I’m Using Up 3–9 Planets.
At the rate I’m consuming, I’m using up 3–9 planets, according to the carbon footprint calculator at Earth Day Network.
This was surprising to me because over the last 14 years, I have reduced my energy and consumer habits dramatically.
· I drive about 15% of what I did in 2010 (when the BP Oil Spill erupted), and “fill up” about once a month. Most Americans are using 1.6 gallons of gasoline per day; mine equates to a little over ½ gallon/day (source: @EIAgov).
· I have driven the same car for the last 16 years ensuring there is one less car in the landfills
· I purchase food from local farmer’s markets, mostly organic — limiting the gasoline and pollution from trucking food from far away. This is more nutritious, too.
· I shop with reusable canvas or paper bags
· I walk or ride a bike for most of my errands
· I telecommute for work
· I opt for natural lighting, adjusting my work space throughout the day to avoid turning on lights. When I do turn on the lights the mantra is, “On when I enter and off when I leave”
· I use LED lighting instead of CFLs or incandescent lighting
· I find ways (opening and closing doors, windows and blinds) to keep my heating and cooling needs to a minimum
· I buy well-made, classically designed clothes that I can reuse and often adopt a “uniform” approach to daily ware to reduce the amount of clothing that I purchase
· I avoid plastic and opt for recycled plastic and paper as much as possible
· When I travel I use public transportation
· I gift heartfelt personal items as much as possible
· I use a reusable stainless steel water bottle and reusable coffee containers
· I’ve adopted “cleansing reduction” — opting for strategic cleansing rather than daily showers (better for my skin, too!)
And still I’m using up at least three planets worth of resources — more than Earth can offer.
So, what gives? The developed world is simply unsustainable. Like it or not, our fuel and electricity is still sourced largely from fossil fuels. According to the Energy Information Administration (@EIAgov), in 2015, about 4 trillion kilowatts of electricity was produced, with 67% coming from coal, natural gas and petroleum.
All of this carbon pollution is generated to satisfy my needs and those of my fellow developed world denizens.
So, what happens when smart, sustainable people start reaching beyond their own lives and into their communities? We have the power for change. 10 years ago, it wasn’t safe to ride a bike in Santa Monica. Now the city is very bike-friendly. Learn about others who are transforming their lives and communities in the new, free, Earth Day Gratitude mini ebook (@EarthDayThanks). The ebook features contributions from @RainbowLightNS (developers of Ecoguard(r) 100% recycled plastic packaging), H.R.H. The Prince of Wales (one of the most respected visionaries in sustainability) @ClarenceHouse, @DeepakChopra, @LivingHomes, and more.
Modern cities are designed, as urban planner and theorist pioneer Leon Krier puts it, to be a “global waste of time, land and energy, mobilizing the entire population in the performance of daily tasks.” There is a way to create a community, even in big cities.
That’s what the Earth Day Gratitude project is all about. Learn what a sustainable planet needs and how easy it is for each of us to be the change we wish to see by powering up the gratitude for Mother Earth and getting as close to personal net zero for one hour, between 7:30–8:30 p.m. in your own time zone, at least once a month and on Earth Day each April 22nd. You can sign up to receive monthly #SustainableSunday tips and resources at http://earthdaygratitude.com/.
Download the ebook now to learn how to slash your energy bill by half or more, replace grass with gardens at your local schools and in your community, test your own carbon footprint, walk and bike for daily errands and much more. Not only is this healthier for the planet, but it is also healthier for us personally — physically and fiscally.
Testing my own carbon footprint was a wake-up call. Instead of patting myself on the back for planting a tree once a year, or giving lip service to the idea that Earth Day is every day, I accept the responsibility that there so much more to learn and to change. I hope you’ll join me, and I welcome your feedback, insights, comments, etc.
#EarthDayGratitude
#SustainableSunday
