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Global Warning - Sep 29, 2008 - Printable Version
- The ABCs of the Environment
by Robin Buckallew
There are many people who are looking for answers to how they can make a difference environmentally. Although many of these suggestions have been offered in this column over the years, I am presenting them here in an ABC list that will pull them all together in a convenient way.
A Automobile. Next time, buy a small one, that gets good mileage. Most people don’t need an SUV, even though the commercials may make it seem at times that we do. In addition to saving the environment, you will save money, and it will be easier to get into and out of the parking space.
B Buy local. This provides income for local businesses or farmers, keeps the money in your community, and provides tax dollars for your schools and cities, instead of enriching a bunch of people in Bentonville, AR. When goods and services don’t have to travel thousands of miles to get to our plates, it saves a great deal of energy and environmental loss. Plus, if you know the people producing the goods, you can have a much better sense of security about the quality and safety.
C Carpool. You can cut your gas prices in half for adding just one person to your car. This can be difficult at first, because you’ll have to convince your friends and co-workers. I know you can do it – I have faith in you.
D Donate your used stuff, don’t throw it away. Send it to the thrift store, where others will get a great deal of use out of it. Also, consider buying used yourself whenever possible.
E Educate. You don’t have to have a college degree, you don’t have to speak good English, you don’t have to have any special skills. Just educate your family, friends, and neighbors in any way you can.
F Fight against city planners who insist that the way to save your city is to build more big box stores, which are supposed to bring jobs. What they really do is destroy the jobs already there and replace them with lower paying jobs, while tearing up local ecosystems to build parking lots.
G Grow your own vegetables, if possible. This is the simplest, easiest way to ensure you get organic produce that doesn’t need to be shipped long distances to your door. You might also consider beginning a community garden in a vacant lot in your neighborhood. This helps build neighborhood commitment and also gets people outdoors.
H Heat. Turn it down. You don’t need your house at 80 in the winter. Put on another sweater, and enjoy the winter weather. This also applies to air conditioning in the summer. It makes no sense to set the heat at 80 in the winter and 70 in the summer.
I Insulate. Insulating your home will conserve heat and cooling, saving you money as well.
J Join organizations that are fighting for what you believe in. Even a few dollars a year can make a difference when pooled with the funds of others that care. Research the groups first to make sure that the causes they are working for are the ones you believe in, and that the money goes primarily for the cause and not for overhead.
K Keep your morale up. This is one of the most difficult things, but VERY important.
L Lightbulbs. These should be fluorescent wherever possible. They last longer, and use a great deal less power than traditional incandescent bulbs.
M Mass transit. It is a much more efficient, cheaper way to conserve than any other method except walking or biking, not to mention safer. If there is no mass transit option in your town, it may be because your city planners think no one wants it. This is something you can work to change.
N Needless consumption. Avoid it. Don’t buy things just because you are trying to impress your neighbors. Don’t buy things just because they look neat, or a commercial on TV has just told you how wonderful they are. Before you buy, think about all the things you’ve bought that you never use more than a couple of times.
O Organic. This is a more environmentally friendly, sustainable method of producing food for the world. It is, of course, a great deal more expensive, because it isn’t as heavily subsidized. Select with care those organic products you can afford, and try to maximize the impact of your organic purchases by choosing those that have been produced locally instead of those that are corporate productions trucked across country to your store.
P Packaging. This is a major problem in the consumer world. Most of our products are overpackaged, and the packaging is simply discarded. Much of the packaging serves more as an attractive advertisement than as a necessary part of the product. Try to select products that have the least excess packaging. Avoid single serving products like the plague.
Q Quit. Quit looking for somebody else to do something. Nobody else is going to do it, so you need to do it yourself. Once you start, perhaps someone else will be inspired by your example.
R Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. In that order, ALWAYS in that order.
S Share. For expensive items that you use only infrequently, consider joining a neighborhood pool to share these items. This could include almost all yard care equipment, washers and dryers, and other large tools. Some neighborhoods even manage to share cars. Make up a schedule for use, and stick to it. Such things can save everybody money, save the planet, and help you establish a true community in your neighborhood at the same time.
T TV. Turn it off. Most of what is presented on TV is designed to sell us something, and to short circuit our critical defenses. If you don’t see the commercials, you won’t desire the products. Read a book, take up jogging, play games with your kids or parents, or go for a hike. It’s all healthier for you, anyway.
U Use less stuff. This is the only real way to make a lasting difference.
V Vegetarianism. Oh, you don’t have to go all the way, especially not at first. But if everyone reduced the meat in their diet by as little as 10%, it would have a tremendous impact on the world.
W Water. Water is in limited supply, and many people worldwide lack access to clean, safe drinking water. Don’t water your lawn; instead, plant grasses that are adapted to conditions in your area, and quit whining if it gets brown in the late summer. Grass does that. Take showers of 3 minutes or less. Don’t leave the water running while you shave or brush your teeth. Don’t throw all those ice cubes down the sink.
X X-mas. Tone it down a little. A little restraint goes a long way. We don’t need to use so much energy or generate so much waste all in one month. Not to mention the stress of the season. Take it easy, and have a quiet holiday at home with the loved ones. Give them your time instead of stuff.
Y Youth. Attempt to reach out to the younger generation, and help them develop better consumer habits and more environmentally sustainable practices before it’s too late. Remember, they are the ones who will have to pay for our current party.
Z Zero Population Growth. Don’t have more than a replacement number of children. Work for sensible population policies. This world can only sustain so many people.
This list is by no means exhaustive. In addition, I have not included some big ticket items, such as wind and solar energy, because they are the ones people are most likely to already know about. Keep this list handy, and think about these things as you are making decisions in your own personal life. Don’t try to do it all at once. Select those that are the most doable, and take them on; later, you can add more items to your list of new habits. I know it sometimes seems as though one person can’t make a difference, but believe me, you can. Every gallon of water, every gallon of gas saved is a gallon that will be available at a later date. Instead of working to make sure you get your fair share before your neighbor takes it all, try to work with your neighbor to make sure there is enough to go around in perpetuity. Together, we can do it, but we have to start now. Next week is too late.
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