Quote of the Day: Colin Beavan on Using Less
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09. 5.07
I think that the climate crisis—not to mention the planet’s numerous other environmental problems—calls for us to use less. Use less power, use less oil, use less stuff.::No Impact ManAs I write, it’s dark out. There is one100-watt equivalent, solar-powered LED light on in the living room of our apartment. There are no other lights. When we want to read in bed, we’ll move the light in there. There’s a beeswax candle in the bathroom for tooth brushing.
No TV is blaring. No video game is bleeping. No air conditioner is humming. Last month, we got a nearly $400 rebate from the electric company—they finally got around to reading our meter after sending us estimated bills for a few months.
We have radically reduced our resource use over the last year. It’s not so bad at all. In fact, as I've written, in some ways it's better.
I’m not saying that the whole United States should live like our No Impact household. What I am saying is that, if my little family can be relatively comfortable using so much less, then it really is possible for our culture to be comfortable and happy making the more modest reductions that may well be required, in addition to improvements in technology, to help our sickened planet.
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I've been living a low imapct (not no impact) lifestyle for many years and I think it's great for anyone to go as far as this family is going. Problem seems to be, for every year I've chosen to do this, millions more have chosen NOT to do a single thing. In fact, they applauded the housing boom instead. And not because they don't know better. A lot of people knew better.
I applaud all efforts - but after 25 years, it's time for more drastic measures and those of us who care are going to have to be the ones to try to make it happen.
I hope treehuggers all around will start to make themselves heard LOUDLY and put pressure on their friends, family and others to make changes NOW.
One good place to start? Don't tell anyone how "great" it is when they use up resources to remodel, travel, buy expensive toys like boats, etc. It's time for "success" to be about saving what we have left of our natural resources and not about how much we've accumulated.
When someone tells me something like "I got granite counter tops in my kitchen!" I say "Oh really, how far did those have to be transported to get to your doorstep? Did you look into any more local options first?"
Yeah, I know, I won't have as many friends as I used to but that's okay if I have a future. I can find new friends.
I hear what you are saying kelly
If only we could appreciate what we have.
Then it wouldn't feel it was 'less' - it's just about not being greedy