What we can do?
Identify simple changes we can make to live more sustainable and healthy lives.
Conserve energy
Use Efficient
Lights
The new electronically ballasted compact fluorescent light bulbs a great way to
save energy. Just one incandescent globe switched over to a compact fluorescent
globe will save 0.5 tonnes of greenhouse gas and save you $70 in energy costs in
its lifetime. (ACF)
Save On Heating and
Air Conditioning
Air conditioners usually use CFCs or other chemicals that destroy our ozone
layer, and require large amounts of power. If those of us with air conditioners
were willing to turn our thermostats up by 4° F., we could save 130,000 barrels
of oil daily. If enough of us were willing to use less air conditioning, finding
other ways to cool off, the positive impact on our planet would be immeasurable.
Heating our indoor air leads to the emission of more than a billion tons of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere every year. If every US household lowered its average heating temperature by 6° F. for a day we'd save 500,000 barrels of oil. If we were to put on another sweater instead of cranking up the heater, the benefits would be cleaner air and a healthier future for all of us.
There are other things we can do to conserve energy:
• We can turn down the temperature on our water heater and make sure our hot water tanks are wrapped by insulation.
• We can buy and use more efficient refrigerators and freezers. There are refrigerators and freezers that use only 10% of the energy of conventional models, and provide better service.
(Amory
Lovins, The
Atlantic, December, 1987; Yesworld.org)
Save water
Install a $4 tap aerator in the bathroom or kitchen and cut water use there by half. (ACF)
Recycle
Aluminum
Recycling one twelve ounce aluminum can saves an amount of energy equal to six
ounces of gasoline, enough to power an efficient (40 MPG) car for two miles. In
1988, the aluminum cans that Americans recycled saved enough energy to power New
York City's residential needs for six months. Compared to trashing it, recycling
aluminum also cuts air pollution by 95%.
Glass
Recycling glass reduces air pollution by 20%, and water pollution by 50%,
compared with trashing it. Every time you recycle a glass bottle that would have
been trashed, you save enough energy to light a 100 watt bulb for four hours.
Even better than recycling glass is reusing it. When we recycle
glass, it often has to be trucked great distances to a factory where it can be
melted for re-shaping. Because glass is heavy and dense, both the trucking and
the melting require large amounts of energy.
Tin Cans
Recycling tin cans reduces related energy use by 74%, air pollution by 85%,
solid waste by 95%, and water pollution by 76% compared to wasting them.
Recycled Plastic
Plastics are made from petroleum and most don't decompose for a long time.
Humans dump more than 45,000 tons of plastic trash into the world's oceans every
year, killing up to one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals annually.
"Degradable" plastics may be a slight improvement, but not much.
Because they only break down into smaller pieces upon extended contact with
sunlight, they provide virtually no advantage inside a landfill or incinerator.
Compost
Biodegradable materials can be composted instead of being sent to landfills or
incinerators. In only 5-10 minutes per week, a person can "recycle"
his/her organic waste by composting it and putting it back on the land.
Recycle Paper
Recycling paper means saving most of the water, energy, pollutants, air
pollution, and all the billions of trees that go into making paper out of
forests. Recycling paper creates jobs and saves money. One ream of paper
saved will save 20kg of greenhouse gases and $5 off your stationary bill!
We can also re-use paper. If you have paper that's only used on one side, the other side is still good. You can also reuse envelopes, boxes, and packing materials you receive in the mail. It's great to get a rubber stamp made that says something like: "This envelope was reused to save trees." That way you can set a positive example for others, and no one will think you were just being sloppy.
Use Recycled
Products
We can complete the cycle of recycling by using recycled products. Not enough
people and companies use recycled paper. This makes recycled paper more
expensive, which makes people less likely to choose it, which makes the cost
higher. Use recycled paper in our homes, schools and at work.
Consumption
With every product that we buy and dispose of, we consume our future.
The US and Canada, with 5
percent of the world's population, use a third of the Earth's natural resources.
We're using up our natural resources faster than they can be replenished. After
we take them from the Earth, what do we give back?
Australian Friends of the Earth www.foe.org.au
Friends of the Earth suggests in its Fact Sheet Six: What you can do about climate justice and climate refugees that "There are SEVEN very simple actions you can take to contribute to climate justice.
• Protest to your state government if they are planning to expand or build new coal fired power stations or coal mines. We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions not increase them and as most of Australia’s emissions are due to generating energy from coal and phasing this out should be our greatest priority. See the Climate Action Network website www.cana.net.au and find out how you can get involved.
• Talk with your local MP about mandatory renewable energy targets and binding emissions reduction targets for Australia. There is great information on the FoE Australia website to help you understand these issues www.foe.org.au/climate
• Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone is yet to make a statement on environmental or climate refugees. Write to her or email to minister@immi.gov.au and ask her to recognise and accept climate refugees. Further information can be found at www.foe.org.au/nc/nc_enviro_pop.htm#refugees
• Challenge the estimated $9 billion per year support for the fossil fuel industry in Australia that is financed government subsidies and investments from superannuation funds. Where is your superannuation going? Tell your super fund you don’t want your money going to fossil fuel industry.
• Demand that Australia ratify the Kyoto Protocol and thus take responsibility for our contribution of greenhouse gas emissions. There are several petitions and form letters that you can support. See: www.foe.org.au/climate for our Kyoto form letter to Mr Howard and http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/525063229?ltl=1115160430#body
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in your household, transport use and recreational activities, BUT don’t be secretive about it! Tell people (family and friends; sales people; work colleagues; your kids school teachers, scout/guide leaders, sports coach; your church and social groups) that you are doing this because of the impact of global warming on the environment and people across the world. Some great websites on how to reduce your impact are www.myfootprint.org and www.redefiningprogress.org/footprint/reducing.html
• As more and more people take to the air, air travel is growing is a greenhouse gas source. We should look at alternative travel options: for further information, see: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/aviation_climate_change.pdf and http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/growth_in_flights_will_wre_31052005.html
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