D-evolution of mankind
My office neighbour recently moved to another department. She left me with one of her plants and a colony of tiny black bugs...on the plant. While picking out the dead leaves they finished off, I found myself looking at these little bastards and thinking "you stupid bugs, you're killing off the very plant that sustains you...and there aren't any more like it anywhere in this office, where'll you go next?". Amazingly, then again maybe not so amazingly at all, it took me a full 10 seconds to realize that we humans are just as stupid...gorging on our planet's precious resources as we multiply, with little regard for future generations and their wellbeing. I know it's been repeated at nauseam, but do we not know any better? Are we no better than those stupid bugs? No, we're actually much worse! We know the consequences of our actions, yet we proceed as usual.
What would it take to curb this trend? Not that much. Here's a little crude sketch I put together to give you an idea of where to start:
1. Good roof insulation is critical to preventing heat loss during cold months, thus minimizing energy usage for heating purposes. On flat roofs (e.g. high-rise buildings), planting green roofs is a good idea.
2. Set up a rainwater collection system (e.g. along the eaves trough). Roof run-off can be collected and used for lawn care, car washing, and other non-drinking purposes, thus minimizing use of costly treated water.
3. Pave as little as possible. Make walkways water permeable (e.g. stones, not pavement) so that rain can seep into the soil.4. Buy a hybrid car (electrical and conventional fuel mix, or biofuel powered e.g. ethanol) or at least a non gas-guzzler to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Offset car trips with walking, biking, blading or transit when possible. Honda makes some descent hybrids, as does VW. Anything American is usually the worst in terms of pollution.
5. Have natural landscaping around the house. Plant native plants, and do not maintain lawns that require a lot of care (watering, herbicides, etc). If you live in a dry part of the world, you should not have a lawn (stones, shrubs, cacti, etc. can make a yard look just as nice) Invasive species are a no-no…obsessive lawn-moving and planting of annuals, likewise. You'll be a pulluter and a hated neighbour.
6. Plant an organic vegetable garden (No pesticides and artificial fertilizers). Keep a compost heap for fertilization and to reduce household waste.
7. Solar panels installed on the roof would provide additional electricity for the household in addition to the wind turbines (8). Any excess electrical generation could be stored for future domestic use, or put back into the public grid (sold to the electrical company). When in short supply, the household would supplement its energy needs by drawing from the public grid. Note: it is also possible to buy panels that use sunlight to heat water by running cold water (connected to your regular drinking water system) through a series of pipes in the panel until heated by the sun, and ready for use. This would reduce need for furnaces and boilers.
8. Portable wind turbines. (see #7.) A major part of the household’s energy grid, could easily generate enough power for the household, with potential for a surplus which could be sold to the public grid for profit or to offset other servicing costs. Imagine sending your electrical company a bill for your services…sweet!
9. Have lots of windows (good quality/insulation). It will increase heat absorption in cold months, and allow for well lit living quarters, decreasing the need for electrical lighting.
10. Plant fruit trees in the backyard. Again, organic. Lots of tasty healthy treats plus shade for the soil to prevent scorching in the summer and of course ideal for hammocks.
On the inside, how about having energy saving pulbs and other appliances, and please stop leaving everything on standby. Turn off your TV for once...no, really turn it off! If you can turn it on with your remote, it's not really off, it's on standby, and uses a surprising amount of energy in that state...24 hours per day. You're not missing much anyway, just another "scientist" a.k.a. oil industry lobbyist trying to convince simple minds that global warming is a myth. Simply unplug things when not using them. And in the winter/fall seasons, why are people still walking around barefoot and in T-shirts at home? Turn the thermostat down a bit, and dress for the weather sauna freaks! Same goes for the sweater wearing A/C junkies in the summer. I'll never forget freezing my butt off in the scorching days of summer inside a movie theatre blasting the A/C while showing An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary about our need to stop over consumption which leads to global warming. It's all on those damn bugs' fault!
posted by Desiderius1979 @ 9:54 AM
8 Comments:
To avoid being "all talk", I've taken steps to reduce my personal carbon emissions. I've got my little place running on less than the power needed to run a coffee machine. My secret: I don't drink coffee. Plus, electronics are unplugged when not in use. A/C was used maybe twice all year (briefly, and at the expense of my closet doors which swelled in the heat to the point of impossible closure...and damaged eye sight of peeping neighbours not down with o' natural). Bike and transit used extensively while car used only when necessary.
Next phase: Plan to implement some tips from the sketch on my folk's property in suburbia, and eventually a hybrid car. Earn my official Environmental Officer badge, so I can tell those unnecessary idlers to shut it off or pay up!
Also, in the long-run (some gyms do this already), generating power from home-based exercise equipment (stationary bikes, elipticals, weights, etc.) to power consols and maybe other electronics in the house. The human body is a power cell that needs to be tapped. E.g. Seiko watches use kinetic energy (wrist motion sensors) to power watches
Very informative post, thank you. Motion sensors and dimmer switches are also good ways to conserve on electricity ... they're not bad for setting the mood either ;)
I'm skeptical about motion sensors (yes they turn off lights when not in use, but don't they require energy to run?)Good call on the dimmers and mood setting though, just remember that petroleum based lubricants support the oil industry so use natural, and torn lace makes great doilies.
Yes the sensor would require a small amount of energy to run, however, they are still quite ideal for businesses and homes with children ... those who may often forget (or choose not) to turn off lights. They are also a good safety feature. In these instances, I think the energy required for the LED and sensor itself are minimal compared to the benefits.
About the lubricants and doilies (as you call them), naughty naughty :P
but definitely something to keep in mind ;)
I see your point in the situations you've presented above...I just thought motion sensors would be annoying if installed in say...one's bedroom...unless you're into flashy club lighting. And yes, kids forget, but they'll never learn if a sensor takes that responsibility completely away. I mean this is a small example but I think ultimately it's human mentality that will need to change to save this planet, and not only new technology to do it all for us.
Another water conservation tip: tandem showers
I do agree that human mentality has to change to save the planet.
However, I think technology should really be used to help this along and not make it worse, as it does in so many cases now (i.e. we should use it to do as much (good) for us as possible).
I think if technology can make a small thing like turning the lights off a mindless task, then we could focus our thoughts on larger issues.
Don't misunderstand, when it comes to kids, yeah they need to be taught some responsibility for their home and also humans are capable of processing more than one thought per day :P but change tends to come in very small doses, and in the meantime our planet is falling apart.
NEWS: SkyPower Corp. a renewable energy provider in Toronto and Maryland's SunEdison LLC., the largest contractor of photovoltaic energy in U.S. are joining forces to create North America's largest solar project. It will consist of 3-5 photovoltaic farms being built in Ontario over the next three years. Each farm will produce 10 megawatts of electricity, enough for 2,400 homes.
Source: The Metro, Nov 7/06
good post, but since when when do you know about cars?
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