Resolution One: Go Green

Yesterday’s climate change report was a timely reminder for me of my pledge last year to go green in 2007.

I’ve gotten off to a slow start mainly because of financial reasons, but luckily I came across a website that looks like it might make things a bit easier.
CoolMove.Org is a site dedicated to providing little tips on how we can reduce our carbon footprint. From energy saving lightbulbs to frugal flushing, they’re all things that someone renting a flat like me can do.

Here are some good ones I’m going to try and implement on the asap:

Tip #10 :: Take a shorter shower

Showering accounts for about 20 percent of the water used in the home and it takes a lot of energy to heat that water. Reducing your shower time by five minutes will save you from heating 15 to 30 gallons of water each time.

Tip #18 :: Unplug your cell phone charger when you’re not using it

Even when turned off, things like microwaves, cell phone chargers and televisions use energy.

Tip #21 :: Put a recycling bin next to your trash can

This is an easy and convenient way to remember to recycle more often.

Tip #32 :: Eat Local

According to some sources, food travels an average of 1,200 miles to get to your plate, and accounts for thirty percent of the goods transported by road. Try to find locally produced food to cut down on these unnecessary emissions.

Tip #44 :: Lunchtime

Pack your lunch in tupperware containers that can be reused each day
These are all things I don’t do, through laziness more than anything else. I reckon 2007’s going to be the year that we start to take this go-green thing seriously. If you’ve got any other eco tips, pass ’em on!

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I’m not denying climate change, but…

So another big report’s been released today confirming the effect of our fossil fueled gluttony.

More than 2,500 scientists from 130 countries have gotten together to say, in one voice, we’re destroying the planet.

I’m totally behind this report, hopefully – as Channel 4 News suggested today – a final nail in the coffin of the climate change deniers. But there’s a simple fact that the media at least is getting wrong:

Climate change isn’t destroying the planet…it’s destroying our ability to live on the planet.

Let’s not forget: this planet is billions of billions of years old. Humanity is but a blip on earth’s endless graph, but a spot on its back, a scrawny pube on its left testicle.

Climate change is bad news for us human beings. But to suggest our disgusting love affair with cars, chimneys and coal is damaging this massive lump of rock is not true.

A six degree rise in temperature over by 2100 will be fatal for us lot. It’ll be a slow nasty painful death, like drowning in boiling maple syrup. For earth, it’ll be a mild passing sunstroke.

The sooner we realise our pathetically tiny scratch on the earth’s surface the better…that way we might actually stand a chance of sorting the climate mess.

 

What a waster….

Right, so it’s Energy Saving Week this week, and to kick it all off, pretty depressing statistics about how us Brit’s waste energy like it’s going out of fashion.

According to a survey into five European countries, Britons waste more energy than anyone else…and it’ll pack another 43 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere by 2010.

The main culprits? TV’s left on standby, mobile phone chargers left plugged in and people leaving lights on. Yes, that’s right, 63% of us apparently leave lights on when we leave a room.

Looking at the worst wasters, I think I’m guilty of all of them…

• My mobile charger, Mp3 charger and laptop charger are all plugged in at home right now.
• And I think our TV’s on standby.

I’m planning on making some changes soon…I’ll keep you posted.

Old people, really.

The other shocker from the report out today (from BBC News):

The survey found 27% of those aged 65 and over felt no guilt about the energy they use and its impact on the local environment. 

Charmed. Although it does mean 70% do give a damn, despite the likelyhood most over 65s will be part of the nitrogen cycle when it all hits the fan. Worst though:

…about a quarter of 18 to 24-year-olds do feel moderately guilty about the impact their energy use has on the environment.

25%….moderately guilty. Even though it’s been the hottest summer since records began. Even though it’s mid October and you can still wear a t-shirt. I swear this inexplicable lethargy is going to be the end of us. Why is no-body shitting their pants at all this?!