Nardi, Frank. "Sustainability." Photo. BigPicture15 March 2010.15 February 2012.
Sustainability
Simply, sustainability refers to the ability of maintaining life or processes within the restraints of what a living organism or machine makes; there is no extra or waste. (Koester) For example, a sustainable car is one that generates the amount of energy needed for the car to work by the cyclical movement of the wheels in motion. There is no wasted energy or by product because all parts are used in some way. For humans, the ability to be sustainable seems like a daunting task, especially when there are so many everyday items have waste (i.e. packaged and/or use energy to compute). However, just changing a few things in life can make a huge difference.
1. Be crafty and recycle. Two kinds of recycling are “up cycling” and “down cycling.” “Up cycling” refers to keeping an item in its original state but using it for something else than original intent.(Koester) An example of “up cycling” is using a jelly jar for a pencil holder or glass. (Be crafty and paint or seal tissue paper to the outside of the jar with thinned down liquid white glue.) “Down cycling” happens when an item’s physical properties are change for a different use.(Koester) An example of this is melting down plastic and them forming it into something else. DIY (do it yourself) projects are unique and in style, so find things around the house that are going to be thrown away and find a different use for them. For further craft ideas, click here.
2. Be aware of where companies buy their products. If manufacturing is half way across the world, consider how much transportation energy it took for the shipment of that product.
3. Buy products for local businesses. For a list of small businesses in Indiana, click here.
4. Be aware of ingredients in products can be a health hazard and harmful to the environment. Look on the ingredient list of product like cleaning products. Many use chemicals considered as VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds); these are not only hazardous for health aspects, but pollute water and the air. For a list of VOC’s click here.
5. Understand and cut back on energy usage. By simply turning off lights, keeping a house or place of business at a consecutive temperature, using “clean” energy like solar or wind, and carpooling or using the hybrid city bus makes cleaner air and saves money in the end.
6. Be aware of the stance and incentives that businesses use to persuade a sustainable life style.
7. Buy products in bulk and cut back on extra packaging.
8. Buying less processed items (especially food) that are not made in factories cuts back on energy.
Works Cited
Koester, Robert Ph.D. “Sustainability.” Ball State University. Muncie, IN January 2012. Guest lecture.
Simply, sustainability refers to the ability of maintaining life or processes within the restraints of what a living organism or machine makes; there is no extra or waste. (Koester) For example, a sustainable car is one that generates the amount of energy needed for the car to work by the cyclical movement of the wheels in motion. There is no wasted energy or by product because all parts are used in some way. For humans, the ability to be sustainable seems like a daunting task, especially when there are so many everyday items have waste (i.e. packaged and/or use energy to compute). However, just changing a few things in life can make a huge difference.
1. Be crafty and recycle. Two kinds of recycling are “up cycling” and “down cycling.” “Up cycling” refers to keeping an item in its original state but using it for something else than original intent.(Koester) An example of “up cycling” is using a jelly jar for a pencil holder or glass. (Be crafty and paint or seal tissue paper to the outside of the jar with thinned down liquid white glue.) “Down cycling” happens when an item’s physical properties are change for a different use.(Koester) An example of this is melting down plastic and them forming it into something else. DIY (do it yourself) projects are unique and in style, so find things around the house that are going to be thrown away and find a different use for them. For further craft ideas, click here.
2. Be aware of where companies buy their products. If manufacturing is half way across the world, consider how much transportation energy it took for the shipment of that product.
3. Buy products for local businesses. For a list of small businesses in Indiana, click here.
4. Be aware of ingredients in products can be a health hazard and harmful to the environment. Look on the ingredient list of product like cleaning products. Many use chemicals considered as VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds); these are not only hazardous for health aspects, but pollute water and the air. For a list of VOC’s click here.
5. Understand and cut back on energy usage. By simply turning off lights, keeping a house or place of business at a consecutive temperature, using “clean” energy like solar or wind, and carpooling or using the hybrid city bus makes cleaner air and saves money in the end.
6. Be aware of the stance and incentives that businesses use to persuade a sustainable life style.
7. Buy products in bulk and cut back on extra packaging.
8. Buying less processed items (especially food) that are not made in factories cuts back on energy.
Works Cited
Koester, Robert Ph.D. “Sustainability.” Ball State University. Muncie, IN January 2012. Guest lecture.