Discipline over convenience

I don't need plastic grocery bags from the store. I remember reusable bags or I carry stuff out by hand. 

I don't need to take the straw that is given to me, I say thanks no straw and go without or use my own stainless steel straw.

I don’t need a single use coffee cup with a logo on it, I bring my own clean refillable cup and hand it to them when I order. I’ve never had anyone refuse to fill it and if I did I’d be finding a new coffee shop to patronize.

I don't need individual plastic water bottles. I bring a reusable one everywhere. 

I don't need to eat off of paper plates at home. I wash dishes. 

I don't need to take single use plastic utensils, I say thanks, no utensils because I carry a little reusable pack in my bag. 

There is privilege wrapped up in each of these, but most people reading here can afford the reusable bottle, bag, straw, and utensils and most of us have access to clean tap or filtered water. Not using any of the above mentioned single use items is not a sacrifice and it’s not difficult. It's being mindful of creating less trash.

Our desire to never be inconvenienced or have to think ahead is contributing to the pollution of the planet. If you use a set of throw away silverware every day and everyone else does too, where do you think the fork + knife wrapped in plastic x 365 days goes? It doesn't break down. And that’s just your trash from one encounter of single use plastic, no one else’s. 

For most of us, there is absolutely zero reason for the use of single use anything. Single use items place our individual desire for convenience over the collective need for a livable planet. When we lack discipline about what we eat or drink or how little we exercise or almost anything else, that impacts us and very few other people. When we assert our right to make as much trash as we want to, we impact the world at large. 

Because at the end of the day, that’s what we’re doing when we push back against more sustainable living or forget or make excuses about why we need the throw away item  - we are asserting our right to use something once and throw it away. We are essentially demanding to be able to make more trash. Do we realize how ridiculous that is? Most of us hate trash: it smells, litter is terrible, we don’t want to take it out...yet we excuse ourselves into being able to create as much of it as we want because it’s more convenient to use something and throw it away. That’s wild.

I'm not perfect in regards to sustainability. I never have been and I never will be. I used to excuse myself, which allowed me to act like I felt so bad while still allowing myself to be comfortable and avoid inconvenience. Oh, I forgot my bag! I hate to do it, but I'll just take the bag one time. Nope. Now if I forget the bag, I carry it out by hand or I don't go to the store. If I forget the reusable coffee cup, I don’t buy coffee out. There are consequences to actions, and we shouldn’t be letting ourselves off the hook at the expense of the planet. I got sick of my own shit so I stopped making excuses for myself. I wasn’t doing my best and it was time to stop telling myself I was. Seeing all the plastic trash washing in from the ocean every weekend for more than eight months out of the year has sent me to a more militant place on single use plastics. 

Is this coming off as preachy? I used to try to avoid doing that when discussing living more sustainably, but at this point I seriously don't give a fuck. We all know how much plastic waste is being generated. Have we not seen photos of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? Are we ignoring that fish are swallowing microplastics so they're now in our food chain? At what point will we stop excusing ourselves from our part in consumption and actually stop consuming so mindlessly? And yes, I know corporations should clean their shit up before people, but we have to do something, and we should be pushing corporations to be better ecological citizens as well. If we stop taking the bags and the straws and the utensils, they’ll eventually stop making them. 

Before everything was takeaway food, people did eat and survive without all the packaging that makes our to go world run today. There are ways around mindlessly taking what we’re given. Living a life less throw away requires mindfulness and discipline. 

Is it convenient? Not always. But it’s worth it. 

Can Steel Buildings Help Reduce Pressure on the Planet's Resources?

Tree in Limpopo Province, South Africa, from our trip in January 2016

I spend a lot of time thinking about my carbon footprint these days, especially in this science denying atmosphere, but that's a topic for another day. This week I got my shipment of Bee's Wax, which replaces saran wrap in my kitchen, and I was more excited about that than the new pair of athleisure shoes that also arrived that same day. So you could say this is a hot topic for me. I was glad to have this article sent my way to share.

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The real estate industry is one of the biggest reasons for deforestation. This is true not only because of the huge chunks of the forest that manmade structures continue to take up but also because of the tremendous amount of wood that is necessary to build houses and other structures. There are also plenty of other ways in which real estate negatively affects the planet. The good news is that there is a way to lessen at least some of those harmful impacts of construction by opting for steel buildings when possible. They have multiple eco-friendly advantages over traditional construction and we will take a look at those benefits now.

Save the Trees

If we run out of trees, the earth’s oxygen levels would dip by roughly half of what it is today and air pollution would rise to lethal levels in all parts of the world. This would basically kill off the majority of the human and animal population on the planet. Everyone who is taking the decision to buy steel buildings is contributing towards delaying such an environmental catastrophe. The construction of a 2,000 square foot house basically means that roughly an acre of trees has to be cut down to provide the necessary wood. A steel construction of similar proportions, on the other hand, doesn’t make it necessary to cut down even a single tree. Just a few thousand pounds of scrap metal from the junkyard and that’s about it. Consider the number of trees it would save if steel replaced wood as the more popular building material.

Save Energy

Pre-painted and granular-coated roofing solutions in steel buildings can either deflect the sun to keep things cool inside during the hot summer months, or it can absorb the solar heat and raise the temperature inside when it’s freezing outside. As you can imagine, this helps to save energy in terms of heating and cooling solutions. Environmental control inside a building is a major reason for high energy consumption, so by curbing that, steel buildings automatically reduce the pressure on our limited energy resources.

The Green Certification

The National Green Building Program, the US Green Building Council’s LEED program, and most other agencies that are responsible for certifying environmentally friendly construction methods in the USA have certified steel as one of the greenest construction material available today. The process is already in motion, and as time passes on, the measures and requirements put in place to protect the environment against reckless industrial and residential constructions will become stricter. Steel buildings could possibly even become the norm in many places in the coming years.

Concepts like global warming, plastic accumulation in the ocean, and ozone depletion have slowly started to leave the realms of speculation and affect us directly. It is absolutely essential for each of us to do what we can to protect the environment so that the future generations can have a healthy life. Steel constructions could very well be a responsible step in that direction, as far as the impact of real estate on the environment is concerned.

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Thoughts? What else can we do to save the trees? 

How to be Eco-Friendly at Home

We only have one planet, and we don't treat her well. Every day is earth day but most of us forget that. I've shared what I do at home to be more eco-friendly, and I continue to really think about what I'm doing in my house and the impact it has on the earth. I don't compost, yet...I need to get on that. And I'm interested in Nest, discussed below. Here are some tips from Jesse Hughes:

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Going green starts at home. From recycling and composting to using eco-friendly products, there are a handful of simple, everyday practices that you can put into action to make your home a more sustainable and green place to live.

Choose Earth-Friendly Home Products

Say goodbye to those harsh, chemical-ridden products in your bathroom and kitchen; say hello to something that’s both eco-friendly and safe for your family as well as the environment. The Environmental Working Group has reported that the chemicals and cleaning agents found in many common household cleaning items can lead to birth defects, asthma risks, respiratory issues, chemical burns and cancer.

Consider checking out Amway.com for safer, eco-friendly options. Here, you can find dozens of household and everyday products that are safe for you, your family and the planet.

Avoid Unnecessary Waste

The United States makes up one-third of the global trash that exists, even though our country accounts for only 5 percent of the world's population, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Data reported by Virginia Tech shows that 65 percent of Americans do not recycle simply because it’s too confusing, takes too much work and isn’t required.

The effort to cut back on waste starts at home. You can recycle your unwanted glass bottles and plastics, and compost paper products and food waste such as banana and orange peels and egg shells. It’s easier than you might think. The experts at Gardener's Supply Company offer tips to make learning how to compost simple.

Save Energy

A smart thermostat can not only save energy, it can also save you money. There are hundreds of “smart” devices on the market; many of these items are probably already in use in your own home. Why should your home’s thermostat be any different?

Consider updating that old thermostat to Nest, a smart thermostat that is programmable directly from your smartphone. The thermostat can even sense when nobody is home and turn off your heating or cooling to save energy. Nest is even smart enough to learn your settings and preferences.

Look for Eco-Labels

Many of today’s appliances are not only state-of-the-art but eco-friendly as well. Manufacturers have made it easier for consumers to make informed decisions about what they are purchasing at the store by adding eco-labels to their products. You’ve likely seen these labels, such as the Energy Star sticker, on your home’s appliances or on products in the stores.

According to the Department of Energy, Energy Star-rated dishwashers use 41 percent less energy than other dishwashers without the eco-label. Washing machines with the label can cut water usage by 40 percent. If you’re ready to update your home appliances, consider Energy Star-rated products to save money and energy.

Teach It

One of the best ways to carry on a legacy of sustainability is to teach what you practice. Encourage your entire family to recycle or compost. Talk with your kids and engage in an educational discussion about the health of the planet and what it means for all of the plants and animals living here.

The best way to encourage action from those closest to you is to lead by example. It’s not hard to do. Start small and you might just see big changes.

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What are your eco-friendly practices within your home?