OUR TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE

BY MELANIE ROBITAILLE, SR. STAFF WRITER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Eleven years they said, eleven years before there’s no turning back; before we cross that line and push our planet to the brink of damage beyond repair. That was the message presented to the world during the United Nations General Assembly, a year ago already, where world leaders heard the message that they were the last generation capable of preventing irreparable damage to our planet. There’s no more passing the buck, change needs to happen now.

Being isolated and practicing social distancing has shown us just how much impact our daily lives have on the planet. With pollution dramatically clearing in the skies over China, and the waters of Venice returning to crystal clear canals filled with wildlife, the message is obvious. Saving the world sounds like such a heavy thing doesn’t it? And when we’re at our worst, we begin to diminish ourselves to a single person unable to tackle such a momentous problem, when we’re actually the whole solution.

Change lies somewhere between want and need. We all need a place to live, so where do you want to see yourself in our world a decade from now?

We are the many, the consumer, the demand for what was once thought to be an endless supply. As such we hold an absolute power and a great responsibility. We make a difference by making choices that will tip the scale and drive change. Together, we can hold suppliers accountable, and disrupt the inertia of consumerism.

There are so many small moves that, when made together, create a huge impact. Let’s start by doing away with single-use items and keeping reusable options everywhere we may need them, like washable cloth or paper shopping bags and produce bags in the car. Why not switch to washable bento boxes, snack bags, and beeswax wraps for food storage and taking leftovers to go. Choose re-fillable, stainless or glass bottles for your daily beverage intake. Go straw-less or bring your own reusable stainless or food grade bamboo alternatives for on-the-go eating and drinking.

Reach for the cloth, towel, mop, vacuum and non-toxic household cleaners instead of paper towels, single-use erasers and surface wipes or dusters. Educate yourself on the ingredients in cleaning products, and air fresheners. Everything we use ends up somewhere, in the water we drink, the air we breathe, the ground that provides our food, or a local landfill.

Let’s change our history of being the throw-away generation to be the future restoration generation. We do this by shifting our thinking and lifestyles away from convenience and toward eco-efficiency.

Choose local, seasonal produce and food producers first, support independent retailers who typically rely on local supplies. Plant your own garden and native plants to best tolerate your geographics and provide important habitat for animals and insects. Be smart about how you get around. Walk, bike or take public transit where possible, or tick a few stores off your list when you do head into town. And how many of us have closets full of clothes, footwear, bags, accessories, toys, books, and old electronics? The longer we take care of what we have the better, but when it’s time, take advantage of your regional recycling and composting programs, bring gently used items to local donation centers, join an online swap group or resale site, or when the time allows host a garage sale.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Be ever mindful of what you use and what you choose. It can be as simple as turning off unnecessary lights, adding a layer and turning down the thermostat or A/C, shortening your shower, line-drying your laundry, washing in cold water, shutting down phantom power sources, re-growing vegetables from cuttings, or participating in environmental events like Earth Hour, Earth Day, or even local tree plantings or invasive pullings when permissible. Change lies somewhere between want and need. We all need a place to live, so I ask you, where do you want to see yourself in our world a decade from now? But, if you think you’ve done everything possible to reduce your footprint on the planet, I’m here to tell you there’s always one step more you can take to deepen your involvement. That’s because successfully converting your lifestyle to an eco-conscious one doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a budget-related, step-by-step process that evolves as our awareness grows, our demand increases, and newer solutions are brought to mainstream market.

For example, time spent can often equate to more than money. So why not take charge professionally or personally as a captain of an eco-team? By aligning with one of many planting, clean up, or conservation organizations you’ll have access to all sorts of marketing templates, ideas, and tools. You can also seek out opportunities at local parks, and conservation areas you frequent when things get back to normal. Many of these places are always in need of extra hands during peak seasons, with specialized volunteer outreach and education programming.

Why not start a writing campaign, be it local or national, to the levels of government or businesses you rely on for services in your daily life? Offering positive ideas and feedback on how they can alter practices when it comes to disposing of waste, single-use plastics, or energy efficiency could be the well-timed call-to-action they needed.

When it comes to where we live, the future of green real estate is completely self-sustaining homes. Built with materials to withstand natural disasters, erosion, and pests, these homes are capable of growing your own food, filtering and recirculating the water within the home, as well as harnessing their own energy and charging cars.

If you’re in the market for a new build, inquire about the latest green building codes, materials or trends and how the builder might be able to incorporate them, along with landscaping, into your final plan if not already. Depending on your lifestyle and budget you may have loftier goals for larger renewable energy projects like installing geothermal heating, wind, or solar powered solutions on your property. Perhaps you may choose to retrofit your resale home through government programs with high-efficiency windows, skylights, insulation upgrades, or switch to a rain barrel irrigation system.

But for some, it causes them to think smaller and embrace another eco-real estate trend, the tiny house movement. Here the mission is clearly less is more where many, including the new homebuying generation, opt into this popular style of dwelling to keep their costs low, their interests mobile, and their home off-the-grid. With a multitude of builders and real estate professionals now specializing in these homes, buyers can find all the creature comforts of home, in a scaled down, minimalist floor plan that promotes an outdoor lifestyle much more connected to and easier on the planet.

How we travel in our daily lives also has one of the greatest impacts on our eco-system, so when you feel the need to invest in transportation, there’s a green option that’ll go the distance. Everything from halfbikes, onewheels, boosted boards to e-bikes and motorcycles can get you around, or should you need something that stands up better in the elements, you can research a range of hybrid or entirely electric cars now available on the market. With the rise in demand for such vehicle brands like Tesla, most major retail venues now feature priority parking for energy efficient vehicles, as well as charging stations. There are even apps dedicated to mapping charging stations for travelers looking to road trip, although it’s good to know, not all output is equal.

How we live, where we work, what we learn; even what we buy, it all matters. In ten years, what was now will be then, and what we choose to demand today will be the ready supply of tomorrow’s living. The choice is ultimately up to us.

Concept homes courtesy of ligahomes.com

Save Money and the Planet By:

- switching to reusable items - turning off unnecessary lights - open windows & turning off the A/C - shortening your time in the shower - drying your laundry on a clothesline - washing laundry in cold water - recycling or donating used goods - shutting off phantom power sources - planting a container garden or patch - making your own household cleaners - walking, biking or taking transit