If this theory is true, then when my husband (who loves to leave lights, the tv, computer, etc on) becomes a dad, will some internal timer switch him to "lights off guy?" That would be an interesting perk to becoming a parent!

f the Real Simple editor really wanted to go green, she could start by printing the magazine on recycled paper that is not sourced from endangered forests. Many companies/magazines/catalogs have gone this route. You can get more information at http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/woodwise/publishers/magazines/index.cfm
This is the reason I cancelled my Real Simple subscription -- all that nonsense about the abundant forest council. Just the timber industry talking. Walk the walk and talk the talk, Real Simple. You'll make your customers happy. I might even renew my subscription!

This was really funny! Most commentators were interesting to read -laughed out loud with some of their contributions.
We no longer have children at home, but my husband has taken over the role of the "turn all lights on" squad. I believe he thinks I won't miss the young ones so much if he does what they used to do!!!
and Margaret Weber: what the heck is a "bogas"???? Your letter was particularly odd.

My dad would always say (and still says) "When not in use, turn off the juice!" It's always stuck with me.

As far as the lighting goes, my husband found the natural light compact flourescents because I had the same feeling about the greenhouse type light they put off. I like the natural light so much better (it's like a regular lightbulb). It's very natural and a bit brighter.

We recycle monthly and have built a shelf in our garage to hold our recycling bins so that everything is organized.

I started using Shaklee's "Get Clean" line as shown on Oprah's favorite things! My favorites are the scouring product, the Basic H2, the HE laundry soap and fabric softener and the dishwasher powder.

mandavk@yahoo.com

The stores don't sell the best CFL bulbs. Most don't note the 'color temperature' the lower the better... (lower = more like incandescent) the higher numbers believe it or not look more like natural sunlight. Try the internet to fine the best CFL you'll barely know the difference vs incandescent. Also, for the lights on the fridge, stove, microwave, outdoor lights that stay on all the time try buying some LED bulbs. I replaced the icemaker bulb on my fridge with this 2 years ago. It uses a fraction of a watt and its been on constantly. Lastly, don't worry about indicator lights on appliances, these are LED's also. Try getting energy star appliances becauses they are regulated for how much electricity they use while 'off'.

Guilt is good. If we all feel enough guilt about leaving the lights on, our carbon footprints, not re-using our Ziploc bags... that it helps us change our bad habits, then guilt is good. Don't beat yourself up too much, however, as we are all works in progress, right?

I have been trying to illuminate the dull bulbs of Mankind since 2001 that we produce enough surplus Energy in this Country everyday esp. during the "off peak" to power hundreds of millions perhaps a billion homes and it is just going to waste.

The Utilities have told us "we cannot store Energy" What do they think the battery in their car is for?

I live in CT and last week I gave yet one more testimony to the CT Energy Advisory Board, and I could not believe my ears. The Commissioner of the CT Department of Utility Controls made the statement we have huge power plants on line at full power all the time that we don't take a single electron from. The reason he gave is it takes many days to ramp them up so they just let them run in case we need them.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has sead the same thing in a study on Renewable Energy Resources. Without Energy Storage NREL has stated Solar & Wind will never make it.

Then they did the study again in the year 2020 with the general assumption we now know how to store Energy, and Solar & Wind works.

For a 50 (+) year old technology to store "off peak" lower cost Energy for use the next day during the "peak" see www.mrelectricity.com

Homeowners in CA have reduced their Electric Bills by 2/3 rds on a time of use rate plan with PG&E.

In CT we now have a new Energy Bill directing the Utilities to put in the infrastructur for "Smart Meters" and Time of use rates. With an Energy Storage System you can set the price your willing to pay to recharge the batteries. When the price is higher the Energy Storage System will switch back to the batteries and now all the appliances on it will be running on lower cost stored Energy raising their efficiency to 100% in so far as the "peak" load is concerned.

Do this in enough homes and we can shut down dirty wasteful surplus generation forever.

Now that's a Carbon Footprint reduction!

Make it a contest and reward the players. For my family (no kids), we reward ourselves when we keep the electric bill down. Because our water heater, furnace, cooking and dryer are gas, we know that the electricity bill is mainly our light usage (and jacuzzi in the winter, though we noted that by decreasing the standby temp by 2 degrees, there was a drastic drop in electricity).

I used to want to have a Huge Impact on this world. Now I'd like to have as little and impact as possible.

One thing I did that worked with making my family more green (because there is really no way to atone for all of the plastic Polly Pockets and Barbies we have) is to involve the kids in thinking up ways in which we can be better stewards. My kids decided that they wanted to set up a compost pile. We did the research, bought a bin and have reduced our kitchen trash by a LOT. (Of course, the composting duties fall to me but I'm okay with that. Mostly.)

It's amazing to me that your life and mine run in such parallel lines. Kind of comforting, actually.

Margaret,

While buying carbon credits may not be the most ideal way to offset your carbon footprint, we have a responsibility as human beings to protect and maintain the planet on which we live. Small changes count too.

Just a few thoughts....
- take your own bags to the grocery store (or, if you forget, choose paper bags as they come from a renewable resource and are recyclable)
- turn off the water while you brush your teeth
- keep your house a few degrees cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer

MARGARET WEBERDec 12, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Global Warming is the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind since the beginning of time. Al Gore, the man who "invented" the internet, is pushing this fraud because he stands to make millions. How, you say? He OWNS the bogas carbon credit company that will "offset" your carbon footprint. This would be funny but so many people have been duped into believing this scam, it is simply scary and sad.

I, like you, have this ongoing problem in my house. I arrive home to find that all lights are on, including the TV..... who is watching it??? I ask!! NO ONE answers. So I, like you walk around telling everyone (no one) that I am reducing our carbon footprint. But no one hears me!!! Oh well I keep trying. I believe all parents, and now me, are related because we all sing the same songs. TURN OFF THE LIGHTS !!!!

When I was growing up, my dad charged us a niclel for every light we left on. That was a lot of money cosidering the fact that our allowance was only a quarter!

Perhaps a little financial incentive might work. Save your next light bill. Tell your family that if they regularly turn off any lights or appliances for one month you will take the "saved" amonunt and splurge on some family treat. When the next bill comes show it to all family members,note the amount of the lower bill and put it in a pretty container where eveyone can see it and to serve as a reminder. Set a goal of three to four months before getting the treat so that everyone will have had an opportunity to make it a habiit.

it is true that we should all make our little contribution to help conserve electricity in this world!
i was never expose to shutting the lights or turn off tv after leaving the room, recycle, buy organic stuff until i met my husband. I am glad and proud that i could contribute to a better world for the children of tomorrow! thanks for the article and help spread the awareness to others...

You might consider putting a few lamps with CF bulbs on timers as I have. That way, if your family feels more comfortable with a light on, you can ask them to turn off the main light knowing that a friendly lamp will still be on for a few hours until it turns itself off. With the lamp, they might not even bother turning on the overhead in the first place.

Also, for outdoors, I would urge everyone to use a combination of motion detectors and full cutoff lighting, which will both reduce the wattage needed to put the same light where needed, and reduce glare and improve night sky views. For information on its advantages, as well as for access to fixtures and after market shielding for common existing fixtures, check out www.greenearthlighting.com/effective.html and click on the topics along the top for a five minute education.

Being a babyboomer and a product of the 70s, I've recycled for 30+ years (paper and cardboard to the school bin, veggie scraps to the compost bin, municipal pickup for alum/steel/PVC) and don't think much about it. It's when you have to change your habits that it's harder. It's interesting that there are different attitudes about recycling and conservation in various parts of the country. The midwest town that I lived in was very environmentally aware and had free (large) recycling pickup containers but charged by the bag for trash. The Florida county I now live in needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century, even though our "waste-to-energy" municipal incinerator is almost at capacity and recycling participation is at a lowly 10% or something. Do people need to feel pain in their pocketbook to recycle? If you know it's right, do it and shrug off the complaints, the naysayers and critics. And that's not bogus!

OK THIS REALLY HITS HOME..IN A BIG WAY! MY DAD WAS CRAZY ABOUT TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF IN EVERY ROOM. EVEN IF YOU HAD JUST TURNED IT ON. HE WOULD SAY" SOMEONE HAS TO PAY FOR IT ELECTIC DOESN'T GROW ON TREE'S!" AND" IF YOU ARE GONNA DANCE YOU HAVE TO PAY THE BAND!" NOW IN MY ADULT LIFE I HAVE BECOME JUST LIKE HIM. I WALK THROUGH THE HOUSE BEHIND MY WIFE ALL THE TIME TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF BEHIND HER AND THE SON WHEN HE'S HOME FROM COLLEGE. SPEAKING OF WHICH CHRISTMAS BREAK IS COMMING SOON. THERE GOES MY BUDGET FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER! OH WELL. I DO HAVE MY X-MAS LIGHTS ON A TIMER.SO DONT FEEL ALL ALONE." TIS THE SEASON"

Dads were the ones paying the electric bills -- that's why they were always telling us to turn off the lights. After my dad passed -- it was mom paying the bills & boy! did she start on everyone about turning off the lights! We also had the 'Christmas Tree House' with every floor lit-up!!

I don't have children in my house, but I still seem to be the one who is going around turning off lights and unwatched TVs for my husband and my mother. Maybe it's because I'm the one "bringing home the bacon" at the moment and paying the electric bill! If I had kids, I would be proposing that they pay their percentage of the electric bill out of their allowance and see if that made an impact!

Kristin, you need to remember that just being conscious of the fact that you have a carbon footprint is so many steps ahead of so many people, unfortunately. The one thing that opened my eyes to the many ways we can reduce our carbon footprint is the book by Paul Newman's daughter Nell Newman, called THE NEWMAN'S OWN ORGANICS GUIDE TO A GOOD LIFE. It breaks down what you can do by category- food, money/credit/investing, energy, etc. It is one of the few books of the sort that really left me (& leave me, each time i reference it, which is frequently) with a feeling of hope, & not one of dispair. Somehow, Nell Newman makes you hopeful about the state of the world, which is an astonishing feat given the uphill battle we face. It is one of the most worthwhile reads I have ever encountered, and I HIGHLY recommend it.

My father used to ask "Do you think we have a connection to the moon?" whenever he found a light on in an unoccupied room. I never bothered to ask what it meant, I always thought it was a good arguement though so I always shut off the offending electrical object. The bonus rebound child who lives with us now declared that it takes more energy to turn off the lights than to leave them burning to which I said "that's only if you're lazy!" He turns the lights off now.

My grandfather was the manager of the electric company when they encouraged use...he enforced the lights get turned off as you leave the room rule because he was just plain smart.

Hey, I say that every thing, regardless of how little it is, helps our environment. And vice versa. If you ask me, the state and future of our environment is THE #1 issue of the day. And for those who think it isn't, it should be. We may not be able to reverse the damage we have already done, but we CAN prevent further damage. Keep in mind that the environmental and climate changes we experience today are a result of what we did 30 years ago. Our consumption and emission of pollutants are greater than they were 30 years ago, so just think how bad it's going to be 30 years from now!

So instead of getting new plastic bags every time you go to the pharmacy or store, take one you already have and saved, instead of throwing it away, or better yet, use a canvas bag. (There's no need to take a bag for that prescription you pick up every month.) And instead of throwing away your plastic or paper bags, why not recycle them? Most grocery stores have bins to collect them. (They don't weigh that much, so it won't bog you down when you go to the store.) And yes, turn lights and electronics off that you aren't using. Walk the short distance somewhere instead of driving. Recyle your plastics, glass, and paper. (Just think how much space and weight you'll save in your garbage. And some states even refund you for recycling.) And if you're really feel like being proactive, write to your government and demand changes. If your community doesn't have a recycling program, start a petition for one. Good behavior DOES rub off and it DOES have a ripple effect ... it just needs to get started. I hope you give it a try!