In 1992, almost two thousand of the world's leading scientists (including the majority of Nobel laureates) warned us that all eco-systems were in collapse. We know that things are changing and changing fast. Furthermore, Americans represent 5% of the world's population, and yet we consume 25% of the world' s resources.
Personally, I think most people are overwhelmed with their lives; we are just trying to find a little joy and time with the people we love, in an overworked, underpaid and complicated world. But if we want our children and our grandchildren to have peaceful and happy lives, then we need to make some changes in how we all live on the planet.
1. Walk, bike, bus, or carpool.
Whenever you can walk or bike to the store - and carpool to work if you can. You will stay in shape and experience your life more fully.
My husband and I have been running our cars on straight vegetable oil for 8 years now. We haven't been to gas station in all that time, imagine that! We get our "waste oil" from a local olive oil producer who use to pay to have it hauled away to a landfill. We share the oil with a group of people and formed a cooperative. The oil is free, but we have small membership dues to keep our little depot clean and tidy. My clever husband also makes our own biodiesel for our camping van. I feel like an ex-smoker and can't believe I ever bought gasoline. We are saving lots of money and saving the planet at the same time. Ethanol is not the answer – the use of corn for fuel is not sustainable and actually contributes to climate change.
2. Go solar.
My husband built our own passive solar house. He hadn't built a bookcase when he took on this challenge. Passive solar homes take advantage of natural light and actually are positioned to take advantage of solar exposure. We added solar panels a few years back. Right now you can get panels for 0% down financing and lots of interesting tax right offs and ways to pay over 30 years and add on to your property taxes– it's like getting free energy. Our monthly PG&E bill is about $5. max per month.
In many parts of the country wind is the answer. There is a group of 2000 homeowners in Michigan who are investing collectively in one wind turbine which will power all their homes.
3. Buy in bulk.
It's so much cheaper and your avoiding all that extra packaging. It's better for the environment to buy bulk foods - they are cheaper in bulk too. Grocery stores like Whole Foods, local coops and farmers market offer this. You can bring little canvas bags instead of using plastic too. It occurred to me just recently to stop buying expensive green tea and buy it in bulk – I am paying pennies on the dollar now for my delicious morning tea.
4. Bring a canvas bag with you when you shop.
Did you know one tree, that took 20 years to grow, is equal to 200 brown bags? We consume billions of trees every year – we are literally deforesting the planet, which also contributes to climate change, breaks the water cycle and causes desertification (the growing of dry arid land). We only have 2% of our ancient forests left in the US. Forests are disappearing at alarming rates worldwide. Be conscious of your use of all things. I actually have a big woven basket that I shop with – it has such a country feel and holds so much food.
5. Go local.
As much as possible GO LOCAL. Support local and small businesses vs. big box stores that import from China and fly things in from all over the world. Think of all the gas and energy spent to get that bottle of Fuji water to you! It's ridiculous.
6. Invest in an electric car.
Buy or convert to an electric car (forget the hybrids). It's the best investment you can make at this time. Not only because of the Gulf oil spill (which is the most radical personal statement you can make), but you won't be buying gas anymore and save lots of money on gas and repairing your car. That's the big secret about 100% eclectic cars. Right now the Nissan Leaf is really inexpensive with all the government subsidies and tax credits. Another good reason to buy an electric car: you won't be supporting big oil and the toxic pollution, political unrest, oil wars and all that is associated with it.
7. Weatherize your home.
Our greatest energy use is in our buildings and homes. Invest in double paned windows (there are even subsidies for this now), put a blanket around your hot water heater, turn off lights, transition to LEDS (light emitting diodes), which are better than fluorescents - less energy, last longer, no mercury, etc. Insulate your home - there is even a new recycled blue jean fiber that feels and looks like silk and you can insult your walls and attic or whatever with it. For more information about doing an energy audit on your home, click here.
8. Support the right legislation.
Support climate protection by supporting CAP AND DIVIDEND and NOT CAP AND TRADE. You can learn more from Annie Leonard's short and funny animated video on the subject.
9. Stop buying bottled water.
Scientific studies have proven that 95% of the bottled water we consume is NOT from pristine mountain springs but are just plain tap water from cities that have serious pollution problems. They have found major contaminants in bottled water, including lead, asbestos and other carcinogens. A water filtering system is a whole lot cheaper than buying bottled water and will save the world from all those nasty plastics that even leach into the water itself. And more importantly we throw billions of bottles into landfills each year - billions. They show up in the ocean, strangling and destroying aquatic life. Annie Leonard also offers a short entertaining film on this subject.
10. Support community green energy.
Start a local green energy coop or find creative ways to fund your own renewable energy system in your area. In Marin County, right next to us, they started the first Community Energy Aggregation and are able to offer homeowners 100% green energy from renewable sources. Currently we get the majority of our energy in the US from Coal (52%) and less than 12% from clean sources. We need to push our local municipalities and government to fund these alternatives. Here's a website with more information.