Gandhi is famously quoted as saying, "We must become the change we want to see." When we are enraged because big oil companies are damaging the environment while reaping gargantuan profits or because the government is soft on punishing polluters, might we be accused of throwing stones while living in glass houses?
It is simply not good enough to pat ourselves on the back for separating our trash. The pollution problem has become so huge that the standard of merit for earning enough brownie points to call oneself "green" or "environmentally conscious" has gone way beyond this basic level. We as inhabitants of the earth must educate ourselves on ways that we can truly adopt a greener way of life at home.
Reduce, reuse and recycle has become the mantra for environmental advocates the world over, so much so that there can hardly be a discussion of saving the environment without reference to the triple Rs. The following article is built around the three Rs and is sure to get you and your family on the way to a greener lifestyle.
Reducing your consumption is the first step on the road to becoming a more responsible citizen of the earth. Many skip over this critical principle and think only of recycling, maybe because the media has zeroed in on this aspect. If one were to be devious, one may be able to speculate that this off-centered focus was intentional in order to not to put a spoke in the wheel of the consumer culture responsible for keeping the economy spinning. Reducing consumption is necessary to truly effect a change, since this will directly result in less waste. Adopting a mindset of using less amid a prevailing culture of instant gratification can feel like swimming against the current, but if we don't do it, we are destined for a legacy of shame. Following are some practical tips to reduce what you use:
1) Reduce your water consumption. Pay attention to problem areas such as leaky faucets, large-tank toilets, and letting the water run while washing dishes.
2) Reduce your energy consumption by switching to energy-saving appliances and replacing your lightbulbs with CFLs.
3) Borrow books from the library or use the Internet instead of buying paper products.
4) Implement a 30-day waiting period before making purchases, to evaluate if you really need the item. This will greatly reduce impulse buying.
5) Create and use notepads from once-used paper.
6) Buy in bulk. This saves money and you can avoid buying products that are individually wrapped for single-use purposes. Try transferring into reusable containers instead.
7) Avoid taking any extra plastic spoons, straws, etc., when eating out.
8) Get a reusable bag for your shopping and take it with you to the grocery store, so you don't use the store's plastic bags.
9) Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.
Reusing is the next step on the road to environmental responsibility. Resisting the temptation to buy new and improved versions of products we already own might take some serious reconditioning of our thought processes, but part of the reward of living a green life is regaining the ability to think for ourselves, instead of absorbing the information fed to us by marketing campaigns. A list of ways you can reuse items around the house follows.
1. Buy used instead of newly manufactured furniture. This is the best way to ensure that you are not contributing to deforestation or the destruction of habitats for species.
2. Donate your old household items, such as clothing, dishes or books. www.freecycle.com is a great resource for giving and receiving free stuff.
3. Buy refurbished computers for less and take your end-of-life computers to a responsible e-steward for disposal.
4. Buy rechargeable batteries.
5. Download movies to your PC instead of buying the disk.
Finally, try to recycle as much as you can. Recycling simply means giving an item that has come to the end of its useful life new breath by finding another way to use it. You can recycle by reusing items in the ways suggested above or you can pass the item on in a responsible manner to be recycled professionally. Here are some ways to make going green easier at home.
1) Create a list of all the local recyclers for different categories of items and leave it in an accessible place.
2) Buy recycled products.
3) Start a compost pile for your garden.
4) Use natural cleaners at home.
We must all strive to make a positive impact. A little research will show that the ways to really make a difference are neither expensive nor difficult. The most prohibitive factor may just be the desire to make the change.