The 3 R's To A Sustainable Lifestyle

The Green Movement is a quickly evolving reality made up of many facets and perspectives. After spending seven years immersed in Green business it is finally becoming clear that the only path forward is to practice what I preach. The 3 R's To A Sustainable Lifestyle was initially put together to get a better handle on our family's energy consumption habits in order to live more efficient lives and to eventually become net-zero impact humans. As they say, easier said then done! Several months into this effort, there is still a huge pile of packages downstairs waiting to be recycled, I still occasionally drive too fast, leave the computer on when not in use, take long showers, go through paper like it is never-ending, make unnecessary trips in the car, purchase food that has traveled 1000s of miles and is packaged in throw-away plastic, etc. etc. So, what's the point then!? Every positive effort counts and over time each efficient act adds up and results in real reductions in consumption and real monetary savings.

Reduce

Identify what goods I need and don’t need. Cutting back on unnecessary consumption is the first step in reduction.

Make purchases in bulk whenever possible. Make a list of items that can be purchased in bulk.. remember, bulk cuts down on packaging and logistic costs.

Grow as much of your own food supply as possible. Use a green house for winter   months if budget permits.

Purchase locally sourced goods and food wherever possible (the negative impact of massive food supply chains are  enormous)

Shop at Farmers Markets where possible

Use cloth or re-used bags for shopping. Bring your own fruit and produce bags. No new plastic or paper bags.

Avoid heavily packaged goods, even if they are desirable things

Only use lights when necessary. Turn lights off when you leave the house or a room!!

Open refrigerator only when necessary, i.e. remove and return all food for a meal at the same time instead of one item at a time.

Turn down heat when leaving the house and at night

Turn off A/C when not at home

Open and shut doors quickly in cold and hot weather

Use electronic documents in place of printed paper whenever possible

Use public transportation

Carpool

Drive efficiently, ie - no greater than 65 mph and keep RPM below 3000 (savings are significant for driving between 55-60 mph compared to 70-75 mph: http://www.mpgforspeed.com/)

Maximize car trips, for example go to stores 1x week instead of 2x, etc.

Purchase a hybrid, electric or alternative fuel vehicle if budget permits

Un-subscribe from printed newspapers, periodicals and advertisements (ie, www.redplum.com)

Use paperless banking and billing when possible
Go to www.optoutprescreen.com to stop senseless credit card offers that use TONS of paper

Refuse extra printed receipts (non-cash transactions are tracked digitally)

Minimize shower time and frequency

Use Dishwasher in place of hand washing (uses ½ the energy: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/08/dishwasher_vs_h.php)

Use minimal amount of cooking ware and dishes for meals. The best way to save energy is by not using it. Less dishes means less water and less energy.

Minimize extra and unnecessary hygiene products, ie hair-products, non-essential soap, perfume, etc.  Make your own essential hygiene products such as tooth paste (powder), deodorant, hair products, etc.

Work from home, ie - use skype for meetings in place of traveling

Avoid fast food chains that use enormous amounts of packaging

Do not buy goods that use “designed for the dump” packaging

Avoid using paper towels.. both at home and public. Paper towels have a heavy environmental impact

Avoid plastic toys and products where possible (plastic toys and “stuff” are designed to break easily so they must be replaced often.)

Install latest Energy Efficiency upgrades if budget permits (note: Do NOT replace perfectly good appliances for small energy upgrades.. wait till appliance lifetime is up. it is not efficient to throw away working machinary)

Utilize renewable energy if budget permits. Renewable Energy can become a cash generating mechanism after initial investment is paid off. Many programs are in place to minimize or completely fund up-front costs.

- Solar PV, Wind Energy, Bioenergy, Microhydro, Electric Vehicles, etc. etc

Do business with certified Green companies (do some research to make sure they are involved in green initiatives)

Install CFLs as replacement for incandescent lights. Note: CFLs must be properly recycled as they contain Mercury. Do not replace working light bulbs with new CFLs, wait until old bulbs burn out.

Install LED lights if budget permits

Avoid the use of chemical products in all their forms

Avoid bottled water and juice (the negative impact of plastic bottles is enormous as a small fraction are actually recycled)

Consider Supply Chain impacts when making purchases

Eat moderate portions of food (Reduce means consume less!)

Purchase energy efficient home appliances (especially energy hogs like refrigerators,  microwaves, dishwashers, washing machine, furnace, dryers, TV and computers)

Turn appliances off when not in use. Use a energy management plug or unplug when possible

Hang dry cloths

Use the stairs instead of the elevator (great exercise too!)

Raise chickens for eggs and other livestock for meat

Hunt and fish and process meat in place of buying from a grocery store

To save water from toilet flushes (4 gallons/flush): “When it’s yellow, let it mellow, when it is brown, flush it down!”

Implement a "no electricity" evening per week. Use candles and enjoy the time “off the grid”.

Use a list when shopping as this helps to stay focused and reduce unnecessary purchases

Weatherize your home!
Be aware of the consumption of "phantom" loads, which can represent as much as 10% of home consumption. A phantom load is caused by electrical appliances that are turned off but still plugged in and draining energy. A Phantom Load is like a slow water leak.
http://blog.cleantechies.com/2011/05/03/phantom-power-%E2%80%93-a-huge-waste-of-resources/

http://www.psfk.com/2011/05/turning-sustainable-sourcing-into-a-story-worth-hearing.html

http://www.psfk.com/2011/06/the-global-food-crisis-abcd-of-food-%E2%80%93-how-the-multinationals-dominate-trade.html/


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/us/26cable.html?_r=2&hp

Reuse / Re-purpose

Thrift Store shopping (extra benefit: no chemicals on cloths)

Find creative uses for throw-away containers

Refillable beer and other beverages (ie, Copper Canyon)

Purchase used furniture

Use the barter system instead of purchasing new where possible

Compost, use a closed system for tightly spaced neighborhoods or apartments

Wear cloths more than once when possible (washing and drying uses TONS of energy)

Install a Petrosaver oil refiner on motor vehicles (eliminates the need for oil changes)

Re-use paper!!  many times we throw away perfectly good paper with printing on one side. Avoid this!

Re-use Ziplock bags as much as possible

Trade cloths and “stuff” with friends!  Barter is cool!

Be creative!! Make your own furnature out of scraps: http://www.psfk.com/2011/03/upcycling-common-materials-into-minimalist-furniture-pics.html

Eat a fresh diet and minimize meat consumption: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kerry-trueman/forks-over-knives-putting_b_862901.html?ir=Green

Recycle

Cans

Bottles

Plastic

Card-board

Paper

Wood

Electronics

Toxic Materials, ie batteries

Motor Oil

Food Oil

Note: Do not recycle cardboard or anything with oil stains on it. ie, Pizza boxes, oil filter boxes, etc.

Statistics
The Average American uses 250 kWh/day of Energy!! It would take a 50 kW Solar PV system with an estimated installation cost of $250,000 to cover that energy demand for each person!!


Here are some numbers:



- 50 kWh/day for heating & cooling your home & workplace (2.7 kWh/mile and 12,000 miles/year)


- 20 kWh/day for flying, budgeting 4000 mile/year (1.8 kWh/mile)


- 4 kWh/day for lighting


- 5 kWh/day for gadgets such as cell phones, computers, TVs, etc.


- 15 kWh/day for growing and fertilization of food


- 50 kWh/day for mining, producing, using and disposing "stuff", including packaging, computers, houses, roads, etc.


- 12 kWh/day for transporting that "stuff"


- 2 kWh/day for National Defense


Source: Low Energy Astrophysics, http://www.boingboing.net/2011/04/29/low-energy-astrophys.html