Yesterday was Earth Day. what did you do?
For an hour out of 8,760 in the year. Switch off the lights and feel good and smug and so pious and responsible.
The rest of the time knock yourself out, squander. Let the taps run, the lights blaze, the air conditioners hum even if there is no one in the room. Let the wastage flourish and TVs keep running even though you are not watching. Like in some homes the bathroom lights never go off, the geysers stay on forever and the outside illumination is on even during the daylight hours.
It’s a mind thing. Either you care or you don’t. This one hour is like putting a band aid on a gaping wound. But it is a reminder that the planet is bleeding. Even then there will be many who won’t know that tonight is Earth Day and enough who will believe their wealth and power exempts them from taking the lead.
Have you notice that in every family unit there is one person who takes it upon himself or herself to go about switching off appliances and lights and yelling about do you know how much this costs. And everyone else in the family sees that person as a bit of a nuisance, always grumpy and crotchety. Usually, it is the elders who do it. That is odd but true. As you grow older you become more inclined toward saving and economizing and being frugal and marching about bemoaning everyone else’s lack of responsible conduct.
Carry on like this, one day we will all sit in darkness for much longer than one hour.
Try to do your bit by making ten resolutions based on sound common sense.
Do not let taps run when you shave or brush your teeth. Running water doing nothing accounts for 15 percent of potable water going down the drain. Put a plastic liter bottle in the cistern for the toilet. So whenever you flush you save a fifth of a gallon.
Check your electrical appliances for flaws and get rid of outdated ones which absorb too much electricity. Avoid the “phantom load.” Appliances such as your TV, DVD player, cell phone charger, etc. consume energy just by being plugged in. Unplug them when not in use!
Look at your bill for the month and insist that the family will cut it by 10 percent next month.
Power down your computer when not in use. For desktops, turn off the monitor when you aren’t using it. Use energy-saving bulbs.
Have shorter showers. Three minutes is enough. Every minute is a loss of 30 liters.
Try and get a well dug for underground water to keep the grass green in the lawn.
Get your cars cleaned at a car wash … they use recycled water and it is cheaper than the hose in the house.
Reuse the water in which you boil rice, pasta, potatoes, other veggies … it might even have food value.
