It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of all the dire reports, but there are things that we can do, that we all should try to do at home, in addition to pressuring government to stop funding oil.
#JustStopOil is in the news lately over the publicity of their direct action against a Van Gogh painting that was behind glass. Regardless of how you feel about their strategy to bring attention to their cause, it has gotten people talking, and one of the best things is that people are Googling what they are calling for, and people are suggesting other tactics. This is actually a good thing b/c we need all the ideas we can get. Just Stop Oil is in response to the energy situation in the UK where 3/4’s of their domestic energy comes from fossil fuels and the current Prime Minister Liz Truss wants to open up more off-shore drilling. In lieu of the recent flooding in Pakistan that sent 3/4’s of the country under water, in lieu of wildfires all over the world, this is the opposite direction we need to go in. That is what they are calling attention to, through shutting down roads, gluing themselves to bridges, etc.
What is going on in the US? We have rather a dumpster fire of division across our country. But Biden was able to pass his Climate bill which will provide a ton of money for great number of investments. Many good things are there and there’s potential for more.
What are some things that we can all do at home?
- Reduce electricity
- Dry your clothes outside in fair weather or indoors. There are some great clothing racks for this. Your clothes will last longer, and you’ll also save money on your electricity bill.
- Stop using fossil fuels – wean yourself off gas
- When you’re shopping for a new car – get an EV – it’s possible to find used Nissan Leafs for $5k.
- Take public transportation
- Take trains instead of flying
- When you’re ready to replace your water heater – replace it with an electric tankless water heater
- When you’re ready to replace your HVAC – replace (or supplement the furnace if temps go under zero in your area) with an energy-efficient electricity-powered heat-pump.
- When you’re ready to replace your gas stove – replace it with an induction stove – it cooks far better than the traditional electric stoves.
- Compost
- Collect your food and yard waste for compost. This keeps it out of the dump where it would convert to methane, a carbon emission.
- Spread compost over your lawn and plant ground cover like clover. The compost serves as carbon sequestration and growing clover will provide flowers for pollinating insects like bees and butterflies. Clover will also provide vital nutrients for your soil.
- Protect habitat diversity
- We’ve all seen the dire article on how almost 70% of animals on the planet have been lost in the past 50 years. That’s insane. This is due to deforestation and habitat loss.
- Shift to a more plant-based diet – Animal farming is responsible for 70% of deforestation, 80% of freshwater consumption, and up to 91% of Amazon rainforest destruction.
- If you must eat some meat, eat it sparingly and select from providers that use regenerative agriculture.
- Learn about what animals help the environment. Did you know that bats eat mosquitos? That beavers help prevent wildfires?
- Don’t use harmful fertilizers or insecticide that poisons insects, lizards, fish, and humans when those chemicals wash into waterways or seep into ground water.
- Plant trees around your house. Shade will reduce your power bill and it will help not only the environment by providing oxygen and drawing in carbon, but will provide cooling (reduction of heat island effect) and also but your mental wellbeing will be improved.
- Use natural products to clean your house – vinegar and baking soda are great for a number of uses – you’ll save money and will breath more easily. There are also store-bought natural products. Bottom line – will be healthier for indoor air and healthier for the ground water and thus animals and humans.
- Learn how to turn your yard into a wildlife habitat. We’ve all seen the dire article on how almost 70% of animals on the planet have been lost in the past 50 years. That’s insane. This is due to deforestation and habitat loss.
- Boycott any companies or products that engage in deforestation and put pressure on them. Let them know why you won’t support their products.
- Avoid plastic
- Don’t buy bottled water – Get a water filter. It’s cheaper and keeps plastic bottles out of the waste stream.
- Yes, please recycle – but we really have no guarantee that plastic is always being recycled. Some reports point to that Western countries are shipping plastic to Asia where it ends up in rivers or it gets burned. Research where your local recycling goes – what do they do with it. Shop wisely.
- Bring reusable bags when you’re shopping (large bags and produce bags). If you do end up getting plastic bags by accident (or your bread comes in plastic bags etc.) – collect them and take them back to the store – many stores have a bin for plastic bags for recycling.
- Try to buy things in glass jars and reuse them for storage. It’s cheaper and also healthier.