So here's Antoine's list... (slightly modified) which, if we all took to heart, might lead us to actually saving the planet... or at least extending its inhabitability for a little while longer. And that's a good thing.
1. Living and Driving
Consider the living and driving issues together. Envision a future without a car and start making strategic moves towards that goal. Start by walking, cycling and taking transit as much as you can. Move closer to work, or at least close to transit that can take you there. Car dependence not only pollutes but it can make cities ugly and dumb, and its citizens fat. If you must drive, eco-drive (fuel efficient car, inflated tires, low speeds, no sharp accelerations, consolidated trips.)
2. Stuff
Think about the amount of stuff you buy. The less, the better.
- Shop in your closets first. Can you adapt what you have? In general, reuse, borrow, share and buy used. If I can do it (OK I try,) you can do it too.
- Start by minimizing packaging and bringing bags with you when you shop.
- Buy local products, support your local economy and minimize the impact of transportation. The closer the better, although shipping by boat is much more energy-efficient than by truck. The worst is by air. (of course don't buy local crap. And sometimes it's important to send a signal to the market by temporarily buying something from far away. Supporting faraway economies can be strategic too - like Fair Trade.)
- Support small and local businesses - they can be more responsive to your needs and wants and the money stays in your community.
- Try to figure out how much energy was used to make and transport the product.
- Renewable and recyclable materials are best.
- Go for durability: repairable quality products with replaceable parts.
- Read the labels and ask questions: Where is it from? How was it made? Who made it? What is it made of? Is it recycled, recyclable? How long is it expected to last? If they don't know, make them find out.
Buy local, seasonal and organic. You can not only save energy but help make local agriculture viable. When local agriculture doesn't pay anymore, farmland is often turned into strip malls and subdivisions. I prioritize local and seasonal above organic, but it's a long discussion. Aside from ethics, meat takes a lot more land and energy to produce. Limit your consumption of meat and try to find grass-fed organic meat. Be careful about fish... many species are endangered - look at the Monterrey Aquarium seafood Guide.
4. Compost and Recycling
When you buy something, you are just borrowing the molecules for a bit. So think about your intervention as being part of a closed loop.
- Recycle what you can, but this should not absolve you from buying the stuff in the first place. Many materials are expensive to recycle and get downgraded in the process. For example, plastic pop bottles do not become new pop bottles but are used for non-food products.
- It doesn't make sense to landfill food. You will be shocked to see how much your trash is reduced once you take anything organic out. Compost in your yard or pressure your municipality to start a collection program.
Don't use the dryer. Just don't... unless you really have to. After a month, you will already notice a difference in your power bill. Unplug everything that can be unplugged when it's not in use. It may be "off" but it continues to use energy. Of course, use compact fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent ones... but don't put them in the trash when you're done - they contain mercury.
6. Comfort
Air conditioning is for when it's so hot your clothes cling to you and you can't sleep. So keep it for emergencies. Pulling your blinds down during the day also helps.
Heating is not designed to grow banana trees indoors and sweaters look great. Add the two together and 20 degrees should be just fine.
7. Water
Even if water is abundant where you live, water use is actually electricity use. The City of Toronto spends more energy pumping water than running its entire transit system. If you must have a yard, use species that require as little watering as possible; use a low-flow shower head; use a front-loading washer; fill the dishwasher or wash your dishes as if you were in Israel.
8. Travel
Ooooh that's the hardest one... the truth is that you can do all of the above and cancel a lot of the good you've done with just a couple flights... try to vacation closer... take a train or fill a fuel-efficient car with your friends. This is the toughest one for me.
9. Dissemination
Keep telling people about the above. They'll roll their eyes and call you names... but you will set the wheels in motion and a few months later, you may notice some changes!
10. Democracy
Democracy is you. If you don't like it, change it! Vote, get elected, make deputations, write letters. It actually makes a difference. Even if it doesn't, you'll feel good about yourself - and you can keep on babbling...
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