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1500 questions
6
votes
3 answers
on demand water heater - propane vs electric?
We need to replace our (tank) propane water heater. We'd like to switch to a tankless heater, but we're waffling between propane and electric. I saw this question, which was really helpful, but we've got a few other factors that may have an impact…
avp
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6
votes
2 answers
Are green roofs more sustainable than roofs with photo voltaic?
Both types of roofs have advantages. Green roofs do not produce energy (in some cases just fruits) but they do not consume that much energy for production of panels, installation and control and do not need treatment after use. So what are the…
Salt
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6
votes
1 answer
Are there advantages to putting solar panels on individual homes rather than in large solar farms?
Suppose 10 million new solar panels will be installed in some country this year, and there are two options:
A: the solar panels go onto the roofs of 1 million individual houses
B: the solar panels go into 1 thousand large solar farms
With option A,…
Mark Eichenlaub
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6
votes
1 answer
Is delivery of mail to house doors by postal services more sustainable than picking up mail from a central location?
Today there exists more than one mail and parcel services to distribute deliveries. I wonder about sustainability effects, especially when you receive several deliveries a day. When everybody has to pass one or more central delivery point(s) every…
Salt
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6
votes
3 answers
What are the consequences of wasting water in a water-rich country?
I live in Hungary where everyone has access to loads of clean water.
Still, common knowledge says that one shouldn't waste water.
Apart from the economic factors, like cleaning the water,
why is it bad (for the environment) if I waste…
domotorp
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6
votes
2 answers
Is flushing dog faeces down the lavatory better than bagging and binning them?
I have taken to collecting our dog’s fæces in lavatory paper and flushing them rather than using the little plastic bags one can buy for the purpose and putting those in the (non-recycling) rubbish bin.
The dog is a White West Highland, a bit under…
PJTraill
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6
votes
3 answers
How to consume all my photovoltaic electricity locally?
In a location where feed-in to the grid is not rewarded, it makes sense to somehow consume all the "oversupply" electricity from photovoltaics by yourself.
How can I implement this in an automated way (means, not having to switch or do something…
tanius
- 449
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6
votes
3 answers
Most sustainable vehicle that shelters from rain
I usually travel by bike, and it's a great vehicle and is mostly sustainable. I love travelling by bike when the weather is nice, but what all the pro-bike propaganda never mentions is that one very major problem - the rain (and, to a lesser extant,…
Bregalad
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6
votes
1 answer
How much soya is needed to produce a glass of cow's milk?
Producing soya beans is responsible for some significant amounts of deforestation in tropical areas and relying on soya introduces a demand for transportation in countries where soya is not grown.
I know that soya is used as a feed for livestock. I…
Arty
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6
votes
3 answers
How to compensate past CO₂ emissions
How would I compensate 250 tons of CO₂ emissions that I've created in my life? Is there a sustainable way?
I know trees can absorb a lot of CO₂, but once they die, the absorbed CO₂ is back in the cycle.
Please try to avoid answers which refer to…
Peter
- 163
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6
votes
1 answer
Size and reliability of inverter for refrigerator in an off-grid tiny home
I am building an 'Off Grid' tiny home, with my primary energy supply from solar + battery storage. I intend to utilise low voltage everything possible with the exception of a standard home washing machine and a chest freezer converted to chest…
zxspectrum
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6
votes
4 answers
How can I reuse or upcycle used, leftover, tiny bath soap bar bits?
After the bath soaps have been used, tiny bits remain. Note that this is not about re-using half-used or little-used soaps such as found in hotels. I am aware there are charities such as Sundara Fund that upcycle them. I want to know what can be…
Whirl Mind
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6
votes
3 answers
How much of dropped fruit is wasted? How much could be consumed, ideally?
Fruit might be dropped due to many reasons including premature fruit drop and disease.
I wonder how much fruit goes to waste which could otherwise be picked and consumed.
Are there any statistics on this?
Also, would it be sustainable to employ…
Ankur S
- 163
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6
votes
3 answers
What is this candy wrapper made of? Solely plastic or mixed with something else?
I am an avid recycler - whenever I get the chance to recycle, I do it.
The only problem is, I can't mix materials when recycling.
I want to recycle the following:
It's wrapping for candy - in this case Toblerone.
The outer layer looks like…
Birdman
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6
votes
3 answers
What are ideas to change the advertising system towards sustainability?
Recently I've heard degrowth proponents often mention how they found the whole advertising industry problematic and the topic seems to be treated as if advertisements themself were the problem. I understand their point but think that advertising per…
Alexandra
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