Guest guest Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 Hi Butch, I would like to respectfully disagree with your statment that conservation is no more than “warm fuzzies†can only do a limited amount. Conservation is the single most powerful environmental strategy that there is ... implemented throughout the developed world, nothing else could reverse eco-waste more quickly, efficiently and economically. The trouble with conservation as a strategy is that because it's incremental it's hard to connect with the potential cumulative effect. So folks don't feel their contribution will add up. It's also not a sexy strategy because it hinges on personal responsibility and behavioral change and that's a toughie. It's much easier and more comfortable to sit and wait for the silver scientific bullet. But here are some facts I learned when I was part of an environmental lawsuit a while back (on the green side of course!): If every single person in the U.S. alone used low flow flush toilets they would save 3 gallons with every flush (40% of homeowners water costs are for flushing) which would mean a daily savings of at least 300 million gallons! If we all put a brick or two in the toilet tank (1.2 gals saved every flush). A seeping toilet wastes 30 gallons, a leaking toilet wastes 250 gallons and a running toilets trashes 6,000 gallons all of which adds up to some serious water and sewage charges. Fix leaky faucets ... a slow drip wastes 36 gallons, a steady drip 180 gallons, 1/4 open faucet us 684 gallons per day. If we wait a month to fix that faucet? Same figures per month? 1,080. 5,400 and 180,000. Collected and use rainwater, bought the new tumble washers which use 20 gallons per load instead of 55, used shower heads with timers, only ran dishwashers with full loads, stored drinking water in the frig instead of letting run 'til cold, turned off the water while brushing teeth or shaving, compost instead of using trash compacters which use about 5 gallons every time, used mulch, did drive ways with porous pavers which quickly return ground water to its sources, plant local varities in landscaping, use desertscaping instead of grass & trees in hot areas, plant for shade, use windbreaks and worked with the 49 other recommened watersaving strategies on http://www.americanwater.com/49ways.htm, a real difference could be made. And these are only residential strategies. Industrial, mining and agricultural conservation strategies could add equally impressive savings. I firmly believe that one person can make a difference. In fact, I guess I believe that's the only way to effect change ... one committed person at a time. Because the government and big business sure aren't beating the drums on this one. Sorry for the soapbox but this is a something about which I feel incredibly passionate. Jody DayBreak Lavender Farm << That's not to say that we should accept this as inevitable and do nothing about conservation today .. but whatever we do is but a temporary measure that will give us and our kids and grandkids warm fuzzies >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 Hi Jody, > Hi Butch, > I would like to respectfully disagree with your statment that > conservation is no more than " warm fuzzies " can only do a limited amount. I interpreted what Butch was saying to be that as the world population grows over the next several generations the natural resources will shrink, so even if we can preserve something today, it might not be possible to do that down the road ... Yet I do agree with both of you that we should NOT accept this as inevitable and just sit around, go ho hum and do nothing about it through conservation and smart actions! > Conservation > is the single most powerful environmental strategy that there is ... > implemented throughout the developed world, nothing else could reverse eco-waste more > quickly, efficiently and economically. > The trouble with conservation as a strategy is that because it's > incremental it's hard to connect with the potential cumulative effect. So folks don't > feel their contribution will add up. Sort of like putting a few pennies in a jar every day. It doesn't seem like anything until one day you count it up and there is enough money in there to buy something really cool > It's also not a sexy strategy because it > hinges on personal responsibility and behavioral change and that's a toughie. > It's much easier and more comfortable to sit and wait for the silver > scientific bullet. Hey! That sounds like the same problem we have with folks taking responsibility for their health issues, and a multitude of other things too! > But here are some facts I learned when I was part of an > environmental lawsuit a while back (on the green side of course!): > If every single person in the U.S. alone used low flow flush toilets they would save 3 gallons with every flush (40% of homeowners water costs are for flushing) which would mean a daily savings of at least 300 million gallons! And thank heavens' they have improved low flush toilets so one doesn't have to flush anything more than a tinkle 3 times (in the end using more water). The new ones work quite well. > If we all put a brick or two in the toilet tank (1.2 gals saved every > flush). HA! I was talking to my husband about doing that just last night. He thinks I'm obsessed with putting bricks in toilets (I did that in the last house too ;-p)*lol* > A seeping toilet wastes 30 gallons, a leaking toilet wastes 250 gallons > and a running toilets trashes 6,000 gallons all of which adds up to some > serious water and sewage charges. > Fix leaky faucets ... a slow drip wastes 36 gallons, a steady drip 180 > gallons, 1/4 open faucet us 684 gallons per day. If we wait a month to fix that > faucet? Same figures per month? 1,080. 5,400 and 180,000. And those are all pretty easy fixes, some of them cost only 35 cents - the price of a rubber washer! Even I can change a washer, and I can be a real spaz at times > Collected and use rainwater, We learned the past several years in Colorado how important that could be. There is an ongoing drought there and there have been watering restrictions, water usage surcharges, and other measures in place to save water there. Saving the water from the few rainstorms wed get was a great way to keep some of the plants in the garden alive. There was a gentleman who even invented some kind of system to reclaim your bath/shower water for garden use, and then the water company was trying to sue him or something like that, cause they claimed you couldn't re-use the water, it was theirs once it was supposed to go down the drain, or something ridiculous like that ... Anyway - I'm in a wetland area of Texas now, so I'll probably be dealing with other kinds of water issues now ;p > bought the new tumble washers which use 20 > gallons per load instead of 55, I got one of those for this house! It is AWESOME,and cleans the laundry SO much better too! I love my Kenmore Elite set. It was more expensive initially, but its also worth every penny and will pay for itself over time. > used shower heads with timers, Not gonna do it ;-p I'm not even guaranteed a shower every day with these kids (I try hard though *lol*) and when I do get the luxury of showering it is the only time that I get any peace, and usually not even then (I still have a child coming in going " Mommy, I want ... " *lol*, so I milk it for all I can! > only ran dishwashers with full loads, Do that, AND I got a high efficiency dishwasher too! SO it uses less water and less energy I went all out on the appliances for this place! > stored drinking water in the frig instead of letting run > 'til cold, Cold water isn't so good for your belly anyway And since I use washcloths instead of baby wipes, I keep them in a little wipes warmer so we don't have to run the tap forever to wait for the water to heat up (cause the water heater is in the attic and it takes a while to get the hot water downstairs) > turned off the water while brushing teeth or shaving, That is another easy easy one that everyone can handle! > compost instead of using trash compacters which use about 5 gallons every time, used mulch, And it is so much cheaper to use your food scraps instead of buying the darn bags of compost every spring! A fabulous freebie! And growing gardens and some of one's own food is also a great way to put less pressure on the environment (and tastier too!) > did drive ways with porous pavers which quickly return ground water to its > sources, plant local varities in landscaping, use desertscaping instead of > grass & trees in hot areas, plant for shade, use windbreaks and worked with the 49 > other recommened watersaving strategies on > http://www.americanwater.com/49ways.htm, a real difference could be made. > And these are only residential strategies. Industrial, mining and > agricultural conservation strategies could add equally impressive savings. > I firmly believe that one person can make a difference. In fact, I guess > I believe that's the only way to effect change ... one committed person at a > time. Because the government and big business sure aren't beating the drums on > this one. And I agree, there is a REAL difference that can be made, and the more that individuals do, the better. I don't think we should always expect to leave everything up to somebody else, or some big organization. Also, as far as business and gov't goes, business and gov't are all about consumer and voter pressure. When individuals put their money is where business will take their products and their policies. Where voters put their votes is where politicians and gov't will shift their policies and legislation. It is all up to US, the individuals, not somebody else. But we need more folks to be committed to lifestyles that promote a future for the next generations. I see it like this - some folks can do a lot more with $1000 than other folks. Smart planning and good strategy with that $1000 can mean the difference between one fun night on the town, and one whole month of living happily. If we do it right we can manage to sustain population growth and sustain a healthy planet for them to live on too. > Sorry for the soapbox but this is a something about which I feel > incredibly passionate. > Jody > DayBreak Lavender Farm Happy holidays! Oh, and that reminds me, although I do use some wrapping paper for larger gifts (and I get wrapping made from recycled paper), I prefer to use a lot of beautiful cloth & durable paper gift bags with pretty ribbons attached to them, which I re-use every year. I've had some for over a decade now! Its those little things that make the biggest difference ... *Smile* Chris (list mom) http://www.alittleolfactory.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.