Sustainable Living Stack Exchange
Sustainable Living Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
82
votes
10 answers

Why shouldn't meat be placed in my compost pile?

I've heard claims that it is a bad idea to place meat in your compost pile. What is the reason for this? I'd like to be able to compost all my table scraps to reduce my waste stream, however, if meat is not a good idea to compost, I'd like to know.…
WilliamKF
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10 answers

What is an energy efficient way to get fresh air indoors during winter?

Letting some fresh air inside is always a good idea, but during the winter it seems a bit wasteful to fling open the window and let the fresh air in at the expense of all that hot air going out, and wasted energy with it. What's a good way to have…
Rob Mosher
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5 answers

Which is more sustainable: aluminium can, plastic bottle or glass bottle?

I was wondering which drink container is the most sustainable one, when looking at the big picture (complete life cycle analysis). So far, I can see the few following points: Transport: plastic and aluminium are lighter than glass, and they can be…
stragu
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57
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15 answers

Alternative to Toilet Paper?

Are there any sustainable alternatives for toilet paper? This could either be done by recycled paper (if such exists), but perhaps some other creative solution could be interesting.
Asaf
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51
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10 answers

How can I be more energy efficient in an apartment?

Usually when I see lists of things to do to be more energy efficient, they require one to own their own home. What can I do to be more energy efficient in an apartment? For example, I can't install solar panels, I can't upgrade/change my…
lemontwist
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6 answers

Is it feasible to compost in an apartment in a city like New York?

I would like to start composting but live in New York City and have no yard area. Is it feasible to try composting on my very small outdoor porch balcony area (6 feet x 3 feet)? The porch is shaded most of the time by other buildings. Is this…
WilliamKF
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48
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5 answers

Can I recycle plastics at home by melting and molding?

I would like to know if it is possible to recycle plastic at home by melting and molding. Is it at all possible? What technique or technology do I need? Can it be done with any plastic? Are there health hazards associated to this activity?
neydroydrec
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5 answers

Are pizza cardboards stained with oil still recyclable?

I was told some months ago that paper and cardboard recycling processes need clean raw material. In particular, paper stained with oil may be inappropriate to recycle, and should rather be thrown away. Where I live we separate our waste…
Stephane Rolland
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46
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7 answers

Is it better to recycle or compost brown paper bags?

When you go to the grocery store, you may get brown paper bags. These can be readily recycled, however, they could also be composted. I would think that recycling requires energy, whereas composting requires no energy other than that needed to stir…
WilliamKF
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45
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5 answers

How to preserve meat during warm months without electricity?

It's so easy to preserve food with a fridge. But if you don't have electricity, because of some big disaster or resource depletion, how would you handle preserving meat? In winter it is relatively simple, because your whole environment is one big…
Danubian Sailor
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44
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10 answers

Which tree consumes most carbon dioxide and poisonous gases?

I want to suggest to a gardener to plant trees for reducing pollution and poisonous gases emitted from a factory. Which species is preferable to plant in the area around the factory?
Yadav Chetan
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44
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12 answers

How effective is turning a car's engine off while standing at a traffic light?

I know some countries enforce having cars automatically shut down the engine when stopping at a traffic light. How much resources are really saved by this process? Does the car need to be designed differently to make this effective? For…
Ron Harlev
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41
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6 answers

Producing my own energy options in urban area with windows but no roof access?

I'm wanting to produce my own energy, but I live in a condo with no access to the roof. I'd like to produce electricity, so maybe turning that energy into electricity safely. I have windows that have access to some sunlight depending on the angle of…
EhevuTov
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40
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14 answers

What is the most sustainable way to dispose of shoes?

About once every year or two I come to the point where I have to part with the shoes I've bonded with over my day in day out walks to work, the market, around the block yada yada. Trust me I wear my shoes to the max (i've even used wet suit repair…
Eric H.
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36
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5 answers

Reading on paper vs. screen

I was wondering if there are any numbers comparing the sustainability of reading conventional paper vs. reading on screens. Standard LCD screens emit light while you are reading. Power consumption can be reduced with e-ink screens, but the…
Earthliŋ
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