SUSTAINABLE ACTIONS
SUSTAINABLE ACTIONS -for a better future-
By Gus
Humanity, in it´s search for basic needs (food, clothing, housing and health), has established a way of life in which ecological degradation, depletion of natural resources and human suffering have been expended towards social, technological and economic development. This behavior has led to an alarming situation; it´s time for all societies and individuals to adopt a lifestyle based on the concept of SustainableDevelopment.
“Sustainable development sets out to meet the needs of the present withoutcompromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. “
Illustration: Steve O
The actions listed below are based on this concept, do not cost much and help us protect the environment, take advantage of the resources we have, and improve the ecological, social and economic development of our planet. So, regardless of the relationship and magnitude they may have on phenomena like global warming, it´s veryimportant that we adopt them as part of our routine and lifestyle. Enough of closing our eyes to the damage we are causing!
Maybe we can not perform all the actions, but we must make an effort to implement as much of them as possible and somehow compensate for the damage we cause to the environment.
(In case that you don´t mind any of the above at all, keep in mind that the vast majority of these actions represent an economic benefit in the short or long term.)
SEPARATE YOUR GARBAGE in organic (natural and plant debris), inorganic (paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and metal) and sanitary waste. Inform yourself and ask collectors in your area to collect it correctly.
CLEAN YOUR GARBAGE, make the separation and recycling easier by emptying and rinsing containers of food and beverage waste.
COMPACT your waste to use less bags. Disarm boxes and packaging, crush the bottles.
REUSE MATERIALS. Before throwing anything out, think if you can repair it, give away or reuse in any other way. For example: old t-shirts can become kitchen cloths.
SAVE WATER. Do not leave faucets or hoses running while you’re washing, use a glass to brush your teeth and buckets to wash the car.
REUSE water from the shower and washing machine for cleaning, irrigation and toilet, put a bucket under the shower while the bath heats, and when the washing cycle finishes.
QUICKER BATHS. Cut the duration of your baths to 5 minutes and close the faucets while rinsing.
REDUCE THE LOAD OF THE TOILET. Place plastic bottles filled with water inside the toilet tank, that way each time you flush you will save 1 or 2 lts. of water; if 2 or more persons who know each others use the toilet, flush at the end.
DO NOT THROW WASTE OR GARBAGE TO THE WC use the trash bin instead.
CHECK AND REPAIR WATER LEAKS inmediately, they can cause wasting thousands of liters per year.
INSTALL DEVICES to collect water in rainy season.
USE ECO LAUNDRY BALLS with this 100% organic method you will save water used in the washer´s rinse cycle, and you won´t need soaps and detergents (saving on chemicals and plastic containers). (Click here for information on eco-laundry balls)
REPLACE bathroom furnitures, showers and high intake valves for saving accessories and mechanisms.
SWITCH TO BIODEGRADABLE soaps and detergents.
STORE KITCHEN OIL in plastic bottles. One drop can contaminate up to 10,000 liters of water.
ORGANIZE LOADS for your washing machine and dishwasher. Do not use them for few items.
SWITCH TO SAVING LIGHTBULBS and save up to 75% on electricity.
SWITCH TO RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES and deposit common batteries in special modules destined for their disposal.
TURN OF THE LIGHTS when you are not home, and consider installing sensors that activate them only when needed. Forget about the myth of leaving the lights on to avoid robbery.
UNPLUG ELECTRIC APPLIANCES even turned-off can consume up to 30% energy. An easy solution is to connect all of them to an electric strip and turning it off when you finish using them.
DO NOT ALTER YOUR HOUSEHOLD ELECTRIC CURRENT. Installing devices to cheat and pay less bills is dangerous and wastes more energy.
HANG YOUR CLOTHES instead of using the dryer.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF RESIDUAL HEAT . Turn off the oven and stove 5 minutes before cooking is complete.
BOIL ONLY THE WATER YOU NEED in kettles, pots and coffee makers.
COVER PANS AND POTS during cooking. Or use instead pressure cookers.
CLEAN YOUR STOVE dirty burners consume 10% more fuel.
CHECK YOUR BOILER at least once per year.
CHANGE TO A STEP BOILER or consider applying insulation.
LOCATE YOUR FRIDGE in cool places, it will save more energy and perform better.
COVER FOOD INSIDE THE FRIDGE. If uncovered they will generate humidity, making the fridge spend more energy.
PROGRAM HEATERS AND AIR CONDITIONERS. Don´t let them turned on while you are out of home.
CONSIDER THERMAL INSULATION if your home requires constant heating.
USE LIGHT COLORS on walls and ceilings to take advantage of daylight.
SWITCH TO NATURAL GAS. Emissions during it´s combustion are much lower than the LP gas and other fuels such as coal, diesel and fuel.
CHOOSE EFFICIENT APPLIANCES that have the Energy Star label.
SWITCH TO RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES. Learn about the options available for homes.
SAVE PAPER. Use recycled and pre-used paper. We must end the belief that school and work documents dont´”look good or professional” in this way.
DON´T PRINT UNNECESSARY EMAILS and add a footer on them to raise awareness on other people.
BRING A CUP OR THERMO instead of using disposable cups for water and coffee.
USE CDS AND DVDS to their maximum capacity, and use paper and cardboard envelopes to store them.
TURN OFF MONITORS during lunch hours or long breaks.
UNPLUG ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES at the end of the work shift.
DOWNLOAD FILES DURING DAY to avoid leaving your computer on all night long.
CLASSIFY POWER SWITCHES so people who work at night shifts or weekends, turn on only the lights that they need.
AVOID TRANSPORT DISTANCES, by doing whatever work is possible by phone, emails or video conferences.
CHANGE YOUR TRANSPORT If your main medium is the car, change it at least once a week for public transport, bicycles, skates and skateboards.
WALK REGULARLY! Avoid short distances by car.
SHARE YOUR CAR with friends from school, work and leisure activities.
EFFICIENT VEHICLES. If you are buying a new car, choose one that best suits your needs and consider renewable technologies like hybrids.
CHANGING YOUR CAR? If you already have a car, consider changing it for one of lower environmental impact.Enough of Jeeps and Hummers for a single person.
REPAIR YOU CAR REGULARLY to make sure it functions correctly and polutes less.
OPTIMIZE GASOLINE PERFORMANCE
-Check that your tire pressure is adequate.
-Avoid accelerating and braking abruptly over short distances.
-Unload baggage and unused materials from your car.
-Recharge gasoline every time you consume half a tank.
REDUCE YOUR TRIPS BY PLANE
Use planes only for distances that you can´t cover by car, train or buses. Reduce the frequency of flights and plan your vacations to closer places.
Unfortunately, a lot of airlines offer cheaper fares than buses or trains, which encourage more people to fly short distances.
CARBON COMPENSATION If you definitely need to travel by plane choose airlines that offer the carbon compensation option. By paying this extra fee (a small percentage) you offset the emissions caused by the flight; and the money is invested in ecological and sustainable projects all over the world.
*Recently (Feb 2011) for a flight Mexico-London with British Airways, I paid 35usd for this (very affordable, don´t you think?)
TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY and watch the local environmental regulations, respecting the environment, flora and fauna.
CONSUME LESS PLASTIC AND STYROFOAM Plastic is an unnatural component, highly polluting and difficult to biodegrade and recycle because of its petro-based composition of polymers.
Prefer products made of glass, aluminum, cardboard, or more friendly materials. Rejects bags, straws, wrappers and unnecessary packaging.
OPTIMIZE THE USE OF PLASTIC Reuse packages and refill water bottles at home. Purchase bulk products.
BRING REUSABLE BAGS FOR GROCERY SHOPPING.LLEVA BOLSAS REUTILIZABLES AL SUPERMERCADO
Neither plastic or cardboard. Use cloth bags and natural fibers.
This will save around 300 bags per year and more than 20.000 in your life.
TAKEAWAY FOOD If you consume it regularly, consider bringing your own home packaging.
“DISPOSABLE PLATES” Washing regular dishes has less environmental impact that using disposable ones, because water is already used in their manufacture. And also, as their name implies, they will finish as waste.
A great option is using disposable plates made of potato starch or rice, bamboo, corn or apple pulp; ask if they are available in shops and supermarkets.
PREFER ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS Give priority to products made of recycled materials and ecological procedures. Also consider how easy they can be reused, recycled or disposed.
PRACTICE FAIR TRADE Aquire products available directly from small retailers or local manufacturers rather than big chain shops or intermediaries.
The pennies you save buying at Wal Mart are product of endless social and ecological problems. At the end a lot of people and eco-systems are the ones paying for your savings.
So, go buy as much as you can to the local vendors and markets!
More information: www.fairtrade.net/about_fairtrade.html?&L=
PREFER FRESH AND ORGANIC FOOD. Production of frozen foods needs up to 10 times more energy.
PUT TRASH IN ITS PLACE. Take care of streets and public spaces as you take care of your house.Cuida las calles y lugares públicos como cuidas tu casa.
TAKE CARE OF THE WILDLIFE
PREFER SERVICES AND COMPANIES that have policies on sustainability and social responsibility.
BEWARE OF CONSUMERISM
Buying and having a lot of stuff does not make people happier, just fills our planet with more trash and debris.
Unfortunately few people know the full cycle of an object, from production to disposal; and many others believe they can buy anything they want because they have the money.
Visit www.storyofstuff.com and evaluate your posture towards consumerism.
In this link some points to consider before buying anything.
Difference between consumption and consumerism: Click here
AVOID CELEBRATIONS BASED ON CONSUMERISM
You don´t need to spend a lot and give as gifts all those articles with credit promotions (pay it in 12 months, start paying next year, etc) to have a good time with friends and family on Christmas, Valentine´s Day, Mother´s Day, etc.
XMAS TREES
Additionaly to not participating in the crazy xmas consumerism, use a plastic tree or acquiere a certified one; take it to recycling centers and use LED bulbs to decorate it. Currently some companies Rent Xmas trees for the season, inform yourself abot this option.
MONEY=LOVE Affection and love are not measured in money. Giving / accepting expensive jewelry like gold or diamonds, promote Ssocial inequality and ecological imbalance.
CALCULATE YOUR CO2 EMISSIONS There are several web sites, with simple forms to calculate the approximate amount of CO2 we emit per year. The results help us reflect on our habits and learn about ways to offset emissions.
Carbonify.com NativeEnergy.com
BUY CARBON OFFSETS There are several web sites, companies and programs that provide the option to “buy carbon offsets” , the money goes to conservation, reforestation, renewable technologies and sustainable development.o
It is advisable to ensure the legality of the company and the proper allocation ofcapital for the purposes stated.
PLANT TREES Reforestation is a great way to reverse the damage. Learn about programs in your area.
CREATE AN AUTHENTIC ROOF GARDEN Transform the roofs of houses and buildings in urban green areas that help the planet breathe.
CHANGE YOUR HABITS Perhaps the easiest option of all. Make an effort to reduce your ecological footprint and achieve a breakthrough in our environment.
PERSONAL ACTIONS It is a HUGE mistake to think that it is useless to act if others won´t. The changes and actions begin with oneself.
INFORM YOURSELF If you have concerns about any issue , search for information and spread it.
DO SOMETHING!
Act, participate, speak out. Make proposals for your town, city, country and planet. The big problems are not solved by themselves.
JOIN COMMUNITIES AND GROUPS
Find people and groups related to your way of thinking. It´s easier to work and make a difference by joining forces.
FOSTER CHANGES
Propose measures and actions to improve your environment (home and work, study or leisure places).
FOMENTA EL CAMBIO A ENERGÍAS RENOVABLES Find about and support the shift to solar, thermal, geothermal, wind, fossil fuels, biofuels,hydrogen and new energy.
ASK YOUR GOBERNORS AND LEADERS FOR CHANGE Choose candidates and representatives that promote ecological and sustainable measures. By doing this you will pressure other parties to do likewise.
Gus
Dam
