I'd like to pose a question to this group. But I am worried that my question will make it sound as though I am opposed to what this thread is about. So - to begin with - I want to make it clear that I am not at all opposed to small actions.
My question is whether the people in this group are also taking big actions like:
-Voting locally and nationally in support of candidates that have social and environmental action on their agenda
-Driving smaller, preferably electric, cars
-Home improvements like insulation, heat pumps and accessing renewable electricity
-Eating less animal products
-Impacting decisions at work to move your company towards more sustainable systems
...Or are the big actions seen as taking things a bit outside of the comfort zone?
Big Stuff
Installed solar on the roof replacing our use of grid electricity (net zero or better). 1-3 year environmental pay back (ours should be lower because the panels were made in the US).
Hybrid water heater installed (down from $450/year electric costs to $100, commensurate electricity usage).
Foamed the roof/attic (reduced power bill (before solar) by half). Increased life of my AC system by 100%. Glues my roof on for protection against potential hurricane damage.
Small Stuff
Close hurricane shutters on sunny side of the house when we have AC on (shade).
Electric mower instead of gas (no noise pollution either).
Switched to LEDs throughout, and in a couple of places where they get left on we went to auto on and auto off.
Installed motion activated security light powered by small solar panel (no need to hard-wire).
Shoe gu to repair work boots - gets two years out of boots that the sole falls apart after one year.
Sold my rooftop water heater to a local, rather than recycle it.
Van sits unless I work, which I compress to 2 days a week (FIRE job).
E bike all errands, or ride standard bike the other days. When I used to ride to the office 4 days a week I calculated the cost to recharge the battery at $0.10/week! Compare that to driving a car or even taking the bus.
Open house up in AM to cool it by 2 degrees.
Bundle of spare shingles (left over from another neighbor's re roof) reused for a neighbor’s shed repair.
Hang my clothes after 5 minutes or so in the dryer (to get the wrinkles out). They last much longer too.