so let’s consider what it means if we understand that climate change is real … it means we have to appreciate what we already have, be satisfied with having our needs met every day, and re-think our pressing desires to consistently indulge in ‘extras’ … because once you begin the cycle of wanting more all the time, it becomes difficult to separate needs from wants …

for example, i would argue that replacing your current electronics or appliances that still work for newer models simply because the latest fanciest features are fun or attractive is a want rather than a need … i’m not talking about replacing old appliances (e.g., 10+ years) with more energy-efficient models …

changing your car every few years because the latest roadsters are always blisteringly hot is a want, not a need … my views are far more radical than this, but i have no right to chastise other people’s lifestyles … what i think would be more constructive and fair is if i humbly offer a short list of suggestions for minimizing your impact:

– Earth Hour was a start, and a super one … (and by the way, Earth Day is approaching soon — April 22nd!!) … simple actions like turning off lights when not in use is truly an easy and common-sense habit to adopt … ditto for the computer, t.v., radio that can be powered off each time they are idle …

– speaking of idle, refraining from idling your car is a *huge* way to decrease your emissions … warming up your car for 2—5 minutes during sub-zero temperatures is one thing … letting your car fume exhaust for several minutes while you chat with a friend or look at a map can be an easy and painless habit to break …

– i don’t need to remind people that walking and cycling impact the planet far less than driving a car or taking a taxi … however, not-so-common knowledge is the really neat application of technology for developing “Earth-friendly” products for biomechanical energy harvesting and piezoelectric energy generation … (peizoelectricity is generated by the compression of specific substances that produce an electric current when squeezed or pressed) … cool!!

– re-use glass jars instead of tossing them into the recycling bin … (see this post for ideas)

– build a toilet dam … make like a beaver and place an empty, sealed plastic jug or glass jar into your toilet tank … this will decrease the amount of water you use with each flush …

– while on the topic of flushing toilets, i’m glad some countries are finally catching onto the popular ½ flush toilets that have been used in Europe for decades (they’re also popular in New Zealand and Australia) … pee gets ½ a flush (approximately 0.8 gallons or 3 litres) and poo gets a full flush (equivalent to about 1.6 gallons or 6 L) compared with the North American standard of a whopping 7 gallons (26.5 L) per flush! … there are 2 buttons on each toilet so the user has the discretion of choosing how much water is required for toilet bowl waste removal! …

– turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth

– purchase wisely –- buy in bulk when possible (and bring your own containers) and choose items with less packaging … give manufacturers the message that you’re not interested in paying extra $ for superfluous gimicky packaging …

– add borax to your laundry to reduce the amount of detergent you use

– avoid purchasing electrical items that are just as functional without electricity … e.g., mechanical can openers are just as effective as electric ones … air fresheners really don’t need to be “plugged in”

– better yet, use organic essential oils to freshen your home instead of buying synthetic chemical air fresheners that are actually toxic to you, your family, your pets, your house plants, and wildlife …

– love your house plants … plants such as spider plants and peace lilies literally clean the air in your home, add unparalleled beauty, and infuse your indoors with oxygen

ok, now it’s your turn … what are your ideas for making easy changes that reduce use of natural resources and production of pollution?