Sustainability
Where Do We Go From Here?
Sustainability will impact all aspects of our lives as awareness increases and as the bad effects of our current lifestyles become more obvious. Here are a few items to think about that don’t require any sacrifice but can have a large impact:
- Look for products with a minimal amount of packaging.
- When considering moving look at what is within walking distance. If you see 2 homes that are otherwise relatively equal, try picking the one that has more close-by.
- Paying slightly more for a very efficient appliance now will likely save you money in the long-term.
- If you have a choice of 2 products (most obvious for fresh fruits and vegetables) where one is local and the other isn’t, choose the local one.
- Look for the most fuel-efficient vehicle within the class you want. Any extra cost would likely be paid back within a few years due to gas savings, but calculate the difference to be sure.
- Bottled water really is very unsustainable, a huge waste of energy, and possibly the most brilliant marketing scam ever. When else would you ever consider paying a lot of money for something you can get for free at home already? Consider using a filter at home instead.
Don’t hide the fact that you are making changes in your life to be more sustainable. I’m not saying to annoy your friends by telling them everything you do, but do talk about it with pride. Think of this as a good kind of pyramid scheme. If 5 of your friends decide to install a few CF bulbs because of you, and 5 of each of their friends, etc, just think how much CO2 that will reduce.
Small suggestions such as offering to carpool when going out with friends can also ensure more people think about it in the future.
Switching to a clean energy provider is possibly the largest impact a single action can have in terms of reduced CO2. Most areas now have a clean energy alternative. By switching to a green program you are paying a small premium on top of normal electricity (for me it’s about an extra $30/month) which puts green energy onto the grid at the normal price.
Here are links to lists of clean energy providers around North America:
- US Department of Energy list of green energy providers by state
- Green power in Canada by province
[amazon_image id="0896087808" link="true" target="_blank" size="medium" ]Toolbox for Sustainable City Living: A do-it-Ourselves Guide[/amazon_image] [amazon_image id="B0033UWMMI" link="true" target="_blank" size="medium" ]Thames & Kosmos Alternative Energy and Environmental Science Sustainable Earth Lab[/amazon_image] [amazon_image id="B002LARWGC" link="true" target="_blank" size="medium" ]Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air[/amazon_image]
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party on!!