- Groundwork laid for reducing waste going to landfill
- Buying necessities in 100% recycled varieties
- Forced to decrease water use--toilet dams
- I encourage whoever happens to be doing the shopping to use cloth bags
- Put food in oven during preheat, leave oven door open after food is cooked
- Use grill, especially during summer to reduce heat inside
- Leave skylights open in winter, closed in summer
- Keep air pressure in car tires high--improve gas mileage
- Using reusable containers
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Family Participation
Toilet Dam Extra 5/10
For those of us who still own standard flush toilets that use about 1.6 gallons of water each time they're flushed; Colin recommends placing plastic cups of water in the toilet tank. This decreases the amount of water needed to flush by the capacity of the container. All three of the toilets in my house have at least one toilet dam, and one has space for two. I believe wholeheartedly in using materials for their entire useful life and retrofitting those implements so they're environmentally friendly. When one of our toilets breaks, instead of repairing it, we'll install a water saving split flush toilet.
My toilet dams:
My toilet dams:
Electronics into Power Strip Extra 4/10
In order to eliminate the phenomenon referred to as vampire power, where electronic devices still use electricity even if they're off; I plug my computer, laptop, and cell phone charger into a power strip that I turn off every night. This eliminates any worry about wasting electricity and money on devices that aren't in use.
Daylighting Extra 3/10
-Colin suggests using natural light from the exterior to light interior spaces. Incorporating day lit areas is a growing trend in the construction sector. Upstairs in my house, we are blessed to have three roof windows that let in a lot of natural light. In the winter time, we make sure to leave the shades open; allowing the sun to assist the heat pump is warming the house. In the summertime though, we make sure to keep the shades closed so the air conditioner won't have to work so hard; saving electricity and money.
Heating and Cooling (Extra 2/10)
-Colin suggests adapting to the weather by turning the heat down and wearing more clothes in the winter; while turning the air conditioning up and using other methods to cool your body during the summer. I can say that during the winter, I prefer the heat to stay around 62 degrees; I like the house to be a little chilly. During the summer, I keep the air conditioning at the highest temperature possible; but this is a lot harder given our hot and humid summers in the piedmont.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Trash! Steps 1-4
1. The image below illustrates the products that I used for less than ten minutes, and the products that I used for more than ten minutes.
2. Guideline two for trash calls for the establishment of a mobile reusable eating kit, including tupperware, a container for hot and cold liquids, utensils, and a cloth towel. Many of these items I already carry with me on a daily basis. As the class can probably attest to, I eat my oatmeal out of a tupperware container each morning in first block. I always take this tupperware, which is usually reused lunchmeat packaging, home with me to wash it. Also, everyday I bring real silverware with which to eat my oatmeal, so there're usually quite a few utensils in the bottom of my backpack. Every morning, I bring my Circle K or Panthers coffee cup with my coffee or tea to first block. For the rest of the day, I carry my Nalgene and fill up with water at school water fountains. Something I need to start carrying around are reused bags to collect my compostables and recyclable materials when no receptacles are available. The picture below shows my routine travel kit. My mom and younger brother are generally good about using reusable receptacles for their liquids and food; while my father still reverts to drinking bottled water.
3. Guideline three calls for the elimination of trash. I'm going to attempt to educate my family on which materials are composted, which are recyclable, and which have to go to the trash. In order to accomplish this, I'm going to label each receptacle with reused paper denoting the acceptable materials to deposit.
Compost Sign (As soon as I affixed this label, my mom moved it (she's a major offender of not composting) saying that it makes the cabinets look cluttered. No matter how much I try, I think this NIMBYism is a result of their generation. After the compost accumulates in the paper bag, I then take it out to my compost pile; pictured below the receptacles.
Here is where my family keeps the plastic bags that aren't recyclable curbside, however are accepted at Food Lion, Harris Teeter; and other local grocery stores.
The last portion of guideline three called for the creation of a special bag to collect all the trash I accidentally created over the course of the week. Something I noticed is that some materials that I use/eat everyday are packaged in a non reusable, recyclable, or compostable container. Something that Mrs. Toth knows I enjoy every second block on A day are my Lance Reduced Fat Toast Chees. The cracker wrapper is made of crinkly plastic that isn't recyclable. Also, I need to buy a reusable lunch box, because I've been using a Ziploc bag that gets dirty easily and I end up having to get rid of it. In addition, this lunch box should be big enough for tupperware so my sandwiches won't have to be packed in space saving plastic.
Here is a sample of the "trash" I produced during the project.
The majority of my trash was compostable, made up of tissues, apple cores, and paper cups. I need to start using a handkerchief, and always make sure I'm not caught out without my Nalgene. The rest of the trash that can be eliminated are the small sandwich sized ziploc bags; which can be replaced with tupperware. The remaining trash is from food that was purchased and whose packaging was un recyclable. Namely, Toast Chees!
This really opens my eyes to the fact that the majority of my waste is from food packaging and once my family consumes that food, the packaging is disposed of. The pile of waste in the box illustrates the waste used for more than ten minutes, and the pile below illustrates the waste used for less than ten minutes. This process opened my eyes to the fact that mainstream America uses and wastes materials rapidly as if these resources are going to exist forever.
2. Guideline two for trash calls for the establishment of a mobile reusable eating kit, including tupperware, a container for hot and cold liquids, utensils, and a cloth towel. Many of these items I already carry with me on a daily basis. As the class can probably attest to, I eat my oatmeal out of a tupperware container each morning in first block. I always take this tupperware, which is usually reused lunchmeat packaging, home with me to wash it. Also, everyday I bring real silverware with which to eat my oatmeal, so there're usually quite a few utensils in the bottom of my backpack. Every morning, I bring my Circle K or Panthers coffee cup with my coffee or tea to first block. For the rest of the day, I carry my Nalgene and fill up with water at school water fountains. Something I need to start carrying around are reused bags to collect my compostables and recyclable materials when no receptacles are available. The picture below shows my routine travel kit. My mom and younger brother are generally good about using reusable receptacles for their liquids and food; while my father still reverts to drinking bottled water.
Compost Sign (As soon as I affixed this label, my mom moved it (she's a major offender of not composting) saying that it makes the cabinets look cluttered. No matter how much I try, I think this NIMBYism is a result of their generation. After the compost accumulates in the paper bag, I then take it out to my compost pile; pictured below the receptacles.
Another step I took to help minimize the family's waste stream was to post a reminder sign next to where we keep our recycling bin. It includes a list of all the materials accepted curbside in Charlotte. One of the routine contaminants in the CLT recycling stream are plastic bags, so I wrote a reminder to keep bags out of the bin. In order to have our bin accessible, we keep a red bin inside; then dump it into our large rollaway cart. Below is my list and recycling bin.
Here is a sample of the "trash" I produced during the project.
The majority of my trash was compostable, made up of tissues, apple cores, and paper cups. I need to start using a handkerchief, and always make sure I'm not caught out without my Nalgene. The rest of the trash that can be eliminated are the small sandwich sized ziploc bags; which can be replaced with tupperware. The remaining trash is from food that was purchased and whose packaging was un recyclable. Namely, Toast Chees!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Green Your Transportation Videos
The following videos document my first "extra" component of the project. Greening Your Transportation.
Green Your Transportation (1/10 Extra Suggestions)
One of Colin's suggestions is to change the way we move from place to place. Today, I went to go visit my grandmother who lives about eight miles from my house. The car was available, but instead I decided to ride my bike to the bus stop because of gas prices being so high. Also, every A day that rain isn't in the forecast, I ride my bike to school. Since I'm a person who sweats like crazy, I bring a change of clothes and deodorant with me in my backpack and change before first block. Riding my bike to school helps me get a small workout in while transporting myself to class. On B days, I have Jazz Band; so carrying my trumpet with me on the bike is too risky for my Xeno. Instead, I carpool to school with a senior. The following videos in the next post document my trip.
Tuesday: Consumption (In Guide as Sunday)
Every single day; every man, woman, and child in the United States create an average of 4.4 pounds of waste. The vast majority of this waste eventually finds its way to a landfill, however improvements are being made. For example, a few years ago, the state of North Carolina passed a law banning plastic bottles from landfills, among other materials. While this was not meant as a law to be enforced, recycling of these bottles has increased considerably. A few weeks ago, Mecklenburg County, which is comprised of Charlotte, Mint Hill, Matthews, Pineville, Davidson, Huntersville, and Cornelius; disposed of more waste via recycling than via landfill. There's still a lot of work to be done, in my opinion in the first two R's of the recycling process, Reduce and Reuse.
Colin's Steps for Reducing Consumption
1. Type a list of all the items that you need to buy this week. Delete the items you can live without. For the absolute necessities, determine if you can buy a used item; or if you can borrow it.
My List, Shared List for Family Product "Needs"
In the past, I've tried to purchase refilled ink cartridges, which are significantly more price effective than the genuine, however my experience is that they just don't work. I could live without takeout food for the week, which produces a large amount of waste.
My family can definitely reduce its gas purchases, saving us a lot of money; and reducing our dependence on the car. I'd venture to say that my parents are the worst offenders of using a car to go everywhere, while I try to ride my bike or use CATS.
For the rest of the items, me or somebody in my family will need to buy them over the course of the week. There are many grocery stores around CLT that sell organic and all natural foods, however the economic reality is that these stores are too expensive. We do most of our shopping at Food Lion, Harris Teeter, and Walmart. When I go shopping, I tend to go to Food Lion, since they're headquartered in Salisbury, meaning that the food has to travel a smaller distance to reach the store. Also, I needed to buy my ACT Practice book, which will help me prepare for the ACT next month. Instead of going to the bookstore, I bought it from Amazon; so it took public transportation for packages (USPS/UPS)!
2. Place a reusable container around your house and place in it all your waste, including recyclables, trash, compostables.
Above is the all the waste I personally created for the day on Tuesday is shown above on my floor. The majority of the waste is recyclable or compostable. The majority of the items are used for a very short amount of time, a factor in the fact that the majority of the U.S.'s waste is from food packaging. All of the recyclable materials shown above will be recycled; however, I need to reduce and reuse more. The banana peel and the paper napkins in the upper right corner will go to my compost pile. Only the deli bags in the bottom right will go in the trash.
For the most part, I feel that our family buys only what we need; just based off of the economic reality. Something I will work on later in the experiment is to change my family's way of thinking when it comes to waste. I can explain the benefits of composting and recycling all I want, but it will be hard for them to "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk."
3. For the week, try not to shop for new items. Use your time and money saved more wisely.
I feel that my family doesn't just "go shopping" for fun. When we go to the store, we mostly buy what is on the list and what's needed. Efficient, once a week trips to the grocery store or super center tend to help us cut out the unnecessary purchases.
4. What is the hardest part of decreased purchasing? Reflect.
The hardest part of decreased purchasing (cutting out gas purchases, less/no takeout, not buying a leash) would have to be a loss of convenience. Some areas in CLT are served by transit, however it's more convenient to drive. For instance, tonight I have a meeting about eight miles from my house; and afterwards I have to pick my mom up. A bus route runs to my meeting, but my mom wanted to be picked up in the car, so I have to drive. In order to resolve this issue, CLT citizens must support the current system then lobby for more crosstown transit corridors. Takeout is also something that I could cut, however sometimes our busy lives interfere with our ability to cook.
Colin's Steps for Reducing Consumption
1. Type a list of all the items that you need to buy this week. Delete the items you can live without. For the absolute necessities, determine if you can buy a used item; or if you can borrow it.
My List, Shared List for Family Product "Needs"
- ACT Practice Book
- HP Black Ink
- Food (Food Lion, MP Cafeteria, Restaurant)
- Dog Bed
- Leash
- Gas
- Takeout
- Gas
- Dog Bed
- Leash
- Takeout
In the past, I've tried to purchase refilled ink cartridges, which are significantly more price effective than the genuine, however my experience is that they just don't work. I could live without takeout food for the week, which produces a large amount of waste.
My family can definitely reduce its gas purchases, saving us a lot of money; and reducing our dependence on the car. I'd venture to say that my parents are the worst offenders of using a car to go everywhere, while I try to ride my bike or use CATS.
For the rest of the items, me or somebody in my family will need to buy them over the course of the week. There are many grocery stores around CLT that sell organic and all natural foods, however the economic reality is that these stores are too expensive. We do most of our shopping at Food Lion, Harris Teeter, and Walmart. When I go shopping, I tend to go to Food Lion, since they're headquartered in Salisbury, meaning that the food has to travel a smaller distance to reach the store. Also, I needed to buy my ACT Practice book, which will help me prepare for the ACT next month. Instead of going to the bookstore, I bought it from Amazon; so it took public transportation for packages (USPS/UPS)!
2. Place a reusable container around your house and place in it all your waste, including recyclables, trash, compostables.
For the most part, I feel that our family buys only what we need; just based off of the economic reality. Something I will work on later in the experiment is to change my family's way of thinking when it comes to waste. I can explain the benefits of composting and recycling all I want, but it will be hard for them to "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk."
3. For the week, try not to shop for new items. Use your time and money saved more wisely.
I feel that my family doesn't just "go shopping" for fun. When we go to the store, we mostly buy what is on the list and what's needed. Efficient, once a week trips to the grocery store or super center tend to help us cut out the unnecessary purchases.
4. What is the hardest part of decreased purchasing? Reflect.
The hardest part of decreased purchasing (cutting out gas purchases, less/no takeout, not buying a leash) would have to be a loss of convenience. Some areas in CLT are served by transit, however it's more convenient to drive. For instance, tonight I have a meeting about eight miles from my house; and afterwards I have to pick my mom up. A bus route runs to my meeting, but my mom wanted to be picked up in the car, so I have to drive. In order to resolve this issue, CLT citizens must support the current system then lobby for more crosstown transit corridors. Takeout is also something that I could cut, however sometimes our busy lives interfere with our ability to cook.
How to Get Involved
Go to No Impact Week Guide to learn how you can make a difference too. This is the resource I will be following for my experiment.
Introduction
As a part of Colin Beavan's national No Impact Week, my IB Environmental Systems and Societies Class is investigating what it's like to live as close to zero environmental impact as possible. For a year, Beavan, his wife, and young child lived in New York City attempting to live with a balanced or positive environmental impact. For many of us, the methods that Colin implemented are harder to accomplish due to many Americans living in suburban areas. After World War II, a large segment of the population moved away from the central hubs of their respective cities and relocated to what then were open fields seeking a large lot with a large home away from the conditions of city living. This unprecedented event created a dependance on the automobile, as residential, business, and retail districts were separated into exclusive use developments. Along with a dependence on the automobile to obtain necessary goods and services, citizens had to drive further to their places of employment; many of which were still concentrated in the downtown areas. As a student who lives in a close in suburb of Charlotte, and can speak to the issues mentioned above, I will document my journey to implement the No Impact Man's principles into my daily life, greening my slice of the great city of CLT.
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