Act Today, Save Tomorrow
Hidden habitats, unique animals, exotic plants, bizarre insects, colored cultures and varied terrains, our planet is a true work of art - Perfectly designed to sustain and provide for all inhabitants. So why are we destroying these exact elements that make our planet great?
Some would say it's survival. How families feed, clothe and care for their families. Others claim it's convenience. The ease of technology over manual efforts saves time. And still others, unanimously agree money, is the largest driving factor! Money makes the world go round and if there's a profit to be earned at the expense of a defenseless ecosystem, then it will be. Vice versa, if people can save money purchasing a cheaper product with a heavier carbon footprint, 9 times out of 10, they will choose cheaper.
Defining problems and reasons are easy but what are the solutions? We've all heard the phrase, "a little goes a long way", but do we take those words seriously? Or, do we roll our eyes and think one person can't make a difference? The simple truth is, we can and we must!
* Please note: I write this entire blog including myself in the, "we", "you", "society", generalizations. I am just as guilty as many others but want to make a change. And the tips below are a few changes I've made in my daily life which have translated to a smaller carbon footprint.
First and foremost, to make a change you must address the issues. Educate yourself on the connections between animals, environments, and humans. Learn about the inner workings of our planet and how your daily purchases, interactions and transportations affect the planet.
Once you've addressed the large issues, it's time to look at smaller factors, i.e. YOU. We, and by "we" I mean modern society, are accustomed to immediate gratification. If we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel or receive a gold star for our efforts, we struggle to deem them important enough or worth our time. I can't reveal the landfill we've each created in our lifetimes, but I can help generate tangible facts that may change the way you look at life.
First and foremost, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". There's a reason you hear this mantra all the time …because it works!!
Some would say it's survival. How families feed, clothe and care for their families. Others claim it's convenience. The ease of technology over manual efforts saves time. And still others, unanimously agree money, is the largest driving factor! Money makes the world go round and if there's a profit to be earned at the expense of a defenseless ecosystem, then it will be. Vice versa, if people can save money purchasing a cheaper product with a heavier carbon footprint, 9 times out of 10, they will choose cheaper.
Defining problems and reasons are easy but what are the solutions? We've all heard the phrase, "a little goes a long way", but do we take those words seriously? Or, do we roll our eyes and think one person can't make a difference? The simple truth is, we can and we must!
* Please note: I write this entire blog including myself in the, "we", "you", "society", generalizations. I am just as guilty as many others but want to make a change. And the tips below are a few changes I've made in my daily life which have translated to a smaller carbon footprint.
First and foremost, to make a change you must address the issues. Educate yourself on the connections between animals, environments, and humans. Learn about the inner workings of our planet and how your daily purchases, interactions and transportations affect the planet.
Once you've addressed the large issues, it's time to look at smaller factors, i.e. YOU. We, and by "we" I mean modern society, are accustomed to immediate gratification. If we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel or receive a gold star for our efforts, we struggle to deem them important enough or worth our time. I can't reveal the landfill we've each created in our lifetimes, but I can help generate tangible facts that may change the way you look at life.
First and foremost, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". There's a reason you hear this mantra all the time …because it works!!
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I challenge you to REDUCE your use of 1 new product every week for 2 months. That's 8 items you reduce or completely remove from your lifestyle. For instance, plastic water or soda bottles. Instead of buying a bottle a day, purchase one biodegradable bottle and fill it from water or soda fountains. Just think, a bottle a day over 2 months...that's 60 plastic bottles you've kept from landfills and our seas.
Another item with devastating effects - plastic shopping bags. 84 billion plastic bags are used per year in the U.S. alone, 500 billion worldwide!! Think of how many plastic bags you sling over your forearms when leaving the supermarket, pharmacy or department store. Now think of how many times a month you visit these establishments. For the next 2 months, carry a collapsable cotton bag or biodegradable bag in your car, purse or briefcase. Estimate how many plastic bags you've avoided in just one week - and then 2 months. I would venture to guess 100 is a small figure. That's more then 600 plastic bags you alone could save the planet from in one year! And we haven't even approached the issue of produce bagging. Why does each fruit or vegetable need a separate plastic bag? Put them in your cotton bag and have the checker weigh them, dare I say, without a plastic bag shielding them from the metal scanner. You're going to wash the produce anyways! |
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The second element of this mantra, REUSE. Instead of buying single-use batteries, buy rechargeable batteries. Sure, there is energy involved in recharging but they have far less environmental implications then the hazardous chemicals released when single-uses are disposed of. Other products like wood, steel and brick can be salvaged from building projects, lumber yards and neighbors garages (with their permission of course). And one of my favorites, second hand shopping. I realize many people have a stigma against thrift store shopping but I promise there are treasures to be found. Head to your local Goodwill and Salvation Army and purchase second hand furniture, clothing and books when possible. Great for the environment and great for your wallet!
Finally, RECYCLE. Let's first look at man-made or manufactured products. This challenge involves getting your hands dirty. Peer into your trashbin right now. What do you see? Aluminum soup cans? Egg cartons? Cardboard cereal boxes? Glass bottles of condiments? Now remove each of these items and transfer them to the appropriate recycling bin. Notice how little trash you produce by removing all recyclables? And for those of you whose waste management organizations do not pick up certain recyclables, pull out your phonebook or google search engine and find a recycling center nearest to you - Could be just down the road.
Finally, RECYCLE. Let's first look at man-made or manufactured products. This challenge involves getting your hands dirty. Peer into your trashbin right now. What do you see? Aluminum soup cans? Egg cartons? Cardboard cereal boxes? Glass bottles of condiments? Now remove each of these items and transfer them to the appropriate recycling bin. Notice how little trash you produce by removing all recyclables? And for those of you whose waste management organizations do not pick up certain recyclables, pull out your phonebook or google search engine and find a recycling center nearest to you - Could be just down the road.
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The second stage of this dirty challenge, involves nature's method of recycling - Compost. An organic course of action resulting in disintegration of organic waste into useful substances.
After removing all recyclables from your trash bag, dive back in for compostable materials. Produce peels, egg shells, corn cobs and husks, shrimp and crab shells, tea bags, grass clippings, dryer lint, used Kleenexes, coffee grounds, biodegradable bags and leftovers (no beef, fat or dairy but rice, pasta, beans, bread, etc.) A variety of micro-organisms such as fungi and bacteria will break down waste products into usable and incredible fertilizer for your yard - Saving money on fertilizer and more so, keeping waste products away from landfills. Many people now have compost tumblers. Mechanisms that fit discretely in your yard, opposed to a raw pile of compost, and can be rotated regularly to keep nutrients moving around. Compost piles (or tumblers) should contain 1-2 parts green materials (high in nitrogen), green plant clippings and leftover food products to 1 part brown materials (high in carbon), leaves, wood shavings, newspapers and cardboard. Be sure to steer clear of meat, bones, and dairy products and you're compost will amaze you, your yard and the greater ecosystem. |
Now that I've harped on the primary means of change, let me break down 4 categories of specific awareness. Water, Energy, Paper and Emissions.
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THINK H20 - Water Conservation
(30-60 gallons of water are used per person per day in America) 1. Wait until you have a full load of laundry before starting the washing machine. 2. When scrubbing your pearly whites, turn off the tap until you need to rinse. 3. Limit the amount your yard is watered. How many times I've walked past someone's yard and their sprinklers are working while it's raining!! Water only when necessary. |
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THINK ENERGY - Energy Conservation
1. Change your lights from standard bulbs to new fluorescent bulbs. They use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last at least 6 times longer. Just think, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with a light bulb that's earned the Energy Star rating, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save about $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to those from about 800,000 cars. (http://www.energystar.gov/) 2. Turn off technology devices at night. If you leave them plugged in and idling, you are using constantly using energy. 3. Use a clothes line to dry your clothes. Not only will wardrobe colors stay brighter, longer, they'll also remain the size you bought them as. |
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THINK TREES - Paper Conservation
(The average American uses 500-700 pounds of paper per year) 1. Read newspapers online, pay bills online and put a stop to incessant junk mail by contacting each mailer directly. 2. Recycle all paper products. Most items can be recycled 5 to 6 times before fibers break down too much for reuse. 3. Buy recycled paper products. Not much more expensive but does the planet a world of good. 4. Print double-sided and only print when necessary. 5. Convenience foodies, why do you need a paper bag to hold a cheeseburger already wrapped in another piece of paper? Tell the drive through attendant you don't need a bag. Or, if your order comes with a drink, provide your own drink cup. Same goes for coffee drinkers. Bring your own thermos and cut down on paper or styrofoam cups. |
"Design something that makes oxygen, sequesters carbon, fixes nitrogen, distills water, accrues solar energy as fuel, makes complex sugars and food, creates microclimates, changes colors with the seasons, and self-replicates.
Well, why don’t we knock that down and write on it?" - William McDonough |
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THINK CF (Carbon Footprint)
(The amount of greenhouse gas emissions you produce) Measure your carbon footprint here: http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx This calculator considers household consumptions, transportation emissions, and secondary footprints yielding your personal CO2 emissions. The calculator even compares your emissions to the national average - Sobering to say the least. 1. How often do you drive? Ever consider a work car pool? Bicycle? Public Transport? Cutting down your drive time can makes a big difference on overall emissions. 2. Ever considered alternate fuel sources. Biodiesel, solar, or wind? Take a few hours out of your day to research the alternates available. |
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Now that you've heard the complex problems yet relatively simple solutions, I have one last piece of information to pass on…and probably the most important. Share your knowledge! Words can inspire and motivate especially with huge platforms like social media, email and online forums. Get your message out there by challenging friends, family and colleagues to adopt a few of the above listed changes for the next 2 months. They too will be shocked!
Small changes today equal big changes tomorrow! Get Inspired, Get Involved!
Small changes today equal big changes tomorrow! Get Inspired, Get Involved!
