I started 'going green' as an effort to save money. I changed out some light bulbs, basically. I live in north Texas with a pool, so there is plenty of electricity being consumed. Historically I had seen going green as a reaction to global warming and big 'save the planet' talk. As a conservative, you are conditioned to doubt that global warming is caused by humans and you think of the green movement as 'tree hugger' crazy stuff. I started thinking that maybe there were other reasons to be a good steward of the world where we live. How does what you do on a daily basis impact others? Where does aluminum come from? How is paper made? What happens to all those plastic bags? What is the impact to my health from the coal burning to create electricity? I read "Serve God, Save the Planet: A Christian Call to Action" (Paperback)by J. Matthew, M.D. Sleeth . While it wasnt' the 'best book' I have ever read, and he wandered beyond the environmental question some, the book did help see how the decisions I make impact those around me and if I do simple things I can improve life for everyone. Here are some of the things we have done:
Changed to compact fluorscent light bulbs
Stop getting plastic bags at the grocery
Compost house hold waste
Increase the amount we recycle (at least 5 times as much, you would be amazed at what you can recycle. I'll save it for the next post)
Shut off my network equipment at night
These are just a few easy things.
OK, that's all for now. Maybe i'll inspire you.
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9 comments:
A big yeah for your blog!
The contentious debate over the cause of "global warming"---man made or natural cycle--is a waste of "energy'. To conserve , recycle be good stewards is worthwhile regardless. If our only motive was to be energy independent as a nation, it would be hugeley significant economically, politically and strategically. I will appreciate hearing what you've learned and try to implement changes here.
Hi Jeff-
Since everthing is connected to everything else in nature, I'm quite sure that man has an impact on global warming, it's just a matter of the direction and extent of the impact.
In my view (as well as climatologist Richard Lindzen of MIT among others), the current models of climate are no where near capable of predicting the extent of our impact relative to other effects. If they were, our weather forecasts would work a decade in advance. My best guess is that Global Warming is a secular religion used by politicians to rationalize a new global taxation scheme.
But, as you note, none of that matters.
I don't need a politician to use fear to motivate me to do what's right. In my view (and Benjamin Franklin's as well), knowing, needless waste is both wrong and unwise, and should be continually thought about and reduced regardless of the messages we get from our government or others.
In short I agree with you, and I'm glad that you are doing something about waste.
Pete
Pete,
I agree with your “secular religion” comment. I think it is that element that makes environmentalism so appealing to post-moderns who, while they disdain organized religion, still crave a way to prove they are good. It is also why mainline Christians get freaked out by going green and call it nature-worship.
Jennifer
After visiting the eco-Wilkin house over the holidays I started noticing how often we leave all our lights on for hours. The worst is the bath with 4, 120w floods.
I may go dig the recycling bin out of the attic today; we've never used our bin once. I suspect SL has no recycling plant, it’s all a ruse to keep up the appearance of recycling.
I am curious how the SL recycling works. Since they pre-sort it at the truck, what happens at the facility? Probably, just refined sorting and shipping to the mills. I know for a while they wouldn't take glass in SL.
Very excited to see your blog, Jeff. Reading it over the weekend was like talking to you and hearing what you guys are up to.
Also excited to hear about what you are doing about your impact on the environment. As has been mentioned, we really don't know to what extent the warming we are experiencing is due to our actions. Personally I'd rather not wait to be 100% sure since that will be too late, and because there are a lot of other reasons to want a healthy environment. What we are doing to our earth is directly impacting the kind of life our children and their children will experience. To me that's argument enough.
I am especially interested that you are composting. Very cool! We started composting about a year ago and I am amazed at how much less garbage we generate. Here in NYC I keep it in the freezer and drop it off once a week at the greenmarket, where there is an organization that turns it into soil. Of course we have no use for soil in our apartment so this way someone else can use it.
Looking forward to visiting the eco-Wilkin pad sometime soon. You should get the kids to power the pool heater with a stationary bike. Do you think they'd dig it?
Carol
I have been composting yard waste for about 15 years. It makes great soil. It is amazing how 3 cubic yards of leaves becomes about 1 yard of compost. The added bonus are the earth worms. They are great bait for fishing.
So are you composting kitchen scraps or just yard waste?
This year we started adding the kitchen waste to the yard waste.
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