I save seeds from the fruit and veg that I eat. I was able to grow a peppers, 3 varieties of tomatoes, attempted a lemon tree, and my daily go to- green onions. This has saved me money from having to buy a packet of seeds. I pick up sticks and branches for plant supports. Water bottles make for a great self watering system. Drill a few holes into the cap, fill the bottle with water and tip it into the soil and brace it with the sticks. Another option for smaller bottles is poke some holes at the bottom of the bottle and bury it next to the plant so the water goes down to the roots.
A couple of years ago Cape Town, South Africa was in a huge drought 😳😳😳, we had massive water restrictions. Everyone learnt to take 2 minute showers, radio stations came up with 2 minute songs so that you knew when the time was up. Everyone collected the shower water to flush the toilet, and we all implemented the saying " if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down!" As a family we would all try to go to the bathroom one after the other to save on flushing the loo. We know live in Portugal and still do the same thing 😊, I'm sure that it's strange for some people but it really makes a difference. Just like not running the tap while brushing your teeth or washing your hands, wet then, soap, scrub, rinse.
I have learned to perfect the Navy shower…since my hair is short I can accomplish this in less than 5 minutes with less than 2 minutes of running water.
A weird one that we do is always leave the oven open after baking in the winter. Let all the hot air out and heat up the kitchen instead of just cooling down closed. Same with the dishwasher and the clothes dryer (we’ve yet to find a good indoor hanging option).
Also..remember if you have an electric stove..one of your back burners will vent oven heat…put your things to warm up on that burner…tea/coffee water…pot of water for washing up/ cleaning.
Monday is leftovers night at my house, Tuesday is trash pickup, so if anything goes uneaten Monday it gets frozen, composted, or trashed. That leaves an empty refrigerator for me to wash every Tuesday, allowing me to evaluate stock, make up a menu plan and shopping list for Wednesday's trip to the market. Monday is housecleaning day, so the refrigerator coils get cleaned when I go over the kitchen floor with the vacuum cleaner. It just takes an extra minute. It seems to me that efficiency is more in the planning than in the execution. Once it all becomes habit, it's as if there's no work involved at all.
I freaking love your videos! It’s not often that I actually laugh out loud from a UA-cam video and I really appreciate your humor and all the great info :)
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist I would have never thought you'd reply to my comments. Just wanted to let you know that you are awesome, and you speaking speed is perfect (lol) Keep it up, you are very underrated but not for long
The bins in our bedrooms and bathroom have only dry rubbish in them so I don't use plastic bin liners. And on rubbish collection day I empty them into the kitchen bin which does have bin bag.
I would love a Dan-assisted video on how to keep computer files clean! This video has an old world wisdom feeling to it. Like stuff your grandma would tell you. I love it!
I love recycling almost everything.... ( plastic, mason jars, boxes etc) that’s why I need to work on being organized... because I think I have a lot....
I like the car one... my brother is not a very responsible driver (he’s 17) and he always coasts through stop signs but he’s like “at least I’m saving the environment” I’m like “needing to buy a new car every time you crash it is not very sustainable”
You have great tips. I agree with you on using the entire black bag. I line my kitchen trash can with a black bag, before throwing it out, I collect all the trash from the smaller trashcan throughout the house ( leaving their liners in tact). This way I only throw put one black bag instead of half a black bag en six small bags. Not a plastic free solution, but much less. Love your channel. Regards from South Africa. 🌻🇿🇦
That's a really interesting point about DVDs versus streaming! These are all really unique tips that many don't consider in daily life, but make a big difference! 🌿
In addition to turning off your AC when you're not home in the summer, turn off your ceiling fan when you are not in the room because ceiling fans cool people, not rooms! I didn't know this and would leave my ceiling fan on all day even if I wasn't in the room! During the winter, I use the ceiling fan to help air dry my clothes. Another idea I'm going to try out soon: Instead of buying a bed for my new apt, I'm going to use the blankets and pillows I already have to sleep on the floor. I've slept on the floor before, but never for an extended period of time. It's supposed to be good for your back.
so true! but i still think they help cool rooms haha but nonetheless good to turn off! that's a great idea to help air dry! the Japanese sleep on the floor and I've heard the same!
I have a long way to go but some things I do is I use cloth TP that I make myself from flannel sheets and pillow cases. We also have hankies that I bought at the thrift store and keep for those times when we have colds so much softer on your nose than paper. I use again thrift store wash cloths to clean up my kitchen instead of paper towels. I took a old pair of jogging pants cut them up and again use to clean in my kitchen. We use cloth dinner napkins again purchased at the thrift store they are usually 4 in a set for $1.99 I always choose cotton as they are more absorbent. Anna In Ohio.
I love that you talk fast because your videos are packed with information. I also wait to fill the trash bag before I through it out. We have a lot less trash now that we are recycling more and I am cleaning and cutting plastic bags for my first ecobrick. I did see your ecobrick video. Thank you. 🙌🤗
And money! We used to buy sooo much veggie broth in tetra paks that are hard to recycle and now that I make my own our waste and grocery bill has been cut!
I use cocoa powder as dry shampoo on my brown hair. It’s in the bulk section. I have been a part of a mending group where everyone fixed their shoes, clothes bags etc.... it was awesome. Never bought new clothes
I love those videos. I don't remember if you ever mentioned it but if you live in climate where is cold in autum or winter you can store things on balcony or window still instead of putting them in fridge. You can also put your hot things outside to cool them down before you put them in fridge. If you have full fridge but you need to put pot of soup in it for example because you're afraid it would go bad when left on the counter you can put pot in sink and fill it with cold water to half or 3/4 of it. It will buy you more time to consume your food. And you can use water for plants.
I remember going to Vermont and staying with my boyfriends family friends and they would leave stuff on the door step to freeze. It was freezing cold and the snow was up to the window sill 😳😳😳. I grew up mostly in South Africa and had only seen snow once before in my life.
Yes! I have a digital thermometer in my garage. As long as I can guarantee the temperature will stay between 1 to 6C overnight, then some leftovers and certain foods in containers stay out there. Also… instant beer fridge lol
@@krispy777 my papaw for Christmas leaves all the canned sodas in the garage over night so all the soda is cold without using his electric or taking up all the fridge space
We live in a town our house is on a 50ft by 100 ft lot and we have a 16 by 50ft garden the side of our house, we cloth diapered 4 kids, cloth napkins , paper towels, old clothes that cant be repaired went to making quilts so all out blankets are made, i also take old sweater and make mittens and hats for winter for the kids, we garage sale alot , if i can do it working full time/college fulltime and 4 kids anyone can if they choose to .😊
For me our reusable grocery bags are just freebie tote bags we got over the years from events. I also once saw a gentleman in the store whose reusable grocery bags were the plastic ones he'd received on a previous trip! Also, don't forget about Facebook Buy Nothing groups! Something that you might think is worthless may have value for someone else.
Food safety guidelines (FDA in USA) say to cool food to room temp too! There’s a bacteria “danger zone” where they grow really fast and food can actually spoil even if you’ve refrigerated it!!
If you could do more videos on dumpster diving that would be really cool! I have been wanting to get into it but I'm too nervous to go do it on my own. And I find that there aren't a lot of videos on it in the realm of sustainability.
I stopped your brother from using TWO, yes 2, zipper baggies to make his breaded chicken!! He would put the eggs in one and bread crumbs in the other. I said “why don’t use a container with a lid!?” Afterward he admitted he liked it way better and HE MADE AN IMPACT! ❤️🌳
And Cora actually gave me back the glass jar I used for their hard tack candy Christmas gift (it was a cheese jar I had saved)! She said “Emma would appreciate me giving this back to you!”
And I am so excited to say after only a year of using reusable shopping bags I am down to only 12 plastic store left in my stash!! So easy to start to eliminate plastic bags. Cashiers still get shocked each time I say “no bag please”!
make use of alternative recycling programs, such as e waste or soft plastic recycling collection, cook your own food, make use of library books, if you drink a lot of soda water (like my dad), get a sodastream
I recently vacuumed the back of my fridge coils and I couldn’t believe how much dust I picked up! Behind, under and stuck to the floor. To help my bulky vacuum nozzle attachment I used an empty paper towel roll to bend and get in under the fridge. I runs a lot quieter and hopefully waste less energy 😊 it’s worth the 15 mins
Worth noting that at least here in the UK it's actually more expensive to rent tools than to buy them which sucks :/. Sure borrowing a shovel is easy but something like a wood-chipper, is actually costs less to buy outright from the local screwfix/hardware store (£129 ) than to rent one for a weekend (£130.22+£60 delivery). It's really ridiculous, I'm hoping to start a tool sharing scheme in my area soon!
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist I thought so too, in my case we opted for hand tools we could reuse and brute force for many jobs. I suppose they charge a high fee to deter theft/ misuse. Anyway really enjoy your channel ! A much more realistic look at sustainable life I can relate too.
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist my roommate been out of town for month, it feels like a waste to cool the whole apartment. I also work full time in air conditioned buildings, and I just let the air flow naturally at night .
1. Fridge/freezer - keep them as full as you can. The cold items hold the cold and make it work less hard. If you don't have a bunch of food, fill containers with water and put them along the back. This is also great if you're leaving for a trip or something to keep it colder or if the power goes out. 2. I frequently use greywater from the sink or dehumidifier to water plants and use greywater safe soap/products. I just collect the leftover water in jars for the plants. Along that, cold/cooler showers are great in summer 😅. Even if you don't live in an area where water is an issue, it's important to conserve it. 3. Try not to change the temperature in your house too drastically at a time. For example, don't quickly change the temp from 60 to 70 because the machine will overcompensate and worker harder to adjust. Instead, do incremental changes, and try not to vary the temp too much from outside/try to keep it turned off when possible. I also do things like open windows in morning in summer, and then close them and close the curtains to keep the cool air in. Then in winter, I insulate my windows and put down rugs to keep heat in. I've kept my house around 64 all winter and live in a hoodie and sweatpants. 4. For the car - really evaluate how much you're driving. Sometimes you can't really help that you have to drive, but try to combine trips and minimize where possible. Going to a park a mile away? Just walk, bike or scooter. Also, try not to carry too much extra stuff because the weight makes the car less efficient. 5. You kind of touched on this with the potting soil bags, but I use whatever bags I get ahold of for trash. For example, I have a 30 lbs dog food bag sitting by my door right now as the trash bag. A note on saving the water you find in bottles: I'd be careful with that because many things can be mixed in the water (or not be water at all) that may not be plant safe. I've heard of a few people putting vodka in water bottles.
Thank you so much for the shout out, Emma! I love this series because you always share many ways I haven't thought of to increase my zero waste abilities! Cannot wait to watch part 7.
New to your channel! Love it! One of the ways I've been living low waste for a long time without even knowing it is by rewearing clothes and washing them less frequently. They're usually not super dirty after the first wear or two so I can reduce water usage, help the clothes hold up better in the long run and reduce micro plastics getting in the water when washing synthetic fibers!
This is something we naturally always did here in Switzerland - to this day many rentals share a washing machine with the rest of their building (even in expensive apartments), so you can‘t wash every day but have designated wash days. These days I have my own washing machine, but still rewesr a lot of my clothes. Fun fact: when I was a teenager, some of my peers went on exchange to the US. They were explicitly told to not wear clothes two days in a row, as people would notice and think it was disgusting...
@@Mishuus That is AMAZING! The US is all about me me me and mine mine mine. I love the idea of sharing and learned a lot about it in Japan. That is seriously so true and absolutely crazy!!
i always thought that putting hot food in the fridge would make it rot, and then my mom told me it wouldn't. but i always waited for it to cool before putting it in out of habit.
I reuse plastic containers and jars? I use reusable pads, just switch to shampoo and conditioner bars, as well as toothpaste tabs that come refilled in decomposable bags❤
For warm (or even piping hot in the summer) water, you can put a dark-coloured container in the sun and connect it to an old shower system or for an outdoor kitchen for washing dishes and needing less gas to heat water for cooking. For showering, a shower bag (I think that's a camping gear thing) could be of use as well. Even though it is plastic, I think it is better than heating a 60l boiler just for showering. I am sure they last for a long time and even if they leak can be fixed with the tire tape. The slowly breaking thing (allegedly) saves breaks as well, at least on manual cars. I used to hate when people did it when I was a kid because I would never be sure weather the car will or won't stop on the crossing for me, since my parents never did it. I always try to fully stop for kids for that reason. As for the soil bags, if they are black on the inside you can turn them around and cover the soil, only poke holes for your young plants, they will need less watering (water won't evaporate as much) and weeds won't grow. And for trash cans I would say a tip is to never throw bread in bins. If you throw a sandwich in bins or container bins and then craws smell it and rummage through it. Then the trash is on the ground (they tear bags apart) and when strong wind comes it's all over the place. Birds are obviously not to blame, but people who put it there. If I have moldy bread, I put it next to the container or throw it on the ground in the park and in a few minutes birds come and take it without rummaging through my trash. Sorry for the long comment, I just had so many things to say!
You should make it known that you take unwanted food! Ooo or make a free pantry for the base so people can drop their food there! Just leaving this “tip” here 🪴
My neighbor and I are actually working on the unwanted food pantry thing for our neighborhood! These are great tips!! Most people do usually post on facebook like "hey free food" but a lot of people don't :(
I’d love to try dumpster diving but most of the dumpsters are locked and/or behind a fence. It’s to prevent people from dumping excessively in private dumpsters. I kinda understand but I wish they would keep it open for people who want to dive
These are great tips!! Thank you! I think your hair is super cute, btw. I love the length. Also, thank you and your husband for your service. Sending love and hugs from NY
I’ve also heard that for every 5 miles over 65mph, your gas efficiency decreases by 15%, so if you don’t want to drive responsibly for safety or because it’s the law, maybe you can do it to save yourself a little money now that gas is through the roof.
Thanks a lot for the great tips! Just one thing, I wouldn't recommend watering houseplants in the evening, depending on how sensitive the species is it might rot. At least maybe not to go full in right away, to see how the plant reacts :)
Another tip from living in South Africa, the country has a lot of electricity load shedding 🤦🙄, so you need to plan ahead for it, it's on a schedule. We bought a thermus to keep hot water for making hot drinks or for cooking. We bought a rather expensive one from a company that has been around for a century and has a lifetime guarantee 👍😊. We had a problem with the seal on the lid of ours and it was replaced 😁👍, we will never have to buy this item again.
I Love these ideas..thank you for these ideas! but its very hard for me to not use hot water in the shower lol I work at a gym...ppl leave full bottles of water everywhere...it annoys me. I started decluttering since last year...and im still working on it.
I take things to charity in supermarket plastic bags, but when charities leave those large bags, I make a hole in the middle at the end, to put a coat hanger through, use to cover my best clothes.x
We also have replaced 2 taps in our apartment that where super wasteful, one was recycled and one was given away, not a great option, but we didn't know what to do with it 🤷. We know live in a wet country and we had to buy a dehumidifier, we use that water to flush the toilet or to wash floors or water plants, we don't have a lot of plants.
Seriously consider a tankless/ on demand hot water system. I got my electric bill today $21.03 for May. Lights off, use a toaster oven or microwave or crock pot when possible, toss left over drinking water in the toilet ( especially if you save a flush after a pee) spit teeth brushing water into toilet. Get a cloths drying rack or install a line ( I no longer own a dryer). Skip a top sheet if you are OK with that…saves time, laundry and closet space. Keep a measuring cup or something to spill bits of H20 in for plants, pets or garden. fan with open windows at night…no a/c. Always wear an apron in the kitchen…saves laundry or worse ruining good clothing. Use small bags for trash too…a gallon freezer bag holds a lot and your trash pick up doesn’t care as long as waste is in a bag…think bread bags and cereal box liners…you can place a roll of TP in a boutique Kleenex box …easy to do…gives a nice look and saves quite a bit. O the list goes on!
Movies: I buy DVD's secondhand or get them free through a Facebook group I'm in. I choose movies i know I'll watch over and over again. We own movies from 20+ years ago and still watch them now. I'll be watching them with my future grand babies 👶 I also ask friends if i can access their streaming service if there's a movie I'd like to watch but its only on streaming.
# 1 zero waste tip for free that'll save you thousands of dollars!!!! Make the switch from disposable water bottles to a reusable water bottle you already have.
sorry if the explanation wasn't that in-depth here, I plan on expanding it later, but in summary, all the data that is movies, youtube videos, images, etc have to be stored somewhere. What might seem invisible is actually massive data storehouses that run off of energy, most likely not green energy. So, mindlessly streaming is not only using electricity in your home but also in these storehouses. Hope this helps!
We have a local free fb page. It's really the best. It's helped us minimalize our house, helps others, and has given us the opportunity to claim some needed items. I like to avoid buying new at all cost.
I did not watch the other 5 videos yet, so maybe you already mentioned it: when I shower, I cut the water when I don't need it (while I shampoo my hair, for example). It helps a lot to save water. Also, I use an old bucket of ice cream with a plastic bag inside for cat litter, and empty it only when it is full - instead of using a plastic bag every day !
What are your best ways to live zero waste for free?
I save seeds from the fruit and veg that I eat. I was able to grow a peppers, 3 varieties of tomatoes, attempted a lemon tree, and my daily go to- green onions. This has saved me money from having to buy a packet of seeds. I pick up sticks and branches for plant supports. Water bottles make for a great self watering system. Drill a few holes into the cap, fill the bottle with water and tip it into the soil and brace it with the sticks. Another option for smaller bottles is poke some holes at the bottom of the bottle and bury it next to the plant so the water goes down to the roots.
A couple of years ago Cape Town, South Africa was in a huge drought 😳😳😳, we had massive water restrictions. Everyone learnt to take 2 minute showers, radio stations came up with 2 minute songs so that you knew when the time was up. Everyone collected the shower water to flush the toilet, and we all implemented the saying " if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down!" As a family we would all try to go to the bathroom one after the other to save on flushing the loo. We know live in Portugal and still do the same thing 😊, I'm sure that it's strange for some people but it really makes a difference. Just like not running the tap while brushing your teeth or washing your hands, wet then, soap, scrub, rinse.
that is crazy! it might seem weird but it saves money and valuable resources :)
I have learned to perfect the Navy shower…since my hair is short I can accomplish this in less than 5 minutes with less than 2 minutes of running water.
A weird one that we do is always leave the oven open after baking in the winter. Let all the hot air out and heat up the kitchen instead of just cooling down closed. Same with the dishwasher and the clothes dryer (we’ve yet to find a good indoor hanging option).
i do that too it's not weird at all! :)
My mom does that to save money in the winter
@@dinosaur3126 it's so easy!
Do that all the time .
Also..remember if you have an electric stove..one of your back burners will vent oven heat…put your things to warm up on that burner…tea/coffee water…pot of water for washing up/ cleaning.
Monday is leftovers night at my house, Tuesday is trash pickup, so if anything goes uneaten Monday it gets frozen, composted, or trashed. That leaves an empty refrigerator for me to wash every Tuesday, allowing me to evaluate stock, make up a menu plan and shopping list for Wednesday's trip to the market. Monday is housecleaning day, so the refrigerator coils get cleaned when I go over the kitchen floor with the vacuum cleaner. It just takes an extra minute. It seems to me that efficiency is more in the planning than in the execution. Once it all becomes habit, it's as if there's no work involved at all.
that's amazing!
I agree 100% if I don't save my clean up chores for the weekend and do it immediately, the big clean up goes much quicker.
I freaking love your videos! It’s not often that I actually laugh out loud from a UA-cam video and I really appreciate your humor and all the great info :)
awww thank you so much!! glad i'm funny haha i don't try to be
I buy the big bags of soil and repurpose them as trash liners for the bins that are not too wide, thanks for the tips
my fav tip!!
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist I would have never thought you'd reply to my comments. Just wanted to let you know that you are awesome, and you speaking speed is perfect (lol) Keep it up, you are very underrated but not for long
I love how down to earth and realistic you are. Loving catching up on your videos. Sharing your channel with my local sustainable group.
aww thank you! sooo happy you're enjoying them :) that seriously means the WORLD to me!!
The bins in our bedrooms and bathroom have only dry rubbish in them so I don't use plastic bin liners. And on rubbish collection day I empty them into the kitchen bin which does have bin bag.
nice! that's a good idea!
I would love a Dan-assisted video on how to keep computer files clean! This video has an old world wisdom feeling to it. Like stuff your grandma would tell you. I love it!
omg that's a great idea!!! Thanks for the suggestion :) those are seriously the best tips as they lived super eco-friendly (not by choice though)!
OMG your dog snuggled up in that blanket was sooo cuuuuute, my heart melted
He's a real life angel and my heart melts every day 😇 thank you so much for watching, I'm glad it could help!!
I love recycling almost everything.... ( plastic, mason jars, boxes etc) that’s why I need to work on being organized... because I think I have a lot....
Haha I keep wayyyy too many jars!
I like the car one... my brother is not a very responsible driver (he’s 17) and he always coasts through stop signs but he’s like “at least I’m saving the environment” I’m like “needing to buy a new car every time you crash it is not very sustainable”
Good point!! Stopping is always better if it saves you from accidents. There are better ways to save gas!!
I keep a bowl to catch the shower water before it comes to temp and then use it to water plants or as a wash after scrubbing the shower
that's my new habit too!
Old cotton t-shirts also make great hair towels. Better for your hair as well.
I love that too!
You have great tips. I agree with you on using the entire black bag. I line my kitchen trash can with a black bag, before throwing it out, I collect all the trash from the smaller trashcan throughout the house ( leaving their liners in tact). This way I only throw put one black bag instead of half a black bag en six small bags. Not a plastic free solution, but much less. Love your channel. Regards from South Africa. 🌻🇿🇦
that's how i collect myhouse trash too! Saves quite a bit of waste in ones life time. Thanks for watching!!
That's a really interesting point about DVDs versus streaming! These are all really unique tips that many don't consider in daily life, but make a big difference! 🌿
they really do!! I'm all about the random odds and ends to save on physical and invisible waste haha!
In addition to turning off your AC when you're not home in the summer, turn off your ceiling fan when you are not in the room because ceiling fans cool people, not rooms! I didn't know this and would leave my ceiling fan on all day even if I wasn't in the room!
During the winter, I use the ceiling fan to help air dry my clothes.
Another idea I'm going to try out soon:
Instead of buying a bed for my new apt, I'm going to use the blankets and pillows I already have to sleep on the floor. I've slept on the floor before, but never for an extended period of time. It's supposed to be good for your back.
so true! but i still think they help cool rooms haha but nonetheless good to turn off! that's a great idea to help air dry! the Japanese sleep on the floor and I've heard the same!
I have a long way to go but some things I do is I use cloth TP that I make myself from flannel sheets and pillow cases. We also have hankies that I bought at the thrift store and keep for those times when we have colds so much softer on your nose than paper. I use again thrift store wash cloths to clean up my kitchen instead of paper towels. I took a old pair of jogging pants cut them up and again use to clean in my kitchen. We use cloth dinner napkins again purchased at the thrift store they are usually 4 in a set for $1.99 I always choose cotton as they are more absorbent. Anna In Ohio.
We all start somewhere and no one is perfect! The steps your taking are amazing :)
I do everything you do. I’ve used cloth napkins almost all my life. My family used them.
I love that you talk fast because your videos are packed with information. I also wait to fill the trash bag before I through it out. We have a lot less trash now that we are recycling more and I am cleaning and cutting plastic bags for my first ecobrick. I did see your ecobrick video. Thank you. 🙌🤗
that's great!!
All these tips are so great, I've started composting and saving my veggie scraps to make vegetable broth; It really cut down our trash 😊
And money! We used to buy sooo much veggie broth in tetra paks that are hard to recycle and now that I make my own our waste and grocery bill has been cut!
I use cocoa powder as dry shampoo on my brown hair. It’s in the bulk section. I have been a part of a mending group where everyone fixed their shoes, clothes bags etc.... it was awesome. Never bought new clothes
I LOVE my no buy group! I find the best things for FREE and keep them out of landfill :)
I love those videos. I don't remember if you ever mentioned it but if you live in climate where is cold in autum or winter you can store things on balcony or window still instead of putting them in fridge. You can also put your hot things outside to cool them down before you put them in fridge.
If you have full fridge but you need to put pot of soup in it for example because you're afraid it would go bad when left on the counter you can put pot in sink and fill it with cold water to half or 3/4 of it. It will buy you more time to consume your food. And you can use water for plants.
Those are great tips! I will be sure to add them to part 7 ;) Those are tips I feel like out great-great-grandparents used to use!
I remember going to Vermont and staying with my boyfriends family friends and they would leave stuff on the door step to freeze. It was freezing cold and the snow was up to the window sill 😳😳😳. I grew up mostly in South Africa and had only seen snow once before in my life.
Yes! I have a digital thermometer in my garage. As long as I can guarantee the temperature will stay between 1 to 6C overnight, then some leftovers and certain foods in containers stay out there. Also… instant beer fridge lol
@@krispy777 my papaw for Christmas leaves all the canned sodas in the garage over night so all the soda is cold without using his electric or taking up all the fridge space
We live in a town our house is on a 50ft by 100 ft lot and we have a 16 by 50ft garden the side of our house, we cloth diapered 4 kids, cloth napkins , paper towels, old clothes that cant be repaired went to making quilts so all out blankets are made, i also take old sweater and make mittens and hats for winter for the kids, we garage sale alot , if i can do it working full time/college fulltime and 4 kids anyone can if they choose to .😊
good for you! Anyone can do just a little bit and that MATTERS!
For me our reusable grocery bags are just freebie tote bags we got over the years from events. I also once saw a gentleman in the store whose reusable grocery bags were the plastic ones he'd received on a previous trip!
Also, don't forget about Facebook Buy Nothing groups! Something that you might think is worthless may have value for someone else.
that's pretty much where I got mine too! I love seeing people reuse anything! buy nothing groups are the BEST
Food safety guidelines (FDA in USA) say to cool food to room temp too! There’s a bacteria “danger zone” where they grow really fast and food can actually spoil even if you’ve refrigerated it!!
that's crazy!! good to know!
The Simple Environmentalist went through a food safety class and it made me not eat in restaurants for awhile haha 😅😅 worth a few mins of research!
@@nevadag606 oh wow I don't think I wanna know haha
If you could do more videos on dumpster diving that would be really cool! I have been wanting to get into it but I'm too nervous to go do it on my own. And I find that there aren't a lot of videos on it in the realm of sustainability.
I will have to see what the laws are in my area to see if it's illegal or not!
I stopped your brother from using TWO, yes 2, zipper baggies to make his breaded chicken!! He would put the eggs in one and bread crumbs in the other. I said “why don’t use a container with a lid!?” Afterward he admitted he liked it way better and HE MADE AN IMPACT! ❤️🌳
Yay that's great!!! SO much less waste :)
And Cora actually gave me back the glass jar I used for their hard tack candy Christmas gift (it was a cheese jar I had saved)! She said “Emma would appreciate me giving this back to you!”
@@katyboston8796 Yes I would!! That's awsome, the little things do add up!
And I am so excited to say after only a year of using reusable shopping bags I am down to only 12 plastic store left in my stash!! So easy to start to eliminate plastic bags. Cashiers still get shocked each time I say “no bag please”!
@@katyboston8796 that's awesome! it used to be that way in Japan until they started charging for bags!
make use of alternative recycling programs, such as e waste or soft plastic recycling collection, cook your own food, make use of library books, if you drink a lot of soda water (like my dad), get a sodastream
what great ideas!! thanks for sharing :)
My trash can didn’t spill during Hurricane Isabell (even when the house was crushed) because I bungie corded it to a tree… simple and took 1 minute
it's so easy! there is no excuse to litter!
I recently vacuumed the back of my fridge coils and I couldn’t believe how much dust I picked up! Behind, under and stuck to the floor. To help my bulky vacuum nozzle attachment I used an empty paper towel roll to bend and get in under the fridge. I runs a lot quieter and hopefully waste less energy 😊 it’s worth the 15 mins
right!! it's insane but definitely worth it!
Worth noting that at least here in the UK it's actually more expensive to rent tools than to buy them which sucks :/. Sure borrowing a shovel is easy but something like a wood-chipper, is actually costs less to buy outright from the local screwfix/hardware store (£129 ) than to rent one for a weekend (£130.22+£60 delivery). It's really ridiculous, I'm hoping to start a tool sharing scheme in my area soon!
that's insane!! i hope it gets more accessible :(
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist I thought so too, in my case we opted for hand tools we could reuse and brute force for many jobs. I suppose they charge a high fee to deter theft/ misuse.
Anyway really enjoy your channel ! A much more realistic look at sustainable life I can relate too.
@@azzouron that's good! I guess?? Thank you so much :)
I haven’t use my air conditioner so far this year while living in CA, I’m very proud of it.
wow!!!!
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist my roommate been out of town for month, it feels like a waste to cool the whole apartment. I also work full time in air conditioned buildings, and I just let the air flow naturally at night .
@@carmeninherlife2137 i love that so much!
1. Fridge/freezer - keep them as full as you can. The cold items hold the cold and make it work less hard. If you don't have a bunch of food, fill containers with water and put them along the back. This is also great if you're leaving for a trip or something to keep it colder or if the power goes out.
2. I frequently use greywater from the sink or dehumidifier to water plants and use greywater safe soap/products. I just collect the leftover water in jars for the plants. Along that, cold/cooler showers are great in summer 😅. Even if you don't live in an area where water is an issue, it's important to conserve it.
3. Try not to change the temperature in your house too drastically at a time. For example, don't quickly change the temp from 60 to 70 because the machine will overcompensate and worker harder to adjust. Instead, do incremental changes, and try not to vary the temp too much from outside/try to keep it turned off when possible. I also do things like open windows in morning in summer, and then close them and close the curtains to keep the cool air in. Then in winter, I insulate my windows and put down rugs to keep heat in. I've kept my house around 64 all winter and live in a hoodie and sweatpants.
4. For the car - really evaluate how much you're driving. Sometimes you can't really help that you have to drive, but try to combine trips and minimize where possible. Going to a park a mile away? Just walk, bike or scooter. Also, try not to carry too much extra stuff because the weight makes the car less efficient.
5. You kind of touched on this with the potting soil bags, but I use whatever bags I get ahold of for trash. For example, I have a 30 lbs dog food bag sitting by my door right now as the trash bag.
A note on saving the water you find in bottles: I'd be careful with that because many things can be mixed in the water (or not be water at all) that may not be plant safe. I've heard of a few people putting vodka in water bottles.
wow these are great thanks so much!
Thank you so much for the shout out, Emma! I love this series because you always share many ways I haven't thought of to increase my zero waste abilities! Cannot wait to watch part 7.
Of course, Erin!! I loved the tip :) I'm so glad this series is proving to be helpful :)
New to your channel! Love it! One of the ways I've been living low waste for a long time without even knowing it is by rewearing clothes and washing them less frequently. They're usually not super dirty after the first wear or two so I can reduce water usage, help the clothes hold up better in the long run and reduce micro plastics getting in the water when washing synthetic fibers!
Welcome, Julie!! THIS!! It's such a good tip and sooo easy to implement. This is one of my fav tips :)
This is something we naturally always did here in Switzerland - to this day many rentals share a washing machine with the rest of their building (even in expensive apartments), so you can‘t wash every day but have designated wash days.
These days I have my own washing machine, but still rewesr a lot of my clothes.
Fun fact: when I was a teenager, some of my peers went on exchange to the US. They were explicitly told to not wear clothes two days in a row, as people would notice and think it was disgusting...
@@Mishuus That is AMAZING! The US is all about me me me and mine mine mine. I love the idea of sharing and learned a lot about it in Japan. That is seriously so true and absolutely crazy!!
i always thought that putting hot food in the fridge would make it rot, and then my mom told me it wouldn't. but i always waited for it to cool before putting it in out of habit.
that's interesting!
I reuse plastic containers and jars? I use reusable pads, just switch to shampoo and conditioner bars, as well as toothpaste tabs that come refilled in decomposable bags❤
that's great!
For warm (or even piping hot in the summer) water, you can put a dark-coloured container in the sun and connect it to an old shower system or for an outdoor kitchen for washing dishes and needing less gas to heat water for cooking. For showering, a shower bag (I think that's a camping gear thing) could be of use as well. Even though it is plastic, I think it is better than heating a 60l boiler just for showering. I am sure they last for a long time and even if they leak can be fixed with the tire tape. The slowly breaking thing (allegedly) saves breaks as well, at least on manual cars. I used to hate when people did it when I was a kid because I would never be sure weather the car will or won't stop on the crossing for me, since my parents never did it. I always try to fully stop for kids for that reason. As for the soil bags, if they are black on the inside you can turn them around and cover the soil, only poke holes for your young plants, they will need less watering (water won't evaporate as much) and weeds won't grow. And for trash cans I would say a tip is to never throw bread in bins. If you throw a sandwich in bins or container bins and then craws smell it and rummage through it. Then the trash is on the ground (they tear bags apart) and when strong wind comes it's all over the place. Birds are obviously not to blame, but people who put it there. If I have moldy bread, I put it next to the container or throw it on the ground in the park and in a few minutes birds come and take it without rummaging through my trash. Sorry for the long comment, I just had so many things to say!
How cool! Thanks for sharing all these tips :) comments are always appreciated no matter how long or short!
I just discovered you’re channel and I’m obsessed 😍 binge watching you 😁 you’re great!
welcome to the team! thank you so much that means the world to me :)
You should make it known that you take unwanted food! Ooo or make a free pantry for the base so people can drop their food there!
Just leaving this “tip” here 🪴
My neighbor and I are actually working on the unwanted food pantry thing for our neighborhood! These are great tips!! Most people do usually post on facebook like "hey free food" but a lot of people don't :(
I’d love to try dumpster diving but most of the dumpsters are locked and/or behind a fence. It’s to prevent people from dumping excessively in private dumpsters. I kinda understand but I wish they would keep it open for people who want to dive
so true! I never did true dumpster diving, more like curb hunting haha
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist Nice! we do that a lot for furniture, I've picked up a lot of wonderful pieces this way.
right! so many treasures :) @@doubleleterlady
These are great tips!! Thank you! I think your hair is super cute, btw. I love the length. Also, thank you and your husband for your service. Sending love and hugs from NY
Aww you're too sweet thank you! I'm glad these tips were helpful :)
I’ve also heard that for every 5 miles over 65mph, your gas efficiency decreases by 15%, so if you don’t want to drive responsibly for safety or because it’s the law, maybe you can do it to save yourself a little money now that gas is through the roof.
love that tip!
Thanks a lot for the great tips! Just one thing, I wouldn't recommend watering houseplants in the evening, depending on how sensitive the species is it might rot. At least maybe not to go full in right away, to see how the plant reacts :)
oh yeah good point! I was mostly meaning outdoor plants where the water would evaporate :)
Another tip from living in South Africa, the country has a lot of electricity load shedding 🤦🙄, so you need to plan ahead for it, it's on a schedule. We bought a thermus to keep hot water for making hot drinks or for cooking. We bought a rather expensive one from a company that has been around for a century and has a lifetime guarantee 👍😊. We had a problem with the seal on the lid of ours and it was replaced 😁👍, we will never have to buy this item again.
How interesting! That is great :)
I am enjoying your content so much!! Found your channel today and am binge watching so hard!! hahaha
Welcome!! That means soooo much, thank you!! :)
I Love these ideas..thank you for these ideas! but its very hard for me to not use hot water in the shower lol
I work at a gym...ppl leave full bottles of water everywhere...it annoys me.
I started decluttering since last year...and im still working on it.
these are why they are ideas, i'm not forcing anyone to do these :) good for you!
I take things to charity in supermarket plastic bags, but when charities leave those large bags, I make a hole in the middle at the end, to put a coat hanger through, use to cover my best clothes.x
that's great!
We also have replaced 2 taps in our apartment that where super wasteful, one was recycled and one was given away, not a great option, but we didn't know what to do with it 🤷. We know live in a wet country and we had to buy a dehumidifier, we use that water to flush the toilet or to wash floors or water plants, we don't have a lot of plants.
Reusing this water is KEY!
Seriously consider a tankless/ on demand hot water system. I got my electric bill today $21.03 for May. Lights off, use a toaster oven or microwave or crock pot when possible, toss left over drinking water in the toilet ( especially if you save a flush after a pee) spit teeth brushing water into toilet. Get a cloths drying rack or install a line ( I no longer own a dryer). Skip a top sheet if you are OK with that…saves time, laundry and closet space. Keep a measuring cup or something to spill bits of H20 in for plants, pets or garden. fan with open windows at night…no a/c. Always wear an apron in the kitchen…saves laundry or worse ruining good clothing. Use small bags for trash too…a gallon freezer bag holds a lot and your trash pick up doesn’t care as long as waste is in a bag…think bread bags and cereal box liners…you can place a roll of TP in a boutique Kleenex box …easy to do…gives a nice look and saves quite a bit. O the list goes on!
i'll keep that in mind but I live in an RV now and don't have room
but how is this low waste?
Great tips 💞
Thank you so much!!
One time my recycling bin got knocked over and my recycling went all over the neighborhood. I was so embarrassed as I walked around picking it all up!
oh no!!! glad you picked it up though!
Just found this channel and I love your vids!! Subscribed!
You're so kind! Thanks for joining this community :)
I got a plant start from a friend and now I have free plants and making more every day
That is seriously so cool!!
I was stationed on Atsugi base. I miss Japan.
i miss japan so much!
The sole fell off my boot and I fixed it with liquid rubber and hot glue. Boot is still working!
Amazing!! I got my shoes resoled by a professional a few months back and documented it on the channel. I love making my items last :)
i love this so much!
THANK YOU!!! :)
i just found your channel and i love your videos so so much!
Aww, thank you, Sam! That means a lot :) welcome to the community!
Movies:
I buy DVD's secondhand or get them free through a Facebook group I'm in.
I choose movies i know I'll watch over and over again.
We own movies from 20+ years ago and still watch them now. I'll be watching them with my future grand babies 👶
I also ask friends if i can access their streaming service if there's a movie I'd like to watch but its only on streaming.
great ideas!
Normalize hang drying laundry. ✌️
honestly! it's the best way!
Can you make a vedio on lastswab
it's on my list for sure!
# 1 zero waste tip for free that'll save you thousands of dollars!!!!
Make the switch from disposable water bottles to a reusable water bottle you already have.
YEs SO TRUE!
Where are the refrigerator coils?
each fridge is different but likely on the back. You can google your model :)
how does streaming have a carbon footprint? (i’m just starting to get into low waste stuff so i’m curious)
sorry if the explanation wasn't that in-depth here, I plan on expanding it later, but in summary, all the data that is movies, youtube videos, images, etc have to be stored somewhere. What might seem invisible is actually massive data storehouses that run off of energy, most likely not green energy. So, mindlessly streaming is not only using electricity in your home but also in these storehouses. Hope this helps!
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist it definitely does!! i had never even thought about that before! thank you!!
@@augustpagano8072 happy to help! It's interesting to think about!
I didn’t know about cleaning out the fridge coils 🤔
how interesting, right?!
Thank you #SaveSoil #Consciousplanet
thank YOU!
We have a local free fb page. It's really the best. It's helped us minimalize our house, helps others, and has given us the opportunity to claim some needed items. I like to avoid buying new at all cost.
YES!! I love my FB groups!
I get most of my DVds from my mom cause she is decluttering ones she no longer watches
i love that!
i've always heard that opening the fridge over and over is worse than keeping it open for a few minutes .. go figure ..
hhmmm.....i will have to do some digging!
WAIT people aren’t using the entire trash bag?!
nope haha my dad is one of them! man throws out the littlest amount of trash DAILY! it drives me nuts when I visit!
My trash bags are used to there fullest extent.
great!
For trash bag, my parents will dumped trash from smaller trash bin to the larger one in the kitchen before throwing the trash. 😉
And for driving, it's also safer for other drivers behind you if you slowly speed up/down.
yesss!! we do that too how cooL!
for sure!
Those bags you are referring to should be used for your household trash too. There is never a reason to buy trash bags.
for sure, great point!!
I see that you put paper / cardboard in your bin , don’t you have recycling where you live .
yes, that is my recycling
I did not watch the other 5 videos yet, so maybe you already mentioned it: when I shower, I cut the water when I don't need it (while I shampoo my hair, for example). It helps a lot to save water.
Also, I use an old bucket of ice cream with a plastic bag inside for cat litter, and empty it only when it is full - instead of using a plastic bag every day !
I actually have not mentioned that but will add it and give a shoutout ;)
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist oh wow, thank you! 🤗