Have you changed your life to reduce your carbon footprint? If so - how?

Question

Have you changed your life to reduce your carbon footprint? If so - how?

Answer 1

I've changed my carbon footprint albeit in ways I'd never have expected. Three years ago I was green concious but still left a pretty big print with my SUV and wasteful energy practice. I washed and dried clothes after only one wear, left the A/C on when I wasn't home and I drove my SUV everywhere, even to the corner market. This all changed when my frustration with US politics and predatory comercialism reached a point where I fled the country. Now I live in, of all places, China. Now I dont drive a car, I ride an electric bike. I dont wash my clothes until they need them and I line dry them (no dryers in so China), My new wife has driven home the need for water/power conservation, not out of any green agenda, but rather from a lifetime of being too poor to afford such luxuries. The fact that we can afford it is irrelevant, it's simply not necessary. I've learned the lesson that excessive energy consumption is a cultural disese. Yes, China is the most polluted place I have ever lived. The poor air quality sometime is so bad my eyes burn and the toxic waters have me swearing off fish and avoiding untreated drinking water. Don't blame the common person however, the problem again is a societal one. Deng Xiao Peng told the masses that to be rich is glorious and then he removed any barriers to unscrupulous methods of achieveing said glory. China is rising on the fumes and exhusts from ten thousand factories all dumping unhindered. Maybe the question being asked should be directed at a bigger entitiy. Say governments and mega corporations. The common man is doing what he can.

Answer 2

We do use energy-efficient bulbs in our home & recycle plastic & aluminum, but that's about all that we do that you would likely consider "green". The carbon footprint is a hoax created by those with a political agenda! There is NOT a scientific consensus as you & others would have us believe. I could site several sources, but since my answer will fall on deaf ears anyway, I'll only site one from this week. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,176495.shtml



EDIT: I didn't realize that hanging clothes to dry instead of using the dryer is "green". We do that too & have for over 20 years. BTW, the light bulbs are more cost-efficient which is why we use them. Also, the recycling is for local charities one uses the money from the aluminum to help teenage mothers & the plastics are recycled into coats for low-income children.

Answer 3

Hi, I am writting this little ditty from Wales in the UK. We have government set quoters for recycling everthing. Can to Carboard, Clothes to Plasstic bottles all of which have to be removed from the Garbage can before it will be accepted by the collection truck. I hope that you have the same restrictions there. I would hate to be doing my bit for the planet only to find that some where else is messing it up. Some councils are only doing fortnightly collections rather than weekly. I am not sure about this. Mine is still weekly.

I practice what I preach in that have been vegetarian for 23 yrs, use the later technology to reduce me affect on the environment from not having an oven but using a combi oven grill and microwave. Light save bulbs are in every lamp except the halogen one that I am using now. Picking my own fruit from a farm and preserving it for the winter as jam or preserves. Onions drying in the shed and a small amount of flowers drying in the hallway for the home made christmas door wreath which I make every year. I have the most energy efficient washing machine with water reduced wash and I wash my cooking utensils and crockery by hand and have done so for 25yr of married life. The only luxury that I have is a dryer for the cold times to dry my clothes. I use public transport and have turned jobs down because I was unable to get there by bus. We have a car which my husband uses to travel the relatively short 100 or so mile to work every day. I am proud of the efforts I and my family are making but, and this is the big annoyance untill recently there was no government lead because they were afraid that the big multinational companies would stay away if we inssited that they cleaned up their mess as they went along. The environmental company audit did it in this country. The fact that the company had to show that they had taken into account their waste and it disposal,the number of car parking spaces are now taxed as a perk to the employees which made them think again and we got a cleaner company. I have used up my bragging space, but seriously it seems that it is not only the better off and better educated that are recycling here. I hope that this is to do with the excellent Ecology teachers in the primary school who are getting the message over to the very younge.

I am concerned about carbon offsetting, buying trees is all very good but it would be better for everyone if we just cut down the emissions in the first place and then planted the tress as well. I am seriously concerned about the Chineese rivers with their very hig banks eg Yanksee and yellow rivers they seem to afraid to loose control over the water flow incase itcause loss of face. surely letting the river flood over its flood plains whilst removing the people to higher ground can only be good for the ground. Replacing the trees at its source shoud be a crisis action by all the countries concerned. Rebalancing the environment in all areas is the most important way of reducing the rate of climate change. Canaling of river courses and the building of great dams is one way of producing electricity but at what cost? how many more people need to be displaced before we stop and listen to them. Money is not the answer. I am sorry that I have gone on a bit but it makes me so mad when thing go wrong and no one puts their hands up and cleans up the mess it has to be left to the volunteers like me to do it.

Answer 4

ousehold to reduce our carbon footprint. We're using energy efficient light globes throughout the house wherever practicable (about 30 at last count), and we try to turn them off when not in use/needed. We use water saving shower roses, which not only cuts water usage but also reduces the amount of energy needed for heating less water. We use clothes lines wherever possible, but sometimes the weather or needs demands we use the dryer. We only ever use the dryer on medium. We use cold water for washing clothes. We purchased an energy efficient air conditioner, and use that sparingly. We bought a house within walking distance to the train station, so we can minimise the use of the cars, and we purchased smaller, more fuel-efficient cars than what we had before. We recycle glass, plastics, paper and cardboard to the maximum extent we can (Council collects every two weeks). We mulch lawn clippings in the garden. And we often use re-usable shopping bags to bring the groceries home in, but these are getting harder to find in some stores.

Answer 5

The best research is coming from what we are just beginning to learn about the Suns role in our climate. Solar flares have been found to initiate earthquakes and other terrestrial based weather patterns, it makes sense climate change will be found to be among them. In 20 years we'll look back at this push for greener this and that and realise it had little effect. We are just too small in the scheme of things, althought some people think we are much smarter than all other species and we can control it. We can't. I would say there are people in the right places in government and big business who will make vast sums of money off this carbon footprint minimisation agenda. It just doesn't make sense, it makes dollars.

Answer 6

Fist I can reduce my carbon footprint by starting at home. Did you know that using the thermostat uses carbon? I decided that I can turn down the heating thermostat during the winter, and then in the summer I can turn up my air conditioner thermostat by a few degrees in the summer. Next I can turn off the lights when I am not in the room and other electronics as well when I am not using them. Speaking of lights I can replace the light bulbs in my house with incandescent light bulbs. Also there is a refrigerator that my family only uses every once in a while in my garage. I can unplug it when there is no food in it and if there is only a small amount of food in it I can move the food and then unplug it. Also I could ask my parents if they will replace the furnace in our house with an energy Star model. Another thing I can do is recycle the plastic in my house and not throw it away.

Second I can reduce my carbon footprint by changing my methods of transportation. Some of my friends live down the street from me, and when I want to go visit them I usually ask my parents to drive me, but instead I could walk or ride my bike. Also when my destination is further away, I can take more people with me when I go and get more done so I don’t have to go back out and use the car again. Also the next time my family is going to buy a new car I can ask them to look at the hybrid cars and see if they want to buy one of those types of cars. Also if they don’t like that type of car, I could maybe at least get them to buy a car that uses less gas per mile.

The next thing I can do to lower my carbon footprint is to change what my family and I buy, and where we buy it. When we go to the grocery store I can bring a bag instead of putting the groceries in the plastic or paper bags that the supermarkets usually give out. Next instead of buying fresh fruits and vegetables from the store my family and I can buy them from the local farmer’s market. Next while buying packaged food from the store I can make sure I buy the food that uses the least amount of paper to package their items. For example instead as getting a regular box of macaroni, instead of two packets of individual servings of macaroni.

Answer 7

Ahhh the BIG question...



First check out all containers wrappings buy in bulk at least one major item in a re-fill packet eg washing powders etc.,

Buy large jar or tin or what ever, of your products rather than several smaller bottles/jars. And also re-fill like a canister.

Avoid plastics ....I know difficult but!

I have the oldest but emmission controlled car and spares.

This motor is able to run on BIO-GAS too without a lot of modification - Mad Max move over ! ha ! I've had this type of car for more than twenty years.

OK it's a dinosaur, and a chrome dream but I've rarely had a major problem with these well built cars and think - how many lollypop 4cylinders would you have to buy to compete with that ???? Also ... easy to work on and fix yourself.

Build to last, not just to price.

If you HAD to make every penny ($) count - think how you would purchase anything from the next pair of boots to the aspect or position of your house. Buy a chiming pendulum clock - [wind up every 30 days]

The orientation or layout of the home is not just Fung Shwei

the draughts of air in Winter or the Sun in Summer will affect both heating and cooling - therefore ENERGY bills.

Try to build / buy / rent? your next home with this aspect in mind. Of course GO SOLAR - even garden lights could 'charge ' during the day for Mood lighting at night!!

I'm working on changing to 6 & 12 volt electricals throughout the home - like car / caravans - everything could be solar charged to a battery, except perhaps the Fridge but we have used a gas powered model once.

Old technologies pre electricity- are still good too!

Chill drinking water in a ceramic jar.Marble stone keeps food cool in kitchens. Grow herbs / veges in a window sill - a back veranda or driveway.

Save rainwater, flush carefully, re-cycle paper.

Stop pollution - Ride a horse bike or walk. Work from home and avoid commuting or reduce the use of petroleum.

Lights with motion sensors.

Work in safe -eco friendly environments - brought to you by the struggles of hard working people before you. And I suggest you think of the future as here NOW.

Change is inevitable like Broadband so save the planet and hot air vote Labor.

Answer 8

I thing the people will not use the clean technology if this is more expensive then conventional technologies. I work in sealing industry and here I learn something: the client want to know what can win himself if will buy my products! If the cost is more expensive then others the client will not care about environmental or other people! Yes the people are very selfish when is about money!



My way to protect the environment is to sell (and use myself) ecological products with same or cheaper price! Yes, it is possible, is working and I win also enough money! OK, the people don't realize they protect the environmental but the effect is very good!



But this is not all! I teach the others how to make this and my partners are growing exponentially. So if my partners are 10 next month will be 100 and next month 1000 and...you understand!



Sebastian Varga

environmentalist



"You be the change what you want to see on the world!"

Mohandas K. Gandhi

Answer 9

I believe the government should spend more money on trying to make better sources of energy like making solar panels more efficient or creating more wind farms. I also believe it would be a great investment for energy companies to get involved, because even though it will cost a lot of money to create these sources of energy it cost practically nothing to harvest the energy. But until that happens we should all do our part to help out in the situation. I don't have that much money to do a lot but I did change to energy efficient lights bulbs and lowered the air conditioner setting to around 78 degrees. I feel good about helping out the environment plus saving a lot of money on the electric bill !!!!!

Answer 10

We do a number of things in our household to reduce our carbon footprint. We're using energy efficient light globes throughout the house wherever practicable (about 30 at last count), and we try to turn them off when not in use/needed. We use water saving shower roses, which not only cuts water usage but also reduces the amount of energy needed for heating less water. We use clothes lines wherever possible, but sometimes the weather or needs demands we use the dryer. We only ever use the dryer on medium. We use cold water for washing clothes. We purchased an energy efficient air conditioner, and use that sparingly. We bought a house within walking distance to the train station, so we can minimise the use of the cars, and we purchased smaller, more fuel-efficient cars than what we had before. We recycle glass, plastics, paper and cardboard to the maximum extent we can (Council collects every two weeks). We mulch lawn clippings in the garden. And we often use re-usable shopping bags to bring the groceries home in, but these are getting harder to find in some stores.



We'd like to collect rain water to use to top up our pool, but we don't have room to place a rainwater tank or the funds to buy one. When our fridge carks it, we'll update to an energy efficient model. Can't afford to replace it while it's working well.



That's about it. I thought of buying carbon offsets, but since we've no way to guarantee the trees planted as a result of this would never get cut down, it seems to be of limited value. Maybe my next car will be a diesel model or electric/petrol hybrid. Haven't decided yet (economics will drive this decision too).



EDIT: we also have a dual flush loo, and we both live close to work (within 10 minutes). We also buy green electricity, which costs a little more, but we think is worth the cost.

Answer 11

Yes - but I did it without realising.

Malcolm I'm a passionate cyclist. I changed my life years and years ago and took up the challenge of cycling wherever possible. It is now such a big part of my life that even though I do have a car I hardly use it. I feel good about saving money, saving the environment and using the best form of energy - my own!



Please think bike lanes when you are thinking environment.

Answer 12

I have energy efficient light bulbs.



I have a canvas bag I keep in the car when getting a small amount of groceries.



I recycle paper, glass, and plastic - I even take the papers from my classroom home to recycle them.



I have energy efficient appliances and windows in my home.



I only do full loads of laundry and dishes - I dry a LOT of my clothes on the line.



I never leave the water running.



I have an programmable thermostat in my home.



I always turn off the lights, tv, computer, etc.

Answer 13

Well, besides the normal recycling:



- I've switched to using a lunchbox instead of a paper bag every day. ( I also use a reusable sandwhich container and a stainless-steel fork, as opposed to disposables)



- I always put my computer printouts in a box to be used as scrap paper



- I use my water bottle several times before recycling



- I put bricks in all my toilet tanks to save water



- I changed 3 light bulds to CFLs



- I almost always wash my clothes in cold water.



- I keep my showers short



All these things aren't really life-changing, but its good to know that they DO help.

Answer 14

I've been using public transport to get to work for many years.



However, I must say that the lack of seating and parking available makes driving to work tempting.



I've changed my electricity supply to green energy. My house is rated at 5 stars. We have thick window and floor coverings to help keep the house at a constant temperature.



The thermostat is never above 18 when the heating is on. I don't have an A/C as yet.



We purchased more crockery and plates so that the dishwasher is only operated 2 times a week, saving a huge amount of water.



We have water saving shower heads and use buckets to capture water when showering.



We are planting a drought tolerant garden, with lots of mulch.



We are replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs. This is an ongoing process, as the cost between the two is significant.



I try to buy in bulk, thus reducing the packaging. I recycle what I can, and am learning about composting.



I use the clothesline, and a clothes horse inside when the heater is on and it's raining outdoors. The dryer is for emergencies.

Answer 15

Dear Mr. Turnbull, the Honourable Minister for Water and The Environment,

I personally take public transport as I do not own a vehicle, turn off electrical appliances at the wall when not in use, use energy saving light bulbs, turn of lights when exiting a room and wash my clothes with cold water.

These are just a few things I do to assist the environment.

As I live in the seat of Hindmarsh, I am also very aware about water restrictions and abiding the regulations set down by our Water Minister, Ms Maywald.

I and my husband are relieved to find out that of October 1st, 2007 we will be allowed to use a hose on the appropriate day to water our garden. I am currently in my last trimester of pregnancy and bucket watering left me with a domestic OH&S issue.

Thank you for your time, Minister.

Answer 16

I cycle to work as often as possible... this has so many benefits!

* its extremely cheap

* its good for the environment

* it keeps you fit and healthy

* its actually quicker than the bus in peak hour traffic!!!



I really believe we should be encouraging people to cycle to work - for that we need more/better bike lanes!

Answer 17

Hi Mr Turnbull



I do full loads of washing in cold water and use the clothes line which I have done for years but for cost reasons.



I wash my dishes by hand as the dishwasher is currently out of action and then when there is a full load.



My new refrigerator has a 4 star energy rating and my 6yr old washer has 3 stars.



Unfortunately I have no choice but to drive as it is more direct for me and the Hurstville to Lidcombe railway line has never come about. I live in Narwee and it would take me close to 2hrs and 2 trains to get to work. Not good when you work shifts!

Answer 18

I turn my air conditioner down or off when no one is home. I use the Compact Florescent bulbs. I don't drive one day a week and I live close to my job. I carpool when I can. I also inform others oh how they to can decrease there carbon footprint.

Answer 19

I'm walk to work every day and do not own a car. I also vote green!

Answer 20

Hi, good question, I hope you can use our responses in a positive way.



I simply do what I can, when I can. I re-use my shopping bags, I barely use my car (and I'm happier for it) and I make sure the lights in my house are turned off. I also recycle as much as possible and buy what organic produce I can afford. (May I suggest the government subsidises organic food - for so many reasons)



Thanks for asking.

Answer 21

It would be nice if individuals could make a real difference, but that's not realistic. A revolution requires leadership and the only 'leader' we have is the power of government. I know a lot of people will reach for their pistols after reading that, but in real life there is no other way to turn our entire civilization around on this issue. Half way measures just ain't gonna' make it. Ferinstance...with a fraction of the borrowed money we've spent on this BushWar for Oil, we could have produced and installed enough solar and wind generation to keep most of the US up and running most of the time. With real leadership we could mandated CAFE standards of no less than 35 to 40 mpg and still keep the wheels on the road. We've had that technology since the 1970's. Building codes could be revised to demand heavy insulation and double pane windows....expensive? Sure, but as production ramps up the price goes down. Our problem isn't 'doing it', our problem is the reactionaries that currently run 'our' country. They have an oil/coal only policy that suits the corporate bums that currently hold us hostage to 19th century terchnology. Absent that kind of thinking we actually could 'go green' and do it in a heartbeat.....who says we can't? Americans can do anything, so what are we waiting for....elect the right people and it's done!

Answer 22

Other than recycling I learned in my HomeState, Oregon. My yard is never watered and always pretty. I just let a bunch of natural things grow from the gound and my yard is full of trees and plants, very little lawn, loads of shade. The neighbor kids call it the Rainforest. My yard is the neighborhood Park!

Don't need an air conditioner. I keep the trees tall and the bushes trimmed by hand and use a push mower. Walk whenever I can and use a walking cart to grocery shop. House is up to code and lights go off when you clap~ Mulch and such. But I do not have a worm farm like my friends. ;j eew

Answer 23

Well for starters I don't drive - I use public transport or car-pooling.



Other little bits here and there (efficient lights, etc), but I think that the most significant thing I have done (and that can be done) is to become vegetarian (or vegan, but I haven't gone that far yet). Agriculture (agribusiness?), and specifically the meat industry in that respect, is amongst the most polluting and wasteful (in many ways) aspects of human existence. In terms of carbon foot-print specifically, the meat industry (and thus meat consumption) is absolutely massive. The gigantic areas felled for pastures etc take out big carbon-sinks (trees, etc), there's the transport of the meat, and theres the (biggest problem) huge amount of methane produced by the masses of animals.



Consider this - it is believed that the contribution of the meat industry as a whole to the ENTIRE amount of human-related greenhouse gas emissions is 18%. Nearly 1/5th of ALL human-caused emissions are because of meat-consumption, and then you could also consider the dairy industry - also terrible because it involved lots of cows, and cows are the ones who produce most of the nitrous and methane gasses.



There are so many more problems associated with the West's addiction to meat, and the worst thing I think is that the meat industry still insists that it's ok because meat is "an essential aspect of a healthy diet". It's not, and I, along with countless other healthy vegetarians prove that. Not to mention some very famous vegetarians/vegans such as successful athletes (Carl Lewis, one of many) who also prove that they can be healthy vegetarians while living some of the most physically demanding life-styles possible.

Answer 24

by writing a book called Coopracy and Universal Capitalism which will evolve how capitalism is so that society can be less introspective and more far sighted, By coining the phrase "The interest on greed and debt is pollution." by advocating for years that the greatest environmental problem is real estate investment and all the inflation in energy use world wide this is the cause of.

BY the way if you read this, your policies on solar are very poor economics indeed.

Why has the Swiss got rechargeable cars and we can't get them. Any one who invests in property is going directly against any chance of reducing emissions.

The whole of the governments approach to emissions reduction is so narrow minded that it is a affront to the intelligence, Look if you are really serious you can get in touch with me and I will explain this , how we can incrementally reduce emissions whilst at the time increase the productivity of the unproductive quintile of society.

By the way those glow in the dark bulbs I can't read by them and if one has solar why do we need them, Why are we not mass importing solar tax free from China

The whole debate about emissions is about increasing the profits of power monopolies.

Do you know I can totally explain why there is no need to build another coal fired power station in NSW and why would any one let them they use so much water.

If you catogarically ban the pulp mill I believe you are half serious up until now there is no evidece what soever that anyne in government or the decievers at the ALP are interested in anything other than preventing freedom of speech on climate change econmics. You all would lose in a real debate.

Answer 25

My family:

takes 4-5 minute showers,

has a garden that never needs watering,

washes up by hand,

doesn't own a clothes dryer,

has a well insulated house that requires little heating or cooling,

we don't have a swimming pool,

washes our car with household grey water,

uses cleaning products like bi-carbonate of soda, vinegar and bleach,

is saving up for a water tank and a solar hot water heater,

has an older style toilet so we placed a brick in the cistern to reduce water used for flushing,

recycles everything possible,

only replaces items such as TV's, mobiles etc only when they cease working rather than as technology advances,

and has energy efficient lighting.



These are all small things that have very little effect on the way we live our lives. There are still many things that we need to change to reduce our carbon footprint. Still, we are trying and I hope we improve every day.

Answer 26

When politicians stop cutting down rain forests to produce worthless reams of legislation then maybe we could make progress. Look at all the unnecessary flights made to 'study' other countries ways of doing the obvious.

The waste throughout the political structure is monumental.



I have changed some things -Like energy efficient light bulbs,

reducing the number of miles I drive, choosing to walk when I can, recycling paper, glass and old clothes/shoes and spectacles.



If our political elite are really serious they should lead by example. One starting point would be stop having second homes in London as an investment.



Curb your own greed within the political classes then the electorate might be impressed enough to really listen.

Answer 27

I have diligently made the miriad of small changes regarding light bulbs, my use of AC, heat and lighting, reusable grocery bags, trip conservation, electronic files and transactions over paper, reduced consumption of beef, low water use landscaping, reuse, recycle, etc. Even with these changes, I know that I still consume like the American that I am. I plan to move to a smaller home, give up my private pool. My next car will be more energy effecient.



I feel mortified and ashamed of what we are doing to the environment - and the part that I have played in this. I am very happy to see that Green is finally becoming cool.

Answer 28

Sorry, but I don't buy it. Last Christmas day in Tasmania it was 9º, and 10º Boxing day.Every little thing that happens weatherwise is blamed on climate change. There have been large fluctuations in climate before. these can last up to 200 years or so. Some people seem to forget that we are still coming out of the last ice age.Meanwhile it has all turned into a political football with all the local worthies running to jump on the bandwagon. Now it's time to watch some footy.

Answer 29

This whole question of carbon footprint and global warming has reached annoying porportions. The flippant answer is that I've quit eating beans...but honestly...unless the emerging nations like China adopt a similar stance...it's meaningless. Moreover, while global warming is a reality, the cause and effect are not based in science...more like scientific opinion. One model attributes global warming to human influence, another proves that global warming would be about the same if the human race didn't exist at all. So I think we need to temper our decisions about lifestyle and choices with some common sense.

Answer 30

I type on my computer all day in the hope that the the electricity I use to run it will help my 401k improve so I can move into a bigger house that will be far away from idiots asking about how to improve their carbon foot print.



hybrids use batteries filled with chemicals that have to be replaced every five years--those flourescent bulbs contain mercury and have to be recycled. That means a truck that burns diesel has to drive by and pick up your garbage--while another has to come by and pick up your recycled crap.



Meanwhile ALGORE flies around in a private jet telling you to help him stop GLOBAL WARMING--while he lives in several huge houses and has used more CARBON CREDITS than any 100 normal American families will use in their lifetimes.



But it's okay--he is doing it for the good of the world.



Kind of like the Socialist Party officials in the old Communist countries--they had to have specail prevlidges because they were more important than the common folk. So they had bigger cars and bigger houses and special places to shop.



all the while watching the common folk stand in bread lines and thinking--SUCKERS!!!

Answer 31

You know I think I answered another of your questions last week...but, here goes...We(Husband and I) live off the grid in Northern California so first of all no electric lines from any power company for us or our neighbors. We do have a generator for back up to the solar panels...There is also a generator for the well. We recycle bottles and cans because that is well served by the state program. Living with our own chickens and other animals is a bit unusual for most people but we have eggs and meat and the enjoyment of farm life. Yes I do use the clothesline andenergy efficient lightbulbs. But I wish we did not have the gas waterheater but we are saving for the solar waterheater panels for the roof.. I wish I could say we have electric vehicles but alas we have energy efficient cars and truck... I refuse to buy from Walmart or any large chain store or eat in chain resturants...We buy local produce and use the county dump occassionally for large items...I have compost and find that we probably live as well as most people...Our new house is energy effecient made in the USA and we try to conserve in every way we can...I donate magazines and books to the public Library and use the facilities instead of taking a daily paper(saves trees you know) So even though it isn't an exotic lifestyle we manage on one income and without the huge bills or huge house many people have invested in for the "Bigger is better" American dream...I'm glad to say that we also have a second home (our former home is a condo on Oahu, Hawaii) We are trying to sell but until then I travel for vacations and to visit friends...(That is consumption but why not since that is where we are from)

Answer 32

Most definitely nothing ! I'm convinced that all this talk of global warming is so much bunk thrown at us by scientists hungry for Gov't grants to enable them to continue their 'research', which in turn will bring more 'proof' that we are all about to become extinct.

Sorry, but I don't buy it. Last Christmas day in Tasmania it was 9º, and 10º Boxing day.Every little thing that happens weatherwise is blamed on climate change. There have been large fluctuations in climate before. these can last up to 200 years or so. Some people seem to forget that we are still coming out of the last ice age.Meanwhile it has all turned into a political football with all the local worthies running to jump on the bandwagon. Now it's time to watch some footy.

Answer 33

My girlfirend and I moved from Sydney to Mexico and became vegetarian. We don't have a clothes dryer, car or television. We buy nearly all our food fresh at a local market to which we take a big box every weekend, and make sure that all food we buy is grown locally. We turn off lights when we aren't in the room. We separate our rubbish into organic and non-organic and cook with the lid on to use less gas. We recycle and re-use paper at work and keep printing to a minimum.



The structures here are less wasteful than in Australia, so it is easy to have a smaller carbon footprint. Locally grown produce is easy to find and, because the weather is decent, we don't need a heater or air conditioner. Beer bottles here are washed and re-used, and you get 50 cents for the bottle. Public transport is super cheap, efficient and regular.



These changes do not affect our quality of life, if anything we live better here than we did in Sydney.



And you Mr Turnbull?

Answer 34

I have the oldest but emmission controlled car and spares.

This motor is able to run on BIO-GAS too without a lot of modification - Mad Max move over ! ha ! I've had this type of car for more than twenty years.

OK it's a dinosaur, and a chrome dream but I've rarely had a major problem with these well built cars and think - how many lollypop 4cylinders would you have to buy to compete with that ???? Also ... easy to work on and fix yourself.

Build to last, not just to price.

If you HAD to make every penny ($) count - think how you would purchase anything from the next pair of boots to the aspect or position of your house. Buy a chiming pendulum clock - [wind up every 30 days]

The orientation or layout of the home is not just Fung Shwei

the draughts of air in Winter or the Sun in Summer will affect both heating and cooling - therefore ENERGY bills.

Try to build / buy / rent? your next hom

Answer 35

I have changed light bulbs, winterized my home, cut down on driving, etc. But I go a step beyond that, because I have become what might be called an "activist." I write e-mails and make calls to legislators concerning Global Warming. I push for the creation of a viable Alternative fuel, higher fuel standards, etc. My finances have not allowed me to buy a hybrid car, but I intend to do that in the future.



I follow the News. Australia's change on the Kyota Treaty inspired me and I hope it will inspire others. We remain the biggest polluter and the only major nation not participating in this treaty. Why?



I weep for the polar bears, the seals, and others among "God's creatures" struggling for survival. We must work together for Change!

Answer 36

In 1982-83 our family planted 80ha of trees to act as our air pollution contribution, and to act as carbon credits. These trees are now 30-40m high! Unfortunately the trees were pines but it was a good step forward. The trees have made 3 generations of our family carbon neutral.



My family and I all are cyclists. I cycle 6000-7000 km per year to prevent air pollution (and probably have scrubbed a fair bit of car exhaust fumes with my own lungs) and to keep fit. It means I shower at work rather than at home. I also don't use detergents like shampoo (hydrocarbon based and fish toxicant that cannot be removed by conventional wastewater treatment plants) I use water to wash my hair, radical huh?



We try to live in passive solar houses, and we only use electicity when we have to, we turn off lights and electrical devices somtimes at the wall if required (standby uses electricity)



I also try to wear clothes that suit the environment, so that air conditioning is not so necessary, and try to select fashion that does not require ironing -very difficult with mens business fashion (help me out here fashion gurus!).



Setting air con at 25 degrees celcius, and hot water at 50-60 saves a lot of GHG every year.



In Darwin we have solar hot water -and never use electricity to heat our hot water, which may save 30% of our electricity bill each quarter.

Answer 37

Well, living in Phoenix, I use the Summer heat - clothes line, turn off the water heater etc.



As I live alone, I can have the A/C set to 82F.



But having replaced lots of bulbs with Compact Florescent bulbs, I have been very disappointed. I've had 2 blow within 4 months, in my ceiling fan light. It may be the fan shaking the light a bit. But I may have to go back to 100 watt incandescent.

Answer 38

Good Day Mr Turnbull



I have been composting for the last 15 years - I always use mulch ie local newspapers and "Junk Mail".



I grow most of my own produce and give it to my neighbours.



A solar powered hot water service was installed 5 years ago.



I am saving up for solar powered electricity.



I always use "green" bags for the occasional shopping I do.



I recycle everything and belong to my local "Freecyle Group".



I always use water more than once.



I always wash clothes (and myself in summer) in cold water and use common soap (yellow).



I have planted a native garden in the front yard.



I rarely buy new clothes I shop at op shops generally.



Apart from the computer and the "green" light bulbs I rarely use any electricity.



I catch public transport and walk.



I always dry my clothes on the line and if it is going to rain will often not use the rinse cycle on the machine the rain makes a good job of rinsing my clothes.



I utilise the local council's clean up days by rummaging through the piles on the nature strip taking what I can put to good use.



All tree prunings are kept until winter and used in the slow combustion heater. I also cook stews and casseroles on the top of th heater.



A recent purchase was a newspaper brick making machine.



I allow my plants to "self seed".



I grow aloe vera for both cosmetic and first aid purposes.



Everything I have has to earn its keep.



I also refuse the "How to Vote" pamphlets at election time.





I am a "floating" voter usually - convince me to vote for the Liberals!!!



When are all Federal and State government buildings switching to solar powered electricity?

Answer 39

It is very hard for me to reduce my carbon footprint. As for years I have always dryed clothes on my Hill's Hoist and washing machine water, waters lawn. I always walk to work and go almost daily to shop on foot so I can carry and not need car. Though this fluoro bulb thing is not totally honest and an advantage as advertised. I personally have researched this issue for over 7 years and found honest applications are not not portrayed as occur. Though in my town waste sewerage water , grey water has for years been used as water for parks and golf course, it is highly sought after, so none is wasted. I will not use air-con in car as it is not necessary and uses more fuel. So why have we allowed these power munching cars guzzle gas with V8's and turbo charges. What happened to the 70's push for small 4s and no V8, oops people have more money and like creature comforts at exspense to environment. People use 16 watt bulbs instead of 100 watt and their car is not 80hp anymore it is 280hp. The equation does not balance, or am I not grasping the the point ??? Beside I have not spent over $10,000 making my house green like a dumb local counciller looser in Brisbane and my electricity bill is still half of his power for the quarter.

Answer 40

I learned in my HomeState, Oregon. My yard is never watered and always pretty. I just let a bunch of natural things grow from the gound and my yard is full of trees and plants, very little lawn, loads of shade. The neighbor kids call it the Rainforest. My yard is the neighborhood Park!

Don't need an air conditioner. I keep the trees tall and the bushes trimmed by hand and use a push mower. Walk whenever I can and use a walking cart to grocery shop. House is up to code and lights go off when you clap~ Mulch and such. But I do not have a worm farm like my friends. ;j eew

Answer 41

Changed to all coil light blubs

Hang clothes out

Walk 50 minutes everymorning--out front door, not drive to gym or track.

Use the car way less. One trip with three planned stops, not one or two single runs a day.

I have a 24mpg used car. Will not buy another until I can get an electric car or one, not a hybred, but a 50mpg car.

Turn my hot water off until about 15 min before my shower, then off again.

Keep warm or cool by choosing outfit to suit the weather.

I recycle my newspapers into the garden, to enrich the soil.

Answer 42

STOPPING POLITICIANS FROM LYING, works the same as buying carbon credits.



For more on Malcolm Turnbull's lies see www.Sydney-Law.com



Unless you somehow reckon Malcolm Turnbull hasn't lied when he stated what he did as set out at Sydney-Law.com in light of how the High Court views similar conduct, I ask the question;

Would a complaint to the Federal Police be appropriate for a contravention of:

Section 142.2 of THE COMMONWEALTH CRIMINAL CODE ACT 1995 (Abuse of public office)

(1) A Commonwealth public official is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the official:

(i) exercises any influence that the official has in the official’s capacity as a Commonwealth public official; or

(ii) engages in any conduct in the exercise of the official’s duties as a Commonwealth public official; or

(iii) uses any information that the official has obtained in the official’s capacity as a Commonwealth public official; and

(b) the official does so with the INTENTION of:

(i) dishonestly obtaining a benefit for himself or herself or for another person; or

(ii) dishonestly causing a detriment to another person.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.



A benefit would be, in being re-elected. A detriment would be, to other candidates in the election.



--------------------------------



Anyhow, I decided it was. Here is a copy of the federal police complaint regarding Turnbull.



http://www.sydney-law.com/afp-complaint.html

Answer 43

I try to contribute as I can but it will never be enough....

- using energy efficient light bulbs

- recycling all household rubbish

- having a compost for vegetable/fruit

- where possible I buy consumer products in bulk as to reduce the amount of packaging used personally

- green bags when grocery shopping

- turning off lights and appliances when not in use.

- continue to nag my younger siblings for ALWAYS using their clothes dryer, they brought a pack of pegs last week so perhaps I am getting somewhere.....

Answer 44

Yes. I made substantial lifestyle changes years ago and I am voting for the Greens next election because I am angered by the Federal Government's inaction over the past decade on this issue.



I find Malcolm's appearance on yahoo very insincere given the government's inability to raise the renewable energy targets, sign Kyoto or introduce carbon taxes/market.



Using trendy technology (a few weeks after Peter Garrett might I add) is unlikely to boost your green credentials at this stage Malcolm. Too little, too late.

Answer 45

Not in the least. Human beings are not the cause of climate change, green house gases and all the other rubbish being peddled. I've been a climate scientist for the past 30 years and there is not one model I have seen anywhere in the world that truthfully reflects humans are to blame. All climate models can be manipulated to give the desired answer. The best research is coming from what we are just beginning to learn about the Suns role in our climate. Solar flares have been found to initiate earthquakes and other terrestrial based weather patterns, it makes sense climate change will be found to be among them. In 20 years we'll look back at this push for greener this and that and realise it had little effect. We are just too small in the scheme of things, althought some people think we are much smarter than all other species and we can control it. We can't. I would say there are people in the right places in government and big business who will make vast sums of money off this carbon footprint minimisation agenda. It just doesn't make sense, it makes dollars.

Answer 46

We've had that technology since the 1970's. Building codes could be revised to demand heavy insulation and double pane windows....expensive? Sure, but as production ramps up the price goes down. Our problem isn't 'doing it', our problem is the reactionaries that currently run 'our' country. They have an oil/coal only policy that suits the corporate bums that currently hold us hostage to 19th century terchnology. Absent that kind of thinking we actually could 'go green' and do it in a heartbeat.....who says we can't? Americans can do anything, so what are we waiting for....elect the right people and it's done!

Answer 47

I already adapted the followng changes in lifestyles:



-replaced energy efficient light bulbs

- For years been using clothes lines and we gave away our electric dryer.

-Cut the napkins in half so they last longer

-Wash the cars while rainning

-I use candles and nightlights to ilumminate the hallways

-Use the A/C only when necesary

-I do exercise outdoors insead of a gym or threadmill

and much much more!

Answer 48

I am a champion "carbon footprint reducer" - all lightbulbs in our house are energy saving, our loft is fully insulated to today's required standard, our heating and hot water has been switched off since April (we only use shower), we do not have tumbler dryer only outside line drying, full loads only in washing machine, we have not flown since 1992 (we holiday in Britain there are thousands of beautiful places to see), our family car is a KA - and we only ever drive to required speed limit - on motorways we only drive at 58 mph this way fuel consumption is kept at an optimum, we recycle everthing, we try not to send to landfill we use "freecycle" wherever we can, all kitchen waste goes on our compost and we grow our own veg & fruit. If we can do all this anyone can!

Answer 49

I signed up for paperless billing with most of my creditors. I purchased a larger monitor to read more on screen and stopped printing out everything from my computer onto paper.



I've switched to low wattage, longer life flourescent light bulbs. I look for energy consumption labels when I purchase appliances.



When I go to the store I call my neighbors to ask if they need anything on my way to save them the trip (they do the same for me).



I run around like a chicken after my children shutting lights off and closing dripping water faucets (kindof like my parents did with me!). I recall to them the environmental campaigns of my youth in the 70's that really did turn out to make a difference in the progression of air pollution, water consumption etc.



I don't turn on the heat until December (in the Northeast here that means wearing more clothes during the day & extra blankets at night but it's not terrible).



I've made sure my husband's 401k allocations include no energy speculation funds and only environmentally conscious and renewable energy research companies (we've gotten some good returns).



Finally, after commuting long distance for many years, I now work closer to home to save gas and do all of my shopping on the way home from work or via computer.

Answer 50

Like many people, we use energy efficient bulbs, recycle everything possible, turn things off when we're not using them, we don't use plastic bags at the shops etc. but I don't think that there's much more that we can do personally.



I think governments really need to step up and make changes with big business and industry. I know I'm making a difference but if they made a difference too then I think the change would be amazing.



Also I'm sure that there must be something governments or local councils can do with all that water that goes to waste down the street gutters. That would make a massive difference too!

Answer 51

I hop to work, on my toes and I am practising hand stands but since I am poor I don't think I am obliged to. I use a small dish washer, as she breathes out less co2, and I don't keep tropical fish. I never fly anywhere, I burrow, I never leave anything on standby, if I can sit on it and forget about it later and I don't take holidays, I am an explorer! I dry my clothes indoors, water vapour is one of the most potent green house gases and I often write to my local MP asking for more new nuclear powers stations to be built because I used to live in France. I only catch the bus when it is packed full and put bricks, lead pipes and sawn off shotguns in my toilet’s cistern, I never pull the chain because I dump the waste in the local harbour! Two points please!!!!

Answer 52

Carbon footprint!?...give me a break. The idea of man-made global warming is one of the greatest swindles of all time. Even if it were true, do you think me putting my socks on clothes lines is going to make a damn bit of difference to carbon output in the atmosphere when both China AND India are set to overtake the United States in carbon emissions in the near future and neither have any desire to halt their industrialization just to make some people in the UN happy? You've gotten caught up in the politization of global-warming mania.

Answer 53

Hello,

I use the sun instead of the dryer, I never ask my parent for a ride or to pick me up from somewhere for ages, I use public transport to save my parent money and the environment. I also turn off my computer, including taking off the plugs from the wall, I walk to the local shops all the time.

Answer 54

Leaving the car in the garage and catching public transport twice a week.



All light bulbs in the house have been replaced with energy efficient light bulbs.



I have a clothes dryer - only use it when its necessary. Mother nature gave us the sunshine and the wind to dry the clothes, and its free of charge.



Grey water from the washing machine is used to water my pot plants.



I have installed a rain water tank.



I use green bags when grocery shopping. The plastic bags get recycled.



Slowly building up my garden with native and drought resistant plants.



Replaced all showers head with water saving shower heads.



Changed toilet cysterns to dual flush systems.

Answer 55

We'd like to collect rain water to use to top up our pool, but we don't have room to place a rainwater tank or the funds to buy one. When our fridge carks it, we'll update to an energy efficient model. Can't afford to replace it while it's working well.



That's about it. I thought of buying carbon offsets, but since we've no way to guarantee the trees planted as a result of this would never get cut down, it seems to be of limited value. Maybe my next car will be a diesel model or electric/petrol hybrid. Haven't decided yet (economics will drive this decision too).

Answer 56

Yes, my wife has severe alergies to most sythetics, chemicals, and other environmentally harmful things. Therefore, we have started using special organic (all-natural) soaps and cleaning supplies. We support Organic farming by eating food produced without chemical fertalizers and peticides. We recycle, and try to minimize our weekly trash by composting. We use only all-natural hygene and health products. We also have an energy star rated house filled with energy star appliances. We hang dry most laundry within the house. We conserve on light usage and have replaced all of our bulbs with compact flourecent bulbs, and look for ways of reducing all of our utillities further. I drive an economic vehicle that gets 40mpg. We would do more, but we cannot afford more at this time, and we live in the city.

Answer 57

When Algore stops using up all that jet fuel to spread his lies, ironically called, "An Inconvenient Truth" (when it is, instead, an inconvenient "lie" about "Global Warming" (his current religion), including his latest "Assault on Reason" (another, ironically *true* title); when *real* science (and *not* science by consensus, which is no science, at all) establishes the following facts, I might begin to get concerned enough to do something about my own "carbon footprint"! These are: 1. there really *is* global warming; 2. there is something causing it *other* than a normal cycle the earth's climate goes through on average every 25 to 30 years. 3. there is proof that mankind actually and factually makes a significant contribution to it. 4. there is proof that mankind *can* actually do anything that time alone will not do about it (does no one but Rush Limbaugh remember the threat of global *cooling* in the 1970s?). 5. there is proof that Mars *also* experiencing global warming is something other than the *same* cyclical process and is therefore totally irrelevant.



Until then, I shall neither hold my breath about global warming doing anything to alter life on earth nor shall I worry about trying to do something about something I personally consider to be nothing other than a blatant attempt by other nations and leftist polititions in America to bring the United States down economically to the level of Third World nations!

Answer 58

I'm not worried about my Carbon footprint in the Global Warming sense because I don't think anything Humans can do will change the Earth's climate to any great degree - it's a Gaeiaology, adapting to regulate the temperature by means of its biofeedback systems. If it gets warmer because there is more CO2 in the atmosphere, plants grow faster and bind up more CO2, which reduces the temperature again. It's likely that the last ice age is finally coming to an end, but this may be a good thing. many places on the planet could do with being warmer.

I do however recycle, use the clothesline, have a suntube fitted to pipe sunlight into the house, use low-energy light bulbs and use gas rather than electric heating because these things are a more efficient use of the Planet's resources, which are finite.

Answer 59

We've installed compact fluorescent lamps in all our fixtures to save about 15% of our electricity use. We've stopped buying bottled water and soda, mixing drinks in recycled bottles instead to save about $2 a day. We started a compost barrel to save a couple dollars a year (and with luck have a nicer lawn). We work at the same company and carpool everyday. We lake leftovers and bag lunches to reduce lunch spending (and gas use). We planted herbs and vegetables in our yard to save on produce and we bought reusable grocery bags for our shopping.

Conservation should save us money. If your spending extra to be "green" then your dumb. Save the money and put solar on your home. Buying carbon offsets is the stupidest idea I've heard yet. Half of them are scams and the other half are poorly invested at best.

Answer 60

I used to go bush walking but since the local national parks here in Tas got surrounded and eroded by clear felled it kind of spoiled the effect. Think I'll try Mt Panorama now instead probably more greenery there. Oh and I'll save a few pieces of paper by not having to check what the local Liberal's candidate is spouting on about in November.

Answer 61

hi malcolm, im 38 yrs old and my parents were recyclers way back in the 70s, we grow our vegis, walk and ride our bikes and take public transport, as a adult i have contuined to do these things, as well as air drying clothes, bulk shopping with friends, i ride 6000 km a year on my mountain bike, i use energy saving bulbs, i have filled gaps in the house to save power use on heating, if you want to stop the over use of carbon you have to make petrol $5.00 a litre, then people will start walking to the shops to get the milk and will also lose weight, the govt has made life to easy for people, people who use public transport should get tax benefits

Answer 62

I changed various habits decades ago but have recently relaxed my efforts since our honorable PM pointed out that we need do nothing until 2010.

Though I think 2010 and the measure proposed are too late to impact the "irreversible climate change threshold" (which is expected around 2025-2030 for those that know the popular "50 year model" is/was flawed and is more like a 10 year outcome), I respect our PM's outstanding ability to accurately predict the outcome of his economic and terrorism policies.

I do have one energy saving light for the one light in the house which is switched on for more than 15 minutes at any time. Because this CFL was handed to me by some naive conservation group - I use it despite its power factor being a mere 0.6 (it should be, say, 0.98 - 1.0).

I pray that people do not attempt to use hydrogen or electric vehicles is they derive their power from out current coal and fossil fueled electrcity grids. Instead I hope they bite the bullet, invest the $15,000 or more required for solar photovolatics, and hence provide a negative contibution for CO2 gases.

I wish you luck in your banning of incandescent lamps. The widespread use of CFLs et al was killed when proposed back in the early 1990s, but maybe it will succeed this time. After all, it is a lovely short-term money spinner, and policy spin. And then the solution to its problems will spin more money once people realise the problems originally identified nearly 2 decades ago.

Answer 63

Also if they don’t like that type of car, I could maybe at least get them to buy a car that uses less gas per mile.

The next thing I can do to lower my carbon footprint is to change what my family and I buy, and where we buy it. When we go to the grocery store I can bring a bag instead of putting the groceries in the plastic or paper bags that the supermarkets usually give out. Next instead of buying fresh fruits and vegetables from the store my family and I can buy them from the local farmer’s market. Next while buying packaged food from the store I can make sure I buy the food that uses the least amount of paper to package their items. For example instead as getting a regular box of macaroni, instead of two packets of individual servings of macaroni.

Answer 64

I will reduce my carbon footprint by doing my best to ensure you do not remain in politics in the near future following your approval of the tasmanian tamar valley pulp mill...... thats a big footprint Mr. Turnbull

Answer 65

I have been gradually reducing my meat consumption for many years now as I am concerned about animal welfare and rights issues but when I found out about the impact that the farming of animals has on the environment I became vegetarian and am now in the process of giving up dairy products. My partner has also now significantly reduced how much meat he eats after I told him the facts. I don't drive, I delayed learning and now am simply not going to bother with it, I'm quite happy using public transport and my partner drives on the occassions that it is really necessary to do so. We have water fixed our unit, use recycled water for the garden and floor mopping and take short showers, we use blankets instead of heaters, reusable bags instead of pesky plastic ones, I recycle and reuse like a crazy person, we use several airers to dry our clothes and all of our light globes are energy efficient. We also sponsor Orangutans that are part of reintroduction project in Borneo, purchase carbon offsets when we have to fly and I am a member of several conservation/ecological organisations and forward information from them onto friends and family to try and make them more aware of what is happening to the world around them. I'm getting married next year and plan to have an eco wedding - almost entirely vegetarian menu, native wildflower seeds as gifts for the guests, recycled paper for invitations, carbon offsets for those who have to travel long distances to attend, organic flowers and my dress is going to be made from organic hemp. We rent a unit at the moment so it limits the amount of things you can do to make your home environmentally friendly, but as soon as we can afford a house of our own we'll have solar panels on the roof, a nice little organic veggie patch in the back yard and a rain water tank hooked up to the toilet in a flash!

Answer 66

I have - have you? I've attend the rallies against the Gunns pulp mill that YOU have approved for Bell Bay in Tasmania. I wonder if my children will BE ABLE to leave any sort of footprint on the Tamar Valley without suffering from asthma or being poisoned from dioxins. Great question!

Answer 67

I have installed the lights that give 60 watts of light for only 15 watts. I have planted 20 trees in my yard. I walk as much as possible. I want to add insulation in my attic but it is so expensive! $80 for a bale of R38 insulation at Home Depot. As soon as I get the money I'm going to do it because I will get this money back in heat and cooling saved.

Answer 68

Your question brought to mind the very important 'green' season choice our family made a decade ago....



We now only buy a real "LIVE" tree at Christmas, one we can take outside and plant after the holidays; it is, of course, a little more expensive, and, it means we have a little smaller tree than the neighbors.



But, looking outside at the grove of trees in our front yard is the best memory there is.



And, if even one family sees this and starts the same tradition; YAHOO!!

Answer 69

Like your first respondant I also have reduced my carbon footprint without realising it.



I commute to work every day on my bike because I'd be walking almost a kilometer from where I parked my car anyway. I buy fresh fruit and vegies from our local farmers markets because it's too expensive to buy them from Woolies or coles. And I save water by using my shower water on my plants because of the WATER RESTRICTIONS...



Yup... Carbon footprint reduced... Now if only the public transport system improoved I'd be able to sell my car. Tell the federal government to support more local government public transport infrastructure.

Answer 70

We have changed all the light bulbs in our house to light saving ones. All our main appliances are energy efficient ones and we only use the washing machine when we have a full load. Never use the dryer and only use the microwave when necessary, ie you can thaw things by just leaving them out on the counter or in the fridge.

Answer 71

I have changed light bulbs, winterized my home, cut down on driving, etc. But I go a step beyond that, because I have become what might be called an "activist." I write e-mails and make calls to legislators concerning Global Warming. I push for the creation of a viable Alternative fuel, higher fuel standards, etc. My finances have not allowed me to buy a hybrid car, but I intend to do that in the future.

Answer 72

no because the people running these types of campanes

are false and it has to be done on a masive scale an we realy dont have that much time to do it and when i told people i could design a pneumatic power station that runs on compressed air no one gave a hoot and when i sudjested power um you know what i mean if big companies ran electric generators throw the day and if solar was used

and if electric cars were here and not shelved then you would make more sense we are loosing time fast

Answer 73

I started using the 13watt florescent light bulbs, I unplug appliances (my man gets annoyed by this), we recycle our garbage, I stopped leaving the water on when I brush my teeth. We try to get everything done at once, when we make a trip into town and last, but not least I teach my son all of these things, because that's where it should start ...right?

Answer 74

Malcolm I do everything I can to minimise my environmental impact on the planet. But I don't believe that your government is really doing enough! The international agreement on climate change, Kyoto, is so important given that the problem is a global one, yet your government obstructs this and just pretends to be serious. Mick Kelty knows climate change is the greatest ever threat to human existence and to domestic security, yet your government does next to nothing! Get Real!!!!! Angas

Answer 75

Well, I wish I coud do more, but so far I have changed my light bulbs to one that more energy efficcient. I drive an SUV, and I wish I can get rid off but for $$$ reason I cannot change it yet. However, my husband and I needed to purchase a new car, and we choose one very fuel efficient. I live in USA a car is a MUST.

Answer 76

I buy more local food - eg. I don't buy Jarlsberg cheese from Norway anymore - I get Tasmanian Swiss or something.

I also turn things off more than I used to, and I still ride my bike everywhere (combined with public transport) - people don't realise how easy it is to get around on a bike!

My profession is also dedicated to reducing the carbon footprint - I'm doing a PhD to improve the predictability of wind energy!

Answer 77

Yes we have changed our life to reduce our carbon footprint. This winter we got through without using any indoor heating. Normally we use a gas heater and/or reverse cycle air con. Have also reduced car trips and walk more or use public transport. We recycle as much as we can and only place our rubbish bin out once a month not weekly.

Answer 78

None. Being green is a political catch-cry. I've always been concerned about the health of our environment, so what I do has not been a recent 'carbon footprint' thing. We should care about our environment because we live here, not because of ill-conceived notions of 'climate change' and the like.



Heading in the same direction, but with different beliefs....

Answer 79

The best research is coming from what we are just beginning to learn about the Suns role in our climate. Solar flares have been found to initiate earthquakes and other terrestrial based weather patterns, it makes sense climate change will be found to be among them. In 20 years we'll look back at this push for greener this and that and realise it had little effect.

Answer 80

When is Al Gore going to change his carbon footprint? Yet people like him always want someone else to change.And they give him the nobel peace prize

Answer 81

From where I live.. I look South.. I see Exxon,Shell and BP refineries, I look North and I see DOW chemical, Bayer and all the other chemical plants on the ship channel. Areyou kidding me!! my little carbon footprint? I am like a grain of sand under Mount Everest.

Answer 82

Yes i have. I convinced my parents to only buy energy conserving light bulbs, and change the energy they buy to wind energy. I have also made it a habit to turn off lights in my house when im not in that room. Thats it really but i know i could do more.

Answer 83

I use CF bulbs.

Unplug appliances that aren't being used.

Energy Star Windows, Doors and Appliances.

Only wash full loads of laundry.

Recycle everything I can.

Use both sides of the paper to print items at work.

Share my magazine subscriptions with others.

Use cloth grocery bags.

Use all natural and biodegradable cleaning products.

Use all natural and biodegradable soaps and shampoos.

Carpool as much as possible.

Make fewer trips running errands.

Planting trees, flowers and veggies.

Don't use paper products anymore.

Answer 84

Only my goofy foot when i surf.only the easy stuff like i use recyclable shopping bags and use public transport if i can,and save all the bottles and cans for local council cleanup.I have reduced my burnouts in my V-8,and also i am eating more vegetables.

Answer 85

1. have built a clothes line to reduce the need for clothes dryer

2. all power points turned off at the socket

3. have sold the second car to purchase a scooter - consumes less than $8 of petrol a week

Answer 86

I haven't. Our society as well as others have been built on using electricity and cars, accumulating trash, etc. I find it wholly the responsiblity of those who reside in the offices and lifestyle of founding fathers and government to aid us, the nation and the world. I wish they would stop making the average citizen feel guilty and forcing us to minimize , remaster and rearrange this crazily unsustainable lifestyle that was prepared for us long before we ever were born. I'm certain we're now paying for the centuries of blatant colonization and destruction of nature and peoples. If you think riding a bike to work will undo that kind of mindless living. Well, happy riding!

Answer 87

Hi Malcolm. Here we recycle all our paper, plastics, tins, bottles etc. We have always (as in 15 years) a compost heap - to compost our grass. Leftovers from dinner are given to our 3 chickens (we have the best eggs!) and to our 2 little dogs. We are gradually changing over the lightbulbs as they die to the energy efficient ones; we use newspapers for mulch. I always use bicarbonate of soda and vinegar to wash floors, bathrooms etc (I never have bought commercial cleaning products), and I use an environmentally friendly wash powder for our washes. Later down the track will be the water tanks to save water (but they are too expensive at the moment for us to buy and install). Lights and computers and appliances are turned off when not in use. Cheers and hope this helps

Answer 88

Yes. I now use energy efficient light bulbs and only use the dryer if it rains for 2 or more days.



If public transport was more user friendly for families I would consider using it. However at present it is cheaper and more practical to drive a car :(

Answer 89

Hi Malcolm,

I like to think I have always taken care in what I do but especially since having children I have changed so many more things. We recycle and reuse EVERYTHING!! We use the cereal bag to collect our food scraps that go into compost. we have never used our rubbish service to for green waste such as lawn clippings,it is always used for compost and mulch.We are conscious of the product we buy are recycleable packaging and minimal packaging. I had a recycling service for the disposable nappies(my planet) but due to high demands and not enough equiptment they stopped operating.(it would be great to get this service back up and running with gov funding.) I don't use a clothes dryer and are currently saving for a front loader washing machine.Speaking of water use,for a 4 person family with small garden we currently use water for a 2 person with no garden.And we dont have a water tank (yet!! still saving for that too) we save by having a nappy bucket in the shower and use this plus bath water to fill machine to wash clothes. I also keep the rinse water to refill for next load.the toilet is only flushed with "number 2's"we turn off all power points of a night time that can be turned off and heating is never left on over night (thats what blankets are for!)

My little boys are just turned 3 and 21 months and already they are aware that we don't waste water,turn on lights etc. my beautiful 3 year old asked me last night around 5 pm could I open the curtain in his room to let the light in. I was incrediblely proud that he considered this instead of asking for the light to be turned on.

We also took the major step of downsizing to one car.my husband normally rides to work(push bike) and travels 50km round trip on his bike.I also ride to the gym,walk to the shops etc.Its better for us and the kids.we don't water our garden at all,its barely a garden and when the time comes to establish it, their will be no lawn and only drought tolerant plants.we kind of live by the"if it survives it can stay"

Our street is part of the sustainability programme in whitehorse council which recognises communities pulling together to make a difference.we lend mowers and tools to each other, share mulch and compost and even leftovers.



All we need now is a fairy god mother to grant us with soar panels for the roof,water tanks to run the house on and we will be lucky to make even a toe print in our wonderfull world.

I hope that I can inspire others to make a difference

Answer 90

The fact that the company had to show that they had taken into account their waste and it disposal,the number of car parking spaces are now taxed as a perk to the employees which made them think again and we got a cleaner company. I have used up my bragging space, but seriously it seems that it is not only the better off and better educated that are recycling here. I hope that this is to do with the excellent Ecology teachers in the primary school who are getting the message over to the very younge.

Answer 91

sold the mustang and I'm not buying another car till they make a hydrogen cell one. The light rail system in Denver has helped tremendously.



Good public transportation is key, you can't even discuss this issue without a solid mass transit system as a backbone.

Answer 92

I have done things to conserve in order to save money but i think no indivigual can do anything to stop global warming unless the government promote the cause. If USA,India and China continue what they are doing nothing will make a difference

Answer 93

I take shorter showers, Get the bus to school rather than get mum to drive me and turn lights and electronic appliances off when they are not in use.



I also plant a tree once every 2 months and I don't use the sprinkler but use the rain we ocasionally get around my area to water them.



I also convinced my parents to buy a water tank to help store our water!



I had to do a speech last term on what the world needs now. I used songs about saving the planet and quoted lyrics to help get my point across, I hope I shed light on what the world does need.



If everyone did what my family does we could help the world become a better place for both the animals and ourselves!

Answer 94

I make the effort to hang out the clothes, even though we have a dryer and I almost never use the dryer. We also turn off the lights when we leave a room and we dont leave things on standby.

Answer 95

I'm trying hard but when you live in a house with teenagers and young adults you have a real battle on your hands. My son just wont believe me when I tell him how much energy all his myriad electronic gizmos chew up when he leaves them on stand by.

It would be very helpful if the government could do up a brochure on reducing your carbon footprint and have it sent to every household just like the drug brochure was.

I could do more if I knew what to do and I had something in black and white to show the kids. You could also add a bit on how to save water and how to recycle household water. How about it Mr Turnbull.

Answer 96

I have reduced my use of the car, driving to work takes 10 min and local teaching jobs mean 2-10 min to work. As well I walk most often when picking up small items of shopping. Plus donot use dryer at all. I got rid of the microwave oven and don't vacuum at most once a fortnight using other method to carpet clean. Radio is my source of entertainment, and I enjoy live theatre. Use the least of technology to do my theatrical shows, but must use hired technician and that is the union policy. I have a small flat tv, I got rid of my large flat tv, and have a small peugeot 306xt downsized from 180e mercedes. Although I'm still using super unleaded. i PLANTED A VEGETABLE GARDEN, AND BUY ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. DON'T DRINK COFFEE OR TEA EXCEPT GREEN TEA OR FRUIT TEAS. I USE THE TELEPHONE REGULARLY AT WORK, BUT WITH TEACHING I USE ALL KINDS OF CRAFTS, USE INTERNET REGULARLY BUT TRY TO BE MODERATE.

Answer 97

I've begun eating fewer beans in an effort to reduce the damaging gases I emit into the atmosphere. I really feel I am making a difference.

Answer 98

probably a lot more than you Turnbull, I have 2 minute showers, I only flush the toilet when it is soiled or if I weed more than three times, I have all my lights fitted with the new globes, I have water saving taps on my gardening hoses, I turn off the water whilst cleaning my teeth, I clean my car with the left over from my washing machine and water the garden only after it has rained 6 days prior - what about you????????????

Answer 99

No.



Firstly, there is absolutely zero credible scientific evidence that global warming is anthropogenic. A good review of the situation can be found at http://www.globalwarmingfacts.cjb.net



Secondly, the changes I have made are made in order to reduce my (and our) reliance on finite energy sources such as coal and oil. Forget climate change, a lack of viable long term energy supply is our great threat.

Answer 100

Planting trees, using less pre-packaged products. Measure the size of the product to the container. Buy the smaller one. Walk instead of drive to near by places.

Answer 101

I am using my power as a consumer to pressure corporations into changing their business practices to reduce their impact on climate. When I hire a car, I use AVIS (carbon nuetral). That's a pretty short list at the moment, but as more companies get on board, it will be easier to "buy green". Compulsory energy auditting and product labelling would assist consumers to make informed decisions, as well as bringing pressure on companies (and governments) to improve their behaviours.



Of course, I have replaced the bulbs in the house, I switch off unused appliances at the wall, don't own a clothes dryer and bought a five star water efficient front loading washing machine. However, even if every household in Australia did this, the effect on our emissions as a country would be negligible.



Australia now has the highest per capita greenhouse emmission in the entire world - 28 tonnes per capita - ahead of even the US (on 25). This is primarly due to our obession with buring coal. Should the NSW state government have its way and privitise the state grid, shareholder pressure would ensure that our electricity gets even dirtier.



The globally sustainable level of CO2 emission is about 5 tonnes per capital, and to actually reverse the greenhouse effect implies reduction to about 2 tonnes. This means no more coal, either burnt locally or sent to Asia. It means Australia taking leadership and looking beyond the four year term of state or federal government and implementing a plan to capture the near-infinite source of energy we have in our drought stricken country: sun-light. Even on a cloudy day, something like 500kW falls on every square metre of the earth's surface.



There are two technologies for capturing this supply. Photovoltaics - which have been expensive, but are now getting cheaper as they use a similar fabrication process to LCD TVs, meaning that the production lines can be converted relatively simply should demand increase. These can be roof mounted on homes or businesses, or centralied in otherwise unusable arid areas. However, this still too expensive to be our primary energy source.



The second is by boiling water to heat household water or drive turbines. The former should receive government grants for installation in the same way that rainwater/grey water systems do. The latter should be given to the CSIRO as a major goal and see if they can come up with a practical way of incorporating this form of heating in our existing coal-fired boiler based power infrastructure.



Finally, discount nuclear. Its obviously on the agenda as we have a ready supply of it under ground. But as low as the risk on an individual accident may be, the consequences can be devastating, and as you well know - these are the two factors that must be considered in any risk evaluation exercise.



The "feel good" act of changing lightbulbs is valuable as it gets people thinking about their carbon footprint, but unless the government takes some leadership on this issue, these efforts are just a drop in the ocean.



You are strong candidate to be a future Prime Minister. How about being remembered as a visionary? Its about we had one at the top.



Matt

(Energy Physicist).

Answer 102

I never use paper or plastic dishes or silverware. I always use engergy efficient light bulbs, i dry all my daughters clothes at home and most of mine. My fiance is always at home and whenever he can avoid taking his car, he does. Also, I am potty training my daughter the hard way, no pull-ups. That's the best I got, lol

Answer 103

We switch off the TV when Kevin Rudd and his followers dish out worthless slogans about the society and climate change. We heard those lies ample times. There is no need to damage the environment with more red labor bull s..t.

Answer 104

my day has at least one thing that i do different since the beginning of 2006, from being water to gas and power aware i lesson my footprint.. but now i am trying to find a way to let do there part like my street and local schools or through politics....



my biggest hope is we start acting more like a Society and less like a population...

Answer 105

We are carbon base lifeforms. It is in our nature emit carbon,. sorry! I would like build a spacecraft half the size of the planet, inside an asteroid having a nuclear fusion power systems. My share of the plant life and anyone interested in exploring the universe with me.(People/Trees)

Answer 106

No,



It won't make a difference, so why bother making token gestures?



In the past:

- The earth has been hotter than it is now.

- The earth has been colder than it is now.

- The earth has had a greater concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.

- The earth has had a lower concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.



I do not buy into this hysteria, and will not be voluntarily changing my lifestyle to suit. I fear however, that I will be forced to reduce my standard of living by a misguided government in the near future.

Answer 107

We have green energy in our home. Have changed all the light bulbs to energy efficient light bulbs and turn all appliances off at the point. We have worm farm and recycle everything possible. I have bought a bike and ride it as much as possible. I also do not invest in environmentally unsound companies and will vote for the party who offers the best solutions to global warming, deforestation etc.

Answer 108

At home

In Winter I put on an extra layer and socks so I don't need to have the heater on. In Summer I close the curtains to keep the heat out. If the aircond is on, it will be 40 mins on, and 20 minutes off.



At Work

I tend to turn off the kitchen lights. Annoys people but once the found out why I did it, people actually do it as well.



Print on both sides of the page.

Answer 109

I find Malcolm's appearance on yahoo very insincere given the government's inability to raise the renewable energy targets, sign Kyoto or introduce carbon taxes/market.

Answer 110

Yes. I made substantial lifestyle changes years ago and I am voting for the Greens next election because I am angered by the Federal Government's inaction over the past decade on this issue.

Answer 111

I bought a fluorescent light bulb to go in my kitchen. This more than offsets the SUV I drive that get 12 miles to the gallon.

Answer 112

Hoi Mr.Malcolom Turnbull, Innovate or perish.

I have stopped misusing electricity for my lighting purpose during day time when the sun is shining just outside my window.

Even burning bulbs contribute to global warming. I was honored by the World Bank for my grassroots initiative U-SEE A grassroot level initiative U-SEE - Unlimited Savings of Electrical Energy which gives to the world how we can stop misuse of electricity during day time when the sun is shining. My idea revolves around "bring home the sunshine" and "get moonlight from sunlight". Have a look at the following World Bank link and let me know if you want more details. The idea is a child's play and is so simple but saves billions of units of costly electricity and also reduces over exploitation of the natural resources like oil, coal, water and also reduces global warming from stopping burning of bulbs.

Link: http://dmblog.worldbank.org/mirrors-can-bring-light-rural-homes

As u know 1 unit of electricity saved is equal to 3 units generated - nothing comes free - to generate 1 unit, we need fossil fuel or coal or water+cost of equipment and machinery+labour+overheads+transmission loss+saving that accrues by way reducing CO2 emission from burning bulbs which has n'th value... need more? But saving matters a lot in the present day context of over-exploitation of natural resources to meet our growing demand for energy.

1 GLS bulb or tube light burning for 6 hours during day time when the sun is shining outside, consumes 7 units of electricity per month. Imagine, if half the world adopts the world bank honored U-SEE method, how much of these things can be saved for our future generations? What are the alternatives? Oil may last for another 55 years, coal - 150 to 200 years - water is already being impounded for drinking purposes, bio-fuel is untested, wind power is uncertain, photovoltaic cells are not economical, and finally, nuclear energy - is fraught with syndromes of death (remember Chernobyl?) So, let the infinite sun - shine in our lives with unlimited heat and light. U-SEE method does not involve nano technology nor does it require billions of dollars - it is so simple, renewable, sustainable, replicable, economical and can bring light to rual homes which are dark, dingy, damp and unhealthy. THE LIGHT PROVIDED BY U-SEE IS FREE.

Please spread this link to all your family members, friends and neighbors and most of all, government offices. Let them also benefit and save the world before it is too late.

[e-mail] -

Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, Bangalore, India

Answer 113

I try to cut my trees early so the can season then i only burn like 8 cords in the winter

oh wait i always season my wood so i guess the answer is maybe

does starting my burning barrel with used motor oil count instead of just pouring it o the ground?

Answer 114

I have made changes over the years - possibly due more to economic reasons than to environmental ones, although it is nice if there is a positive environmental impact. What exactly have you done Mr Turnbull?

Answer 115

I would pedal to work every day if there were no need to fear for my life (from uncaring motorists). Mr Turnbull tell me, why does the government not build more tracts for bicyles. It would kill two birds with one stone.

Save the environment and increase the health and stamina of those who would happily choose pedal power as a mode of transport.

Answer 116

Yes Mr. Trumbull.



Here in the United States, I have been involved in the environmental movement for over 45 years.



One of the debates that we had early on was whether we should work for legislation that would ban the use of fossil fuels for the generation of electricity or whether we should try to micromanage the daily lives of individuals to reduce the production of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide..





Unfortunately the direction that was chosen was to micromanage the lives of individuals to reduce the production of greenhouse gases rather than to make a serious challenge to the coal and oil inductries.





The result has been that in 45 years we have not reduced carbon dioxide output.





If we keep going down the path of micromanaging people to get carbon dioxide reductions I predict the result will be that we will not achieve any reductions in the worldwide output of carbon dioxide gas in the next 45 years.





According to the IPCC reports we must reduce the worldwide production of to less than one tenth of what it is today if we are to have any chance of stopping Global Warming.





We will not achieve those reductions by micromanaging the lives of individuals.



Electricity generation is responsible for an enormous amount of the greenhouse gases every year.



I recommend that we use legislation at the State and Federal lever to ban the use of coal and other fossil fuels such as natural gas and diesel oil to generate electricity.





That is the only way that you will make any serious progress in reducing the output of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

Answer 117

Capitalism which will evolve how capitalism is so that society can be less introspective and more far sighted, By coining the phrase "The interest on greed and debt is pollution." by advocating for years that the greatest environmental problem is real estate investment and all the inflation in energy use world wide this is the cause of.

BY the way if you read this, your policies on solar are very poor econo

Answer 118

I'm making big money with binary option, I use this software ( http://forexsignal.kyma.info ) My software delivers signals only when the five indicators (bp trend filter, market deviation, price pattern, rel. price impulse, stat. price range) are aligned together and we have an extremely high confidence rate, it must then co-exist with my proven secret strategy before a trade be detected… as a result, we get a guaranteed Highly-Accurate ’80-100%’ Signal.

Answer 119

walking short distances instead of riding a car helps reduces carbon footprint and also serves as form of exercise.

Answer 120

I'm taking toddler steps, I have installed energy efficient light bulbs through out my home

Answer 121

Sorry but I don't think changing a few light globes will make a significant difference, but implementing electric cars most certainly will. The technology has been in existence for over 20 years.



The question is do you and your colleagues have the courage to upset the oil industry.

Answer 122

I'm going to see exactly how much of a carbon footprint the Austalian Offence Department produces, and then vote for the party who will reduce it.



I'd really like to know how much CO2 the Iraq invasion has produced, and how much the average attack plane produces in an hour.

Answer 123

Sure, i drive a small car, i line dry my clothes, and i don't water my ( whats left of my grass) i wait for the rain, but the world needs to change, not just the United States, and we don't need some world court telling the U.S. how to behave.

Answer 124

- We put clothes out on the clothes line when its nice (Not nice out anymore, its snowing)

- We used the energy efficient light bulb that Yahoo! Answers sent us

- We reuse plastic bags

- We recycle pop cans and bottles

Answer 125

I only fly in private jets, when i have to. I have cut my utilities bill in one of my houses, to under $36,000.00 dollars a year. I bought a smaller limo that gets 10 miles a gallon. I only use two squares when i use one of my seven bathrooms.And I will gladly sell any energy abuser [ like me] carbon credits, through one of my companies, at a very small profit to me. I am ding my best to stop global warming.

Answer 126

Energy efficient bulbs, vegie garden, using the clothesline more, shorter showers, water-saver shower head, drive a smaller car, commute less distance, buy recycled clothing, make quilts from scraps of material, recycle all our paper/glass, pipe laundry water onto the garden, walk to the beach instead of drive, use the local supermarket instead of the larger one further away, cook at home more, take containers to the sushi place to pick up take-away, turn off lights more, mend clothing.

Answer 127

I put those funny curly looking light bulbs in all my fixtures and bought a four cylinder car. But, I don't think that's going to save the world.

Answer 128

Go to www.uspto.gov and enter patent number 5,430,333.



There you will see pollution free electric power able to be built to be more than 1000 times that of our largest Nuclear Reactor!



Plant Vogtle, our last Nuclear Reactor makes only 930 megawatts.



The first generation “baby” power plants from this new technology makes 1000 megawatts.



Vogtle cost $10 billion, 30 years ago.



These new power plants cost $2.5 billion in today’s money.



Vogtle is about to be retired, as are all our other Nuclear plants.



All the fueled power plants only have about a 30 life span.



The power plant design you will see at patent office site live well 100 years.



They burn NO fuel what so ever!



It costs more to demolish a Nuclear plant than to build one new!



The spent Nuclear fuel has a 25,000 year storage problem with no solution yet, and a tremendous cost that defies accurate estimation due to the very long time frame.



Nuclear power has been estimated to cost more $50.00 per kilowatt hour when the demolition and storage costs are applied.



Guess who gets to foot that bill, the tax payer!



Being fuel-less the design you see at the patent office has a cost of about 3 cents per kilowatt hour.



Coal fired power plants make 8 lbs of air pollution to run 100 watt light bulb for an hour.



There are NO cost estimations for the clean up of all that pollution.



We keep seeing in the news about coal miners dieing in cave-ins.



With the high cost of electric power being hidden for so long by our politicians using their abysmally poor judgment to allow this to happen in the first place. Then compounding the problem with their constant lying about it to all of us, and the problem now coming to light despite their best efforts to lie and hide it. We are now stuck with the costs of their abysmally poor judgment after their being “paid” by big power to lie to us about the scope of this problem for decades.



Call all your elected official state, local, and federal. Tell them you want the pollution free electric power you saw at the patent office web site! Tell them to get off their assets and get moving on making pollution free and cheaper electric power happen ASAP!



Or swallow their lies so more until our nation is so polluted our children die younger than ever before. Cancer is running rampant everywhere, it comes from all the pollution our elected officials are allowing to be spewed into “our” environment every day. It time to put pollution into it’s proper place, “THE PAST”!



We now have the technology, we can build it, it’s 100% clean, and the electric power is cheaper than ANY fueled power plant.



We can run everything on clean electric power cars, trucks, buses, trains, homes, factories, whatever!

Answer 129

To reduce my greenhouse pollution, I have personally committed to:

Switch my household power supply to accredited Green Power

Install a water efficient shower head

Set my washing machine to wash my clothes in cold water

Turn off computers and screens overnight at work and home

Eat one less serve of meat a week

Avoid one domestic air flight this year and purchase carbon offsets

Drive 20 kilometres less each week

Reduce my household electricity and gas usage by 20%

Install a solar hot water heater



I have also sent a letter to Mr Pat Farmer, Parliment Member of macarthur area nsw, asking him what he is going to do about climate change and related issues as well as if he is going to help australia to join the rest of the world by ratyfing the Kyoto Protocol.



I care about climate change because it affects each and every one of us. Our environment is the most precious thing we have, its the only thing that keeps us alive!! Without it we wouldn't be here, Just imagine a world without water?(WHAT WOULD WE DO?) Fruit, vegies, herbs ect. Our earth provides all these things including medicine......

What concerns me most about this issue is that if we don't act now, we'll pay later. I am very concerned about climate change.. Everyone needs to work together to stop this from happening....for instance we need to stop using cars so much, change electricity. I endeavour to do these things...by not getting a car, I don’t have one now and I

don’t want one!



I want Australia to be a country where we are all doing our bit to look after the environment. I want Australia to be a

Leader in clean, safe renewable energy like solar and wind. A beautiful safe environment.



Thank you Mr Malcom Turnbull For reeading...

Ashleigh-17yrs old Macarthur Area

Answer 130

I simply do what I can, when I can. I re-use my shopping bags, I barely use my car (and I'm happier for it) and I make sure the lights in my house are turned off. I also recycle as much as possible and buy what organic produce I can afford. (May I suggest the government subsidises organic food - for so many reasons)

Answer 131

every year we buy to big bales [round ones] of pea straw and make our own mulch,we also have to worm farms & chooks for our food scraps.We grow our own vegies all year round, recycle everything that can be..Shaded our house as much as possible to reduce the sun on the windows [blinds heavy curtains,] fruit trees outside,with native schrubs. We dont have rain tanks yet but they will be next.

Answer 132

I have cut down on getting plastic shopping bags, installed fluro light globes throughout home, at work currently put posters up telling others that palm oil is no good for our planet. Weekends normally walk to where ever plan to go. Recycle all paper, cans and plastic.

Answer 133

yes we have reduced our carbon footprint by taking shorter showers and installing solar water heating, installing energy efficient lighting and where possible do not use the clothes dryer. But my question to you is what are you doing about industry reducing their carbon foot print, as they contribute the most?

Answer 134

EDIT: I didn't realize that hanging clothes to dry instead of using the dryer is "green". We do that too & have for over 20 years. BTW, the light bulbs are more cost-efficient which is why we use them. Also, the recycling is for local charities one uses the money from the aluminum to help teenage mothers & the plastics are recycled into coats for low-income children.

Answer 135

Actually, I would love to hear more about this topic. What can I do to reduce my carbon footprint?

Answer 136

First of all, No to Nuclear Power of any sort, would install solar power at home, rain water tank, use clothes line to dry things, house built to make them energy wise, use gas for cooking, cleaning products free from chemicals, plant tree and plants, have an organic garden and veggies patch, recycle and reuse , avoid plastic as much as possible, buy a green car that works with hydrogen and wich releases only clean air, or an electrical car wich releases nothing (electricity should come from clean sources (sun,eolic etc). Thank you for your attention.

Answer 137

We have a programmable thermostat and a front loading washing (which uses 14 gallons per load instead of 40). I am also a member of Freecyle.

Answer 138

I have taken the Liberal approach to Climate Change. Deny it, Deny it, Deny it, Deny it. Then admit it is actually and issue and decide that it is not in the best interest of my economy to spend anything on it due to the impact on my economy. So nothing. Thanks for setting the example, if feel ok about doing nothing.



Sorry, I have decided to do something. Change my vote to Labor! Cheers for allowing me to see where the Liberals put Climate Change....last. (unless its and election year)!!

Answer 139

No and i don't intend to, while lying. conniving politicians.

drive gas guzzling cars (eg two jags Prescott) and fly around the world on "jollies". The major nations ie America,China, and India, continue to industrialise, and ships returning to China,

carrying , rubbish that is burnt,on open tips,You can con the gullible but not me.

Answer 140

To reduce my carbon footprint, I'm not voting for you. Because you're full of bull.

Answer 141

Bring to peoples attention I come in contact with aware of the connections between population and carbon emissions. You can't honestly talk about carbon emissions without talking about the number of carbon emitters.

Answer 142

the ususal ones but more to the point what are you and the government doing about it

it saddens me to hear comments from the prime minister that the the economy takes precedence over the environment

does he not understand that without a livable environment a healthy economy is pointless

Answer 143

Yep. I've decided to vote 1 Greens at the next federal election with preferences to the ALP - It's the single best thing that any of us can do to reduce Australia's total carbon emissions.

Answer 144

I couldnt care less about my carbon footprint.

Answer 145

use the internet more mr Turnbull and stop putting out flyers and pamphlets that consume wood products - encourage the bodies you deal with (councils, clubs, governemtn) to do the same

Answer 146

yes but not because i believe in global warming but because i am cheap.why pay for something that you can get for free.

if i have to pay more for something because of global warming then i will get mad and even.

i am on disablity and on a fixed income. i do not have the money to buy a fancy car to cut cut my CO2 footprint

but i have to have a car to get to the doctor 150 miles away and there is no public transit where i live.

Answer 147

I have recently gone from driving a 4lt 6 cylinder ford falcon with a 60lt tank, to driving a 1.3lt 4 cylinder toyota yaris, it goes just as far as the falcon on half the fuel, we have also replaced all our house lights for energy saver globes and we are composting our kitchen scraps.

Answer 148

YES MY CONTRIBUTTION IS NOW EVERYTHING I BUY IS GREEN. THIS ALSO HAS THE ADDED ADVANTAGE OF ME ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR ST. PATRICKS DAY. ALSO I HAVE DECEIDED THAT THE BEST WAY TO REDUCE MY CARBON FOOTPRINT IS TO STOP WALKING ON COAL. ITS ALWAYS BEEN A BAD HABIT ANYWAY. BEST REGARDS BOB

Answer 149

Yes i do all the right things including encouraging others to change their habits.

Must also have a 4 minute shower or i feel guilty

Answer 150

I have done more than 99% of the worlds population to reduce carbon warming. How, Buy not becoming a parent.



Brutal but true. it's overpopulation that's causing the problem.



Ian M

Answer 151

Probably the most important thing I could do is vote Greens in the upcoming Federal election.



Another measure I could take would be to only to purchase high-quality Japanese or German electronics/appliances. The cheap Chinese products flooding the market almost always falsely understate their power consumption, and despite knowing this our Liberal Govenment continues to do nothing to address the problem...

Answer 152

I don't own a car.



I always take public transport.



Most importantly, I don't vote for governments or parties that refuse to take serious action.



Instead of asking us what tiny minimal changes we might make, that might well be good but won't save the planet, why doesn't your government take desperately needed action to reorganise the economy in a sustainable way? For ideas for solutions on a mass scale, check out http://greenleft.wikispaces.com/

Answer 153

I catch the bus and train to go to work.



For the past 5years I have been using energy efficient light bulbs.



Grow native trees and being innovative when trying to find ways to save on water. Gray water from your washing machine can be used for the garden.



Saving up for a solar hot water heater.

Answer 154

We've installed energy efficient light globes in our house and I try to walk to the shops as much as possible instead of taking the car.

Answer 155

I have a 4 minute egg-timer in the bathroom to ensure I don't take too long in the shower - which not only saves water but also the energy used to heat it.



I recycle paper, plastics and metals and take Public Transport (don't actually own a car). I live in a house that's positioned so it doesn't get too much sun, so air conditioning isn't required. It gets a bit chilly in winter, but a few extra layers of clothes sorts that :-)

Answer 156

This resource http://treathemorrhoid.kyma.info is a must for anyone suffering from hemorrhoids and digestive disorders. I was surfing the internet with trying to find answers to my recurring and debilitating hemorrhoid disorders and I accidently stumbled across it. It has saved my self-esteem and independence after years of crippling hemorrhoids and fissures and their painful symptoms!

Answer 157

1/ replaced lawns, including nature strip with native plants.

2/ replaced larger family vehicle with economical scooter.Now have one Itr car,small scooter, & medium size motor cycle. Reduced fuel costs 50%

3/Rendered house( which should never need painting), light colour to reflect sun,& fitted two roof vents (which I block in winter).

4/energy efficient lights,use microwave more,have reduced meat intake to only once a week.

5/started veg garden & below ground wormery to use up all possible re-cycling waste.

6/cycle when road & weather conditions permit.

7/shop at re-cycling shops & swap-meets often.

8/carry out most repairs & maintenance to house & vehicles myself.

9/back garden bird sanctuary(lots of cat proof shrubs & trees with wire netting wrapped around trees)no water required other than for bird bath. 6mths water bill $22.

10/Use easy rider transport card to city (to save on parking costs & pollution)

11/have left corpse for medical research ha! ha! so there is enough space for the minister to park his bicycle, where I would have been "planted".....

GOOD LUCK WITH THE SURVEY !!!!!!

Answer 158

What about the space shuttle burning holes thru our ozone layer? I do try to reduce pollution as much as possible.

Good Question.

Answer 159

Yes. I drive a Prius and avoid driving whenever possible. If it has to start somewhere, it has to be with each of us. It is a sign of ignorance to pretend this is not a major problem.

Answer 160

I ride a scooter to work instead of a diesel-chugging 4x4.

Not a big contribution if any really but it is the lesser of two evils.

Answer 161

I would go barefoot, no carbon on my feet... unless you reduce me to ashes! LOL No rubber shoes in the trash. No sock either. It's a start!

Answer 162

Everything! we are constantly looking for the green choice eg bicycles, renewable energy cars such as Saab, Toyota Prius (no diesel thank you). Household habits, items and appliances to more energy efficient. We are now considering changing our windows to thick/ double glazing to further insulate our home.

Answer 163

reading through the answers I am happy to say that I have done most of the things to help. A word of warning to bicycle riders please wear bright clothes and extra lights at night as accidents will cause all the good points to be wiped out. Apart from my warnings (from experience) I have also removed my front lawn replaced with pavers and plants and am planting more trees so have contributed more but my operations after my accident have used up most of my brownie points so I keep trying to improve....

Answer 164

Stopped using cosmetics, switched to eco freindly products. Recycle!

Answer 165

Have GREEN power supply.

I recycle all my paper from rubbish.

I have a organic garden,if it blinks l turn it off.Use less water,bought a more fuel efficient car.And l hardly eat red meat.

However l have a question too,why are you going to allow this to happen to Tasmania.

http://www.forestrytasmania.com/



Is greed and power all you stand for.

Take a look at the new Tasmania owned by GUNNS



http://www.forestrytasmania.com/

Answer 166

My efforts are mainly at work, where I have been encouraging everyone to think of the environment wherever they can.

For example taking their own cups to the coffee shop outside, not printing unless necessary, dividing rubbish up properly into the recycling bins and turning off computers when they're not in use.

I have also asked my company to subsidise anti smoking programs - people forget that cigarette smoke is pollution too!

Answer 167

The government desalinate water



I am shivering in the dark

I dont have a lsd tv

and no air conditioner

I dont go out

the garden gets no water

I only have cold showers

I flush the toilet with a bucket of

washing up water

I have spent all my money buying carbon credits

Answer 168

now I walk to work, save all my recycling till the weekend when I go shopping, then a visit to car park to recycling containers including two containers for unwanted plastic bags.

Answer 169

I try to do my best, but it is really hard to keep on track, especially when the sickening thought of how much businesses and coporations waste everyday strikes me.Sometimes, I wonder, why should the average australian population conserve the precious energy which big-time businesses thoughtlessly splurge?

Answer 170

We are replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs. This is an ongoing process, as the cost between the two is significant.

Answer 171

Yes, I recycle and try to conserve electricity around the house.

Answer 172

Algore and all of the other "scientists" concocting this farce of a crisis are not doing ENOUGH.



if these blowhards want to REALLY make a difference they would just stop breathing. "problem" solved.

Answer 173

I am 14

Walking to school sometimes instead of travelling in the car, and walking back from school

Bringing 'green' bags shopping and not accepting plastic bags unless completely necessary

Energy efficent lightbulbs

Turning off power switches at the wall

Supporting greenpeace

There's more but can't remember at the moment



ps-hello malcolm!



=]

Answer 174

I've put the full pack of solar panels on my house which feed the Grid, as I have an air conditioner.

Answer 175

yes, some energy conservastion > take natural gas public transportation> will drink tap water instead of bottled water> recycle household batteries instead of throwing away in regular trash. i turn off lights when not in use, knowing it takes energy(burning coal) to make the electricity.

Answer 176

hi^^

I bought the 'global warming handbook' and I'm trying to work out the tips given there..it's just easy to read and if everybody makes an effort, the results will be great..



☆Salu2☆

☆´¨)

¸.•´ ¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)☆

(¸.•´ (¸.•` ☆...* ☆ραιкєα ¸.•*¨)☆™☆

Answer 177

Collectively, it is a quite a different story here in the states.

Answer 178

you can change a litlle bit of the world your self just ride to places/walk ect i dont have much t\other ideas =) soz thts al the info i got tlk 2 u l8er!! peace!

Answer 179

I now catch public transport to work and have sold our second car. Also cut down on use of AC, but still need it when it heats up.

Answer 180

well.. started to conciously switch off lights i dont need at work when working late . Turn computers and other machines off at night before leaving.



also planing to buy the green energy when i buy a house if i can afford it then.

Answer 181

reducing the number of miles I drive, choosing to walk when I can, recycling paper, glass and old clothes/shoes and spectacles.

Answer 182

I plant a large garden every year, you know plants take in carb. and release oxy. how ever i dont belive most government b.s.and surly not the u.n.

Answer 183

Ride a bike as in bicycle.

Walk a lot and use less electric.

Answer 184

efficient lightbulds.

Planted a tree.

Paperless billing.

Adjusted airconditioning.

carpool twice a week.

compost in the back yard.

recycle grocery bags (have to go back to the same store cause they don't like if you use other peoples)

Answer 185

we belong to a bushcare group in the Redlands Shire, Qld. and plant trees/revegetate parklands - more volunteers always welcome - only 2 hours per month!!!

2. own one car & 2 bicycles

3. use a clothes line

4. grow our own vegetables

Answer 186

Yes I do not wear carbon sloes on my shoes.

Answer 187

Since I voted in my first election (very late 80's) I've always refused to accept "how to vote" papers. I must have saved heaps of trees by now !

Answer 188

malcom turnbull i wont answer your question so you can write a book an make more money,get all those asnwers n publish a book an make monet with saying thanks to those who answer your questions

Answer 189

nope, it's all bs......the japanese have reported that mars is warming up....the russians report that the sun's output is increasing......

so i suppose that's man's fault too?



get real...this is a natural occurance

Answer 190

Well, convincing politicians no to use so many handbills during election would one way.

Answer 191

Officials get so many answers, our questions just go around once.



More sex, if we have more sex we will be stronger and then we can run where we are going.

Answer 192

I'll do it when Al Gore and Hillary Clinton take it on as their lifestyle....it won't happen!

Answer 193

i stopped using the washing machine;and shake the clothes vigorously so iron pressing not needed

lights are CFL's,

used bikes or walk more often,

insulated my room from heat,

segregate waste and have them recycled or composted

promote a local radio program and a TV station advocating environment care

sending letters to our religious council in Saudi Arabia to make unlawful anything that destroys the environment.

recommending to the national government on various methods oh how to make compost and methane from biogradable waste and also system of screen designated zones so as not to let solid waste in waterways transfer from one place to another and have them locally dealt with.

Answer 194

Good evening Mr Turnbull,



The steps at home have been pretty basic, but include a good number of considerations. I've switched to energy saving light bulbs throughout my home (including installing the one Yahoo! sent me); recycle across the board (paper, plastic, glass, etc.); have begun composting; strictly line dry clothing; have stopped buying bottled water and using the dry cleaners; have started buying strictly locally and seasonally grown foods whenever possible; and even switched over to reusable canvas bags for my grocery shopping (the Yahoo Answers bag is the coolest) to name a few steps.



I've started advocating going green with a few of the groups I volunteer with and have made some progress there -- a zoo and a historical museum are now both looking into greening their rooftops.



At work we have been very active on promoting carpooling, using public transit and even biking or walking to work. By the end of October or lighting system will shift off of the use of florescent lights and over to natural and energy saving light sources for the entire building.



It's a start.

Answer 195

no i haven't I've done the exact opposite i know use more power than ever before burn more wood

Answer 196

Yes! I finally washed those disgusting socks!

Answer 197

i recycle, and i drive a very gas efficient car. not much, but everything helps. :)

Answer 198

no not worried about it. the earth has taken care of it before and it will do it again. i am sure there will be tax to take care of it too.

Answer 199

Im green, really, very green. But its so hard to quit smoking...gosh!

Answer 200

By reporting junk & spam mails.

Answer 201

I know what I do. I'd be more curious to know what efforts you make to be green...

Answer 202

Hi Mal, I am contributing to the environment by voting for the Australian Greens and not voting for the Australian Liberal Party. That is the best way all Australians can help to save the environment.

Answer 203

Just look at my name LOL, Camaro = gas guzzler.

Answer 204

Nothing at all



Just like our government



Keep up the good work

Answer 205

i have stopped eating beans and brussel sprouts and cabbage, i have really reduced my farting by 49%

Answer 206

I put less water in my electric jug so it boils much quicker.

Answer 207

I bike to work

Answer 208

no because i don't care.



it's the nature of the animal

Answer 209

i have i have recycled all my cycles.I had 3.now i have 2 TRIKES.lol

Answer 210

Is this realy mal Turnbal?? :(

Answer 211

Not really, and I don't think it's necessary to do so.

Answer 212

not yet to say.add one

Answer 213

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Answer 214

nah not yet

Answer 215

I set my farts on fire.

Answer 216

I stopped using my electric stove and started grilling out every day this summer on my charcoal grill.



Seriously, I reduced my energy consumption in order to save money. I couldn't care less about "carbon footprint" whatever that is supposed to mean.

Answer 217

no

Answer 218

Please think bike lanes when you are thinking environment.

Answer 219

No, it's not my problem to reduce my quality of life, just because the governments don't want to do anything on the larger scale .