Be Green

SOMETHING SMELLS

Negros Daily Bulletin

By Marilyn M. Soliven

Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone’s “going green”. What, exactly, does green or sustainable living mean? Different people use different definitions, but it all comes down to one fundamental concept: The Earth’s resources should not be depleted faster than they can be replenished. From that concept comes everything else, including caring for the environment, animals and other living things, your health, your local community, and communities around the world. 

When you start to look at all the different kinds of resources- from fossil fuel to forests, agricultural land to wildlife, and the ocean’s depths to the air you breathe - it’s easy to see how everything is interconnected and how the actions you take today can affect the future. 

Luckily, many of the steps you can take to stop climate change can make your life better. Here are easy actions you can do today to be greener right away and to put the five Rs (that’s refusing, reducing, reusing, recycling and rotting) into effect in your home. They are doable and won’t make any impact on your pocket- they just require a bit of time and effort, and your commitment. 

Recycle Regularly

Organizing your recycling will make life a lot easier for you and your family and you’ll be more likely to keep it up if it’s convenient for everyone. Have separate bins or garbage cans set in your home so that you can simply drop the various items to be recycled into the right receptacle as you go along. It is so much easier than sorting them out later. Call and check your neighborhood junkshop to find out what items are accepted there. 

Be Frugal With Energy Use 

Appliances such as cell phone chargers, coffeemakers, televisions and computers plugged in on “standby” still use a small amount of electricity that still adds up on your electric bill. Unplug these appliances or switch them off at a power strip to beat phantom power. 

Install compact fluorescent light bulbs when your older incandescent bulbs burn out. CFLs use 75% less energy than conventional bulbs and last up to ten times longer. 

Turn off the lights in empty rooms. 

Turn off the computer if it will be unused for more than two hours, and turn off the monitor if it will be unused for more than twenty minutes. 

The refrigerator and freezer are more energy efficient if they’re full but not overloaded. Clean the coils either below or behind the fridge in order to keep them operating efficiently. 

Turn Off the Tap 

Water is the most precious of natural resources. It is often taken for granted. Start saving water by turning off the tap while brushing your teeth. 

Take shorter showers to reduce water use. 

Collect rainwater in a barrel for use in the garden, or for washing your car or bicycle. Keep a lid on the barrel so the water doesn’t evaporate on sunny days or attract breeding mosquitoes. 

Eat Smart 

Buy locally raised organic vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy. You can enjoy fresher, tastier foods and improve your personal health. Making green food choices also has global consequences. Buying local means supporting the local economy and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions required to get food from its origin to your plate. Buying fresh foods means reducing packaging and energy used for processing. Choosing organic foods help promote organic agriculture and responsible land use. 

Buy Less, Reuse More 

You’ve probably bought many things over the years that you didn’t really need and didn’t end up using very much. When considering new purchases, first think reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle. Do you already have something that would do the job as well if you repaired it? Can you rent or borrow the item from someone else or share one belonging to a friend or family? When you do need to buy an item, consider whether it can be reused or recycled when you’re finished with it. Maybe a friend can make use of it and pass it on or a garage sale could find a new home for it. 

Get Everyone in the Household Involved 

You can achieve a lot on your own and even more together with your family. Talk over your green lifestyle plans and explain your reasons for going green. It may take a while before everyone turns off the light when they leave the room but eventually it becomes second nature. By doing things yourself and setting an example, you can help create a new green culture around the home. 

Stay Informed, Inspire Action! 

There’s so much information available about leading a greener lifestyle that it’s hard to know where to start. One of the best tools for staying informed is the Internet. Newspapers and radio and television programs are also useful for keeping up-to-date. If you want to gather more insights on green issues, flooding, garbage and our environment, watch The Bacolod Anti-Baha Alliance TV Program, Banat Baha, on Sunshine Channel 14, hosted by Rene Hinojales, Mondays to Saturdays, from 12 noon to 1 pm. Tune in to Mom’s Heart, with Joy Pastoral as host, Saturdays from 11a.m. to 12 noon, DYVS 1233 Am Radio, where I will be a regular guest.*