Part of the Solution

Truly sustainable development will require more drastic measures but the more we do now the more time we have to do anything. Here's how to get started:

CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES

10 WAYS YOU CAN REDUCE your personal contribution to GLOBAL WARMING and improve your Earth stewardship ethics in general:

1. Conserve fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions by keeping your car well-maintained, buying more fuel-efficient vehicles, carpooling, taking public transportation, and (better yet!) biking or walking. Drive less! Reducing weekly mileage is as important as increasing miles per gallon.

2. Plant trees and replace high-maintenance (Kentucky Blue Grass) monoculture lawns with native grasses and flowers. This will reduce pollution, absorb CO2, and conserve water.

3. Learn more about where your food comes from and buy local (farmers’ markets and CSA’s-Community Supported Agriculture) as often as possible. Most American meals travel 1,500-2,000 miles to the table—that’s a lot of petroleum spent and CO2 released in transit. Eat less meat, as the resource and energy cost of meat production is much higher than plant sources for the same number of calories. Seasonal fresh produce and minimally processed grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds are best for both conservation and nutrition. Game is good if the species is well populated in the region. Look for ‘free range’ or ‘grass fed’ on meat, dairy, and eggs. Fish? It’s complicated. For more info, read Real Food: What to Eat and Why by Nina Planck.

4. Grow your own food and compost your kitchen scraps, grass clippings, leaves, etc. There’s nothing like day-fresh produce, and your garbage output (and therefore disposal transportation and landfill impact) will be significantly less.

5. Get a home energy audit to improve the efficiency of your insulation and heating systems. Set your heating thermostat lower in the winter (62-65) and your A/C higher in the summer (80-82). Your body will adjust to the seasonal temperatures if given the chance and you might even be better able to enjoy the out-of-doors once you are acclimated.

6. Turn off lights and other appliances when not in use, including setting your computer to automatic low-power standby after 15-30 min. Leave occasional-use appliances unplugged, as most draw a current even when not turned on. Cut back on plugs and batteries altogether.

7. Clean with warm water and plant-based detergents or other non-toxic substances (vinegar or baking soda will clean just about anything). Plant-based dish, laundry, toilet, and all-purpose cleaners can be found at natural food stores. Most commercial cleaners are toxic and usually made out of petroleum. In addition to wasting energy, these can be dangerous to people exposed to them (vapor inhalation or absorption through the skin contribute to cancer, birth defects, endocrine system disruption (thyroid, etc.) and autoimmune disorders) and persist in the water supply after they have washed down the drain. Use, rinse, and re-use rags made from old T-shirts or towels instead of cleaning with paper towels and other disposable products.

8. Reduce the quantity of things you buy – manufacturing, transportation, and packaging all contribute immensely to carbon emissions and landfill expansion. Borrow, trade, share, salvage, or buy used items whenever possible. Buy in bulk rather than relying on (convenient but inefficient) individually packaged items. Invest in a refillable water bottle, travel mug, and a few canvas or nylon shopping bags to avoid wasting thousands of one-use containers annually.

9. Reuse materials both for their intended use and in creative ways. Buying well-made durable goods rather than disposable ones greatly reduces waste and often saves you money in the long run. Donate things you don’t use anymore to someone who will.

10. Recycle. This spares the earth the greenhouse emissions and habitat destruction caused by extraction and refinement of raw materials. Recycling saves energy, helps prevent land and resources from being permanently lost to landfills, and cuts down on health problems and community displacement caused by logging, mining, drilling, and garbage disposal.