Stuff We Can Do - 282

It is easy to let the litany of extreme weather events allow defeatism to creep into our souls. We cannot afford to let that happen since climate scientists tell us we can still turn the climate crisis around. Dr. Jonathan Foley* during climate week in September of this year, kicked off the week by encouraging us to stay positive and act, “We still have the opportunity to build an incredible world ... a world that is sustainable and prosperous and equitable and verdant ... but we’re going to have to work very very hard.”

I often bring you the latest science solutions to climate crises. The strides forward in battery technology are mind-blowing. But my articles may lead you to believe the solutions are all in someone else’s hands. That would be wrong. There is plenty we can do, and it all matters.

Project Drawdown came up with a list of things we can do to lower our carbon footprint. Here they are:

  1. Food Waste: Believe it or not, we can make our biggest impact by wasting less food. And, since food is on the list of essentials, that means it is something we all can do.
  2. Eat lower on the food chain. This means less meat and more vegetables. I still eat meat, but I am happily exploring the world of vegetarianism. It is a large and tasty world waiting to be discovered. If we think about our intake of protein, eating beef is a pretty wasteful way to get it. A cow, in its lifetime, creates primarily manure while eating vast amounts of feed and water. While not eating and making manure, the cow devotes much of the day to burping and farting methane, a potent greenhouse gas. My advice is to be brave and explore. Consider cutting back a bit to keep the calories down. One benefit discovered is when, on special occasions, I eat a meat-rich meal, I appreciate it
  3. Solar Panels work. The solar and wind revolution is here. You can participate by installing them on your roof or on the ground or buying into a community solar farm. With the Inflation Reduction Act, IRA, you can take 30% of the installation cost directly off your taxes.
  1. Insulation and better windows. This is a no-brainer. Whatever way you heat your home or business, insulation makes your operation efficient and saves you money. Here, too, there are tax incentives in the IRA to insulate and purchase high-efficiency windows.
  2. LED Lighting. If you haven’t installed them yet, I suggest you do. The days are short now. You’ll be burning electricity lighting your way around your home. You will use less electricity for the same amount of light with LEDs. Xcel Energy and local governments often give the bulbs away.
  3. Public Transit. If you use it, you save money and reduce your carbon footprint. I have used Gogebic Counties’ little Blue Bus. It is clean, comfortable, and cheap. For longer trips to Ashland and Duluth, I have used Indian Trailways, and it is clean, comfortable, and inexpensive.
  4. Recycle. In some areas, this is hard to do, but keep trying. We have a long way to go as a nation to be better recyclers, and each of us can play a part.
  5. Carpooling and errand pooling. These are great ways to keep in touch with the neighbors and offer them a hand. We are used to jumping in our cars and running hither and thither for this and that. Stop for a second and let your neighbors know you are there for them. Make it a fun get-together.
  6. If you are going to drive, electric and hybrid cars are much less carbon-polluting. If you have a new internal combustion engine car, I wouldn’t get rid of it. But, if you are in the market for a new vehicle, now is the time to evaluate the feasibility of modernizing your ride. If you opt for a modern electric or hybrid vehicle the IRA has great incentives.
  7. Upgrade how you heat your home and business. Heat pumps have been used for years in Europe. They are popular because they save on energy bills. They are efficient. As with a car, I wouldn’t abandon a new high-efficiency natural gas furnace to switch. But now, with the help of the IRA, heat pumps are an affordable way to go when it is time for a new furnace. And as a massive bonus, you can cool your home. Summers are getting hotter. A heat pump not only heats your home in the winter but also cools it in the summer. It is an efficient furnace and efficient air conditioner in one unit.
  8. Whatever way you heat your home, a programable thermostat can save you money. Why keep the house hot when you’re at work? The cat will be fine. You’re just wasting money if you are not using a smart thermostat.    

Here are a few more ways to get the waste out: Compost, walk, bike, e-bike, install low-flow water fixtures, use products made from recycled materials, stay away from single-use plastic, and don’t leave your car idling at Walmart while you are shopping for all those things made from recycled materials.

Being proactive, even if you can only afford to do a few things, is a great way to help yourself save money, live healthier, and give Mother Earth a break. And don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back!

For more information on stuff we can do, visit Project Drawdown at http://drawdown.org

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