our home whenever possible.  I love opening the windows and feeling the breeze along with the natural light!  

Posted by indygoldenmom    Monday, September 01, 2008 8:26 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We hang our laundry to dry; cloth diaper (and use cloth wipes, as well); recycle formula cans (they make handy dog food scoops and craft containers for my nieces & nephews); use energy-saving light bulbs; make ALL of our household cleaners (try this for an everyday cleaner: two cups of water, cup of white vinegar, 1/3 cup of baking soda); we've switched to almost all cloth (no more paper towels - the only thing left is the TP!); and we try to see the potential in old clothes (i.e. can I reconstruct this to make a grocery bag?  Cloth wipes?  A romper for the baby?).  The list goes on & on!

Posted by katie413    Monday, September 01, 2008 11:28 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We replaced all of our light bulbs with CFL's.  In the winter time we bundle up instead of turning up the thermostat.  

Posted by linds676    Monday, September 01, 2008 4:53 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

In our home we having been trying to make efficient upgrades as applicances need to be replaced. Light bulbs are being changed out, high efficentcy bath room fixtures, and kitchen equiptment are being updated. I also try to buy organic foods by visiting the local farmers produce stands. Try to something once a month at first like recyling, fresh foods, or organic shampoo.

Posted by reburgess28    Monday, September 01, 2008 6:36 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Whenever we leave the apartment, we always turn off the surge protector.  

Posted by meddledeal    Monday, September 01, 2008 10:06 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

i buy a lot of consignment furniture and home decor and refinish it to that it doesnt have to just get thrown away eventually.  a lot of the potter barn and pier one stuff look just like consignment funiture anyway, just have to update it with new hardware and polish it up!

Posted by j.marie    Tuesday, September 02, 2008 10:57 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We purchase Terra passes to offset our vehicles carbon emissions. Recently my husband traded in his SUV for a Toyota Yaris that gets between 35-39 mpg!!  It's been a huge money saver!!

We recycle about 60% of all our garbage. We changed to CFLs over 2 years ago. We always unplug anything not being used and of course we make sure to always turn lights off.  We only purchase green cleaning products.  I could go on and on!!

Posted by tjdoyle    Tuesday, September 02, 2008 3:34 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We only use CFLs, and compost all food waste (except meat, which we don't eat much of). Between composting, recycling, and avoiding packaged goods, we only have our garbage picked up once a month (normal 32-gal can). I try to use natural items in place of most cleaning products (vinegar & baking soda is the best drain opener!). We also made sure to buy a house near the light rail line for easy & car-less transportation.

Posted by sapphire2007    Tuesday, September 02, 2008 4:13 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I always unplug things that we are not using at the time, especially our phone chargers.  

Posted by jralopez    Tuesday, September 02, 2008 4:57 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I re-use as much as I can. If I have clothing I don't wear I either give it to someone else, donate it, or use it as rags. Have started using energy saving lightbulbs. If I have obtained water but not used it all, I will place in plant watering bucket for watering day. I make sure to turn things off when not using them, such as radio and computer (vs energy saver setting). I use fans to circulate the air in our home to assist the A/C and not have to run it so much.  With leftover foods we make really nummy soups! -my husband and I have started to get real creative with our results :)

Posted by nikkidutchgirl    Tuesday, September 02, 2008 5:23 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We recycle everything we can. paper, Cardboard, plastic, aluminum, glass. (whatever has a recycle symbol on the package!)Just my husband and I fill up a huge trashcan every week with recyleables. We use energy efficient light bulbs, keep lights off when we are not using them,turn off the AC when we are not at home and use it as minimlly as possible. Water our grass 3 times a week instead of every day. Only do laundry at night not during peak hours. I have gotten 2 friend on board as well!

Posted by TrujilloJ    Tuesday, September 02, 2008 6:20 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

we use energy saving lightbulbs, i make my own laundry detergent(no chemicals) and household cleaners,make my own baby food and i'm about to switch to cloth diapers

Posted by reigning_stars    Tuesday, September 02, 2008 7:37 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

My husband and I live in a very hot climate so it's common to run the AC all day. So what we did this year when we built our new house was to install separate AC units with individual room controls so we only run the air in the room we're in. It's cut our electric bill in half!

Posted by schedlerj    Tuesday, September 02, 2008 8:57 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I make sure we turn off the ligths when not in the rooms, turn off the AC when not at home, turn off the water while brushing teeth, we recycle and carpool.

Posted by MajaMeza    Tuesday, September 02, 2008 10:33 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

My favorite and easiest eco tip is to switch all light bulbs into energy saving lightbulbs. It saves money and is good for the environment!

Posted by genrefin    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 1:00 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

cloth diapers

Posted by chromiumman    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 1:58 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Grow your own fruits and veggies.

Posted by gkran    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 3:13 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Buy local -- we buy local produce. It takes less energy to transport it to the point of purchase, and it is fresher so it tastes better too.

Posted by dqw5644    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 4:45 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Using a programmable thermostat and lowering the temperatures during sleeping hours has actually made a substantial difference in our energy usage. I have done it for a year now and I'm stunned to see that it does save us money. Yay!

Posted by bluevioletof2    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 5:13 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We use engery saving light bulbs and just bought a energy saver water heater.

erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net

Posted by wwe11    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 5:50 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I compost all my veggie and fruit scraps!

Posted by cdziuba    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 5:49 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We have a small outside grill powered by solar energy - thank you

Posted by berwyn    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:08 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

turn of your computer when not in use, you'd be surprised at how much energy it uses.

Posted by agordon10    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:14 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Going to the grocery store has been when I really try to stay green.  I bring my own bags and when I am deciding on a product I try to look more at the packaging.  Whether or not I can recycle it is something I think about.  I try to buy organic as much as possible as well.  

Posted by jenndove    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:49 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I unplug most smaller appliances before work in the morning, or if we won't be home for extended periods of time.  I've also just started using microfiber cloths to clean with, and they definitely cut down on waste and I use much less cleaner.

Posted by nslods    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 7:21 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I have an electric oven.  Sometimes I turn off the oven a few minutes early and let the food finish up in the already warm oven.  I try to wash clothes in cold water as much as possible.  I recycle.  and I try to turn off unnecessary lights.

Posted by Thebakersdozen    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 8:46 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

My mom raised me to never leave a light on when you leave the room.  I'm also super strict about turning the a/c off and unplugging just about everything!

Posted by Katie55218    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 9:19 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Use Dryer Balls - the fluff your clothes while drying and elimate wrinkles plus they dry your clothes 25% faster saving energy!

Posted by kaylee815    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 9:54 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I hang what clothes I can outside on the line.  I can usually combine a couple loads which saves me running the dryer for about 30 mins. a week

Posted by imicindy    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 10:15 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We use cloth diapers and hang em out on the clothes line. We do this with all our clothes!

Posted by mzpaw    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 10:27 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I recycle anything that can be and I only plug items like toaster, can opener and blender when I use them.

Posted by JLYNNF76    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 10:44 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I try to buy from local thrift shops as much as possible.  I also donate household goods and clothing whenever possible.  

Posted by rlgrady    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 10:57 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Line dry, switch to cloth diapers, only do full loads of laundry

Posted by Descanso*Bride    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 11:04 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I make all of my own cleaning supplies.  You can clean almost anything with lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda.  Thanks for the great contest!

Posted by coriwestphal    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 11:13 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I wash all our clothes in cold water and hang them out when weather permits.  we've changed all our light bulbs, installed a programable thermostat, insulated the attic and hot water heater and put the hot water heater on a timer.  we're working on lots more but this is a good start.

Posted by happishopr    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 11:29 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We use the energy efficient light bulbs, use a clothes line to dry clothes in the summer, and have a compost pile for all our food scraps... and we try to recycle despite the fact that our town makes recycling so inconvenient -- it turns into a huge hassle most of the time.

Posted by shleesh    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 11:35 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We cold wash everything, use totebags when shopping, turn the lights out when not in use, unplug if not in use, donate ANYthing that we don't use and get second hand items to use, and we just started being green not too long ago... Tis hard sometimes but wow it is great knowing that we are helping the planet.

Posted by Wohic    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 12:57 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I have always cold wash our laundry, But I have began to recycle alot more, using bags for groceries and switching to the energy saving lightbulbs.

Posted by kygirlx2    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 1:02 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Here's a recipe for a natural home cleaning product.  It is easy to make, safe for the family and contains no toxic ingredients.  It is a Creamy Soft Scrubber.  You simply pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface. This is the perfect recipe for cleaning the bathtub because it rinses easily and doesn’t leave grit.  Add 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to the mixture and store in a sealed glass jar, to keep the product moist. Otherwise just make as much as you need at a time.  I have been using this for the past 3 months or so and it works fabulously!

Posted by joannaonthelake    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 1:16 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Turn off the tap while brushing teeth

Posted by phxbne    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 1:49 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

buy bulk -cuts down on refuge

Posted by mverno    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 2:26 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

One of the most effective things we have done is to raise our thermostat to 80 degrees (it was tough to convince my husband to go along with this because it's hot here in Texas right now!), and rely more on our ceiling fans and oscillating fans.  We keep the blinds closed and try to cool the house without relying solely on our a/c 24 hours a day.

Posted by 2H2L    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 2:42 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We reuse rain water.

Posted by susan1215    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 3:07 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We recycle and compost and have cut our trash more than half what it used to be.  Thank you!

Posted by Tina12312    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 3:21 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Think before buying, don't buy things that come with my garbage than product and always use reusable bags!

Posted by HSlater351    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 3:26 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We use low energy bulbs and keep our thermastat at 78.

Posted by tiffie555    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 3:49 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

My best eco tip is just to recycle . . . . most people don't really recycle everything they can, for instance, the clear plastic cups from most fast food places, and the iced drinks at starbucks are all recyclable but almost eveyone just throws the away.

cherylfrancisco@hotmail.com

Posted by LBSGONE    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 4:01 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Recycle what we can where we can, use energy saving light bulbs, unplug unused electronics when we go out of town and repurpose plastic grocery bags into garbage can liners, stinky diaper containment, and pooper scooper bags!

Posted by lukesmom2005    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 4:43 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

we make an effort to recycle, shut off things we're not using, and minimize water waste.

Posted by sarahbethe    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:00 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We try to add something new every week.  Whether it was phasing out paper towels, harmful cleaners, or transitioning to cloth diapers.  Its like a fun game.

Posted by luvlieK    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:41 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We make our own compost out of all of our veggie/fruit/coffee grounds/egg shells to enrich the soil in our garden and keep it from filling the landfills:)

Posted by mich0825    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 6:48 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

we havent used our dryer in months,we have put up a clothes line an hang out clothes out an let nature dry them,no electricty used an no chemicals used,I also have been washing dishes in the sink an not using the dish washer

Posted by vickiebelk    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 7:22 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I raise the temp of my air conditioner during they day so it doesn't run while no one is home,  use cold water for all laundry loads, use a low flow shower head, use energy saving appliances and light bulbs, and recycle.

Posted by egreca    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 7:29 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I always turn off the stove and oven a few minutes before the food is done cooking.  There is still enough heat to finish and the minutes add up each month.  especially since I cook at least 2 meals every day!

Posted by alegnahas3    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 7:39 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

What a really nice giveaway! My eco tip, which I wasn't sure of initially, is to unplug my dryer and flat iron when not in use.  I used to think that if I just did not turn either on, that I was not using electricity.  But, I have learned that that is not true, and have plans to do this with other on/off items. Thanks for the chance to win this great giveaway.

Posted by elsmarlouamrman    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 8:43 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

this is my tip for saving energy, keep all lights turned off unless your using them and limit your shower.

how i stay green is by recycling plastic and paper and growing my own garden.

Posted by strawberry3d    Wednesday, September 03, 2008 11:18 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

we recycle, dont use pastic bags,we have low flow shower heads, use rainwater for watering the garden.... thanks so much for this great giveaway !!

Posted by sam88    Thursday, September 04, 2008 12:35 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

My daughter is almost 3 and she just started being able to reach the light switches. Sometimes I'll ask her if all the lights are off upstairs and she'll go check and turn off any that are left on (dh is really bad at leaving the bathroom light on all the time)! She has fun helping me out and she thinks it's a game... although sometimes I'll be in the kitchen and she'll come turn the light off.

One good eco-tip to remember is recycle everything. I keep a small milkcrate in the bathroom for things like read magazines, toilet paper tubes, medicine and toothpaste boxes... All those little things usually get tossed in the waste basket because you don't think to recycle them. Since I have a recycle bin right there, it helps me remember and makes it easier to do!

Posted by suziesmail20@yahoo.com    Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:34 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I bring a canvas tote bag with me when I go grocery shopping.

Posted by mslilyk    Thursday, September 04, 2008 5:11 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Share maternity and baby items among family and friends.  It's very helpful or donate  them when done.  thanks.

Posted by ssmina    Thursday, September 04, 2008 6:49 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I use ziploc bags for 95% of my food storage and wash and reuse them.  I haven't purchased a new box of ziploc bags in over 6 months.

Posted by figgyfigg    Thursday, September 04, 2008 7:05 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

i just switched all my light bulbs to these swirly ones that are supposed to save $38 :)

Posted by kathypease    Thursday, September 04, 2008 7:22 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I eat raw produce and nuts - and that's it!  I compost every scrap that comes out of my kitchen and because I am not buying food in packaging, I produce almost zero waste.  I collect rainwater and even recycle shower water.  I haven't used a "disposable" bag or box or storage container in many, many years.

Posted by mrsesquilo    Thursday, September 04, 2008 8:20 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I always keep reusable shopping totes in the back of my car so I always have them for grocery stops.  We are slowly converting to the compact fluorescent bulbs as the incandescents burn out (because I think it's wasteful to throw away something if it still works).  We run the dishwasher while we're sleeping to minimize energy burden.  And of course recycling!

Posted by njkitty    Thursday, September 04, 2008 8:50 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We try to burn most of our garbage and recyle the rest. It really helps the planet.

Posted by cre8tveminde    Thursday, September 04, 2008 9:19 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We recycle as much as possible, only wash full loads of dishes and laundry (cold only), get books from the library instead of buying them and use lights infrequently during daylight hours.  Every little bit helps.

Posted by choochoo428    Thursday, September 04, 2008 9:22 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I recycle and i try to use natural light instead of turning the lights on if possible.

Posted by edq143    Thursday, September 04, 2008 9:27 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I recycle as much as possible and also purchase things that don't have a lot of packaging. I compost kitchen scraps and grow some of our own organic fruits and veggies-so far I've done tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, squash, strawberries, kohlrabi, and lettuce. I also put my family on the "no junkmail" list to cut down on paper waste.

Posted by Jessilyn82    Thursday, September 04, 2008 10:11 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We recycle everything that we can.  I'm constantly pulling items out of the trash bin that my husband has failed to put in the recycle bin.  Also, we generally operate the thermostat at the highest temperature (in the summer) or the lowest temperature (in the winter) that we can tolerate.  The thermostat gets adjusted daily when we leave for work.  All our lightbulbs are low energy and I unplug power strips or chargers when not in use.  

Posted by tricialeesb@yahoo.com    Thursday, September 04, 2008 10:14 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I strongly believe in recycle, reduce, reuse!  We recycle all that can be, we have curbed our spending and reduced what we purchase, replace only when there isn't an option, etc...  

Posted by HelenWL    Thursday, September 04, 2008 11:01 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We put our big electronics on power strips. When we want to watch tv, use the computer, or listen to the stereo we just turn the power strip on and off when we aren't using it. Since we made the change we have noticed a difference in our electric bill.

Posted by rzabins    Thursday, September 04, 2008 12:02 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I noticed when we changed out all of are regular light-bulbs for energy saving light bulbs & made sure that all lights were turned out when we left the room....it honestly makes it a difference! Also watching what we buy and trying to reuse different things so that we have less of an impact on our enviroment!

Posted by Erin.Gonzalez2008    Thursday, September 04, 2008 12:27 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We no longer use paper towels, paper napkins, and paper cups.  We use our glasses to drink.  We use cloth napkins and old clothes as rags to clean and wipe up messes.

Posted by rspiegel    Thursday, September 04, 2008 2:37 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I buy these products at whole foods Market.  They are wonderful!

Posted by jdine1969    Thursday, September 04, 2008 3:40 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I use cloth napkins for everything and I have special cloth napkins for the kids to get them involved in helping out too.

Posted by jfg06001    Thursday, September 04, 2008 6:13 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I am a huge fan of recycling anything and everything that can be recycled.  I also try to use as little energy as possible and am always cutting lights off whenever possible.

Posted by sherri19    Thursday, September 04, 2008 7:11 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Dry clothes on a line instead of in the dryer.

Posted by donnak4    Thursday, September 04, 2008 9:10 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I have changed out all the recessed ceiling bulbs with fourescent alternatives. They look the same but save money. I have also seeded my lawn with low growing drought resistant plant seed. This has cute low growing flowers and needs little watering or mowing.

Posted by pwhite98270    Thursday, September 04, 2008 9:48 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We use the cloth grocery sacks, turn out the lights, monitor our a/c unit, and I unplug anything not being used.  I even recycle my clothes :)

Posted by lolli to mommy    Friday, September 05, 2008 9:45 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

we replaced all of our bulbs in our house with the new eco friendly ones... we keep our a/c at 76 and our heat at 68. We have also replaced our old washer and dryer with the new lg energy star models

Posted by megjohnson2    Friday, September 05, 2008 12:12 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We unplug everything--even though it's turned off.  It's the best way to make sure you're not wasting energy you're not using.

Posted by michelle@giblin.net    Friday, September 05, 2008 6:28 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Unplug, unplug, unplug! Also we have a programmed thermostat, and energy saving lightbulbs and appliances.

Posted by mjwood2    Saturday, September 06, 2008 11:22 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We have tried to parent all of our children as eco-friendly as possible, from birth and up. All of mine are very conscious of electricity (lights off if you're not using them!), littering (we often pick the trash up along roads that other people carelessly leave behind!), etc. We also cloth diapered (no stinky dipes in land fills!) and breast fed (no formula cans to throw away, no wasting water on formula and/or cleaning bottles, etc.)

Posted by jccmama    Thursday, September 11, 2008 8:39 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

buy local, from fruits to clothes and cut down on non energy efficient things and increase on buying non package things, recycling!

Posted by g-art    Thursday, September 11, 2008 6:07 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

we installed dark fux wood blinds to save on electricity

Posted by Brit1020    Sunday, September 14, 2008 10:46 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

At work, there have been about 8 pregnant/just had a baby women at one time! We passed around the maternity clothes, baby clothes and baby gear.

At home, we dont use our lights during the day and keep them off when we are out of the room. We recycle everything too! Also, we try to use "green" products when we can.

Posted by kris10leigh    Friday, September 26, 2008 9:17 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Since we live in a community with tons of pine and oak tress at nite during summer we open all our windows use one fan go to sleep it is always so chillie out....and you get to breath clean fresh air as well as save tons on our energy bill!

Posted by christy2lali    Friday, September 26, 2008 9:40 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

I try to walk instead of driving whenever possible.  I also drive a Prius!

Posted by PDXGal7868    Monday, September 29, 2008 5:58 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We do our laundry in cold water.  Bad food stains can usually be soaked. out in advance instead of having to use hot water.

Posted by marsb78    Wednesday, October 01, 2008 10:03 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Well my husband is a powerline man and he says its amazing how many people always leave their lights out so we use energy sificient bulbs but we also got rid of our tv's and walk everywhere we need to go as well as a trash compose on our farm land.---terribly stinky but hey its good for the enviroment!

Posted by MegaliciousMommy    Friday, October 03, 2008 10:55 AM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

We plan on making our own baby food with our "Magic Bullet", which will save on baby jar waste since there is no recycling in our area.  We also use home made cleaners which reduces harmful chemicals into our environment and are cheaper than commerical products.  Try Vinegar instead of windex, try baking soda, lemon juice and water instead for your grout and toilet, and my personal favorite...hydrogen peroxide, couple drops of dish soap and water for carpet stains (test carpet first and wait 24 hours to be sure there is no discoloration)  You have to make a fresh batch every time with that last one, but it works wonders!

Posted by CaCO3Girl    Friday, October 10, 2008 12:29 PM

re: California Baby Giveaway Contest!

Instead of driving to the library, walk there. It's great for you to lose that baby weight, baby loves being outside, and it's great for the both of you to get the fresh air. AND carry a book bag to bring home your books and/or videos.

Posted by BigAsWife    Friday, October 17, 2008 11:36 AM