What our other readers have said:
Experiment with personal sustainability
Living in the Dust Bowl, I'm experimenting now with rainwater catchments and cisterns to harvest and store rainwater – reducing my dependency on the local water supply when possible. I'm also experimenting with creating microclimates of humidity where possible. Bill Mollison, the founder of the 'permaculture' movement, has experimented for years developing water/land sustainability back before it was cool to do so, and I'm hoping to learn and apply as much of his research as I can in my own little piece of the world, and I'd urge everyone else to do so. This is the wave of the future.
Ron Honn, Stillwater, Okla., USA
Consider adoption
I have been considering adoption over having kids, as overpopulation is the true culprit when it comes to global greenhouse gas emissions. Most of the worlds emissions come from food production and building construction – to feed and shelter the world's 6.7 billion people. If the human global population was lower, cutting our individual emissions would not be necessary, and resources would be more plentiful per person.
Zac Albrecht-Heiks, Madison, Wis., USA
Solar too expensive; educating children isn't
I'm taking steps to make my home more energy efficient by installing energy-saver bulbs, more insulation, a programmable thermostat, and by conserving water. I'm teaching my children to avoid wasting water. I'd love to go solar, but the option is cost prohibitive right now. My next vehicle will definitely be a green choice depending on the options available in the next few years. I hope the plug-in Chevy Volt will be available on the market soon. I've also taken steps to write my representatives on several environmental issues lately but am otherwise feeling at a loss for anything more that I can do. Now I'm praying hard.
Debra Brock, Fort Mill, S.C., USA
Walk to work
I walk to and from work every day. It's a great way to begin the day, and I'm not contributing to air pollution by driving my car. When the weather is inclement, I hop on the public bus, which, in my city, runs on clean energy.
Lesley Vernon, Portland, Maine, USA
Changes at home, and where home is
We moved into town. Now we walk or bike to the grocery, restaurants, and the park. We live in the desert, so we are constantly looking for ways to stay cool without relying on the air conditioner. To that end we replaced all our incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, replaced our 30 year old single pane windows with dual pane windows, and tore out 90 percent of our home's carpeting and replaced it with saltillo tile. We plan to convert our house to solar some day, but for now the cost is too prohibitive.
Sue Briggs, Scottsdale, Ariz., USA
Lower your impact, not your standard of living
To keep our footprint small, my family chose a comfortable house that is about 30 percent smaller than the American average. It is within walking distance to nearly everything we need – groceries, doctors, movie theaters, etc. We can telecommute and bike to work. Plus, we're half a block from major bus lines and a rails-to-trails project. In the last two years, we have converted all toilets to low-flow, high-pressure types that need only one flush, unlike older models. We have begun converting our yard to edible landscaping and our windows to the highly-insulated variety. We have lots of roof area for future solar panels.
According to our plan, we have adopted habits such as recycling, composting, drying clothes by clothesline, converting all light bulbs to compact fluorescents, remodeling with eco-friendly materials, more frequently eating locally-grown food, etc.
We find companionship and vibrant, local community by: 1) using our front porch as more than a mere decoration, and 2) attending many nearby potluck dinner events. Thus, we progressively lower our impact, not our standard of living!
Crystal Heshmat, Albany, N.Y., USA
Individual and local efforts can make a difference
I plan to install geothermal to my house as well as solar panels. We have three Toyota Priuses. The first in 2003 went to my daughter, our 2005 car went to my son, and now we have a 2006.
I am also working with a professor at UWM architecture department to run calculations on the viability to install solar collectors on our city village hall, schools, fire department, local public library, etc.
I hope the numbers and logic work out to plan a 5 to 7 year plan to convert all our local public buildings to self sustaining entities. With credits from the electrical company it is time we all engaged this type of effort.
I have been fortunate to also turn all my 401k and other stock holding to Self Sustaining stocks and funds. To ensure some reliable return, most of the companies are doing work in Europe, Asia and Australia.
Jerry Rubin, Whitefish Bay, Wis., USA
Plan ahead
I will petition the government to take urgent steps to remedy the draught with which our region has been stricken for the past twenty years. There is plenty of water in the world and one measure humanity can take to remedy one aspect of climate change is to install desalination plants. Governments who have not done so are inept to govern because climatologist have predicted this phenomenon twenty years ago. To govern means to plan ahead for the well-being of the population, and when a government neglects to do that it is grossly negligent.
I have lived in the north west of Western Australia which is in the middle of the desert. However the company, Hamersley Iron, who had very entrepreneurial staff, provided us with artesian water and we could water our gardens every day for two hours. Now I live in Melbourne, a supposedly advanced urban area, and we can water our gardens only twice a week and even that is in jeopardy. I think our government should be sued for neglecting the most vital aspect of life: water..
Viviana Huwald, Melbourne, Australia
Consider the global consequences of actions
We, the people, control a huge amount of energy usage. By using public transportation and conserving energy at home, we can have a significant impact on global warming. Getting on the bus is a decision that has immediate impact. Consider the global consequences of your actions; act today.
Kevin Neff, Rochester, Minn., USA
Even toast makes a difference
I avoid all packaging.
I never use the dryer.
I buy local produce.
I have insulated.
I wear a sweater in winter.
I have energy-saving appliances.
I WALK.
My property has reforested.
I compost.
I recycle.
I REUSE.
I work for politicians who are "green" and I donate to their campaigns.
I eat very little meat.
I conserve water by having low-flush toilets, low-flow taps, and a washer which uses half the water other washers use. I never leave the tap running when I brush my teeth.
I never make toast.
I carry my own bags to the grocery store.
Maggie Macklin, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
A career change?
I have become personally committed to the individual aspects of conservation to include recycling, energy-efficient windows, composting, and following technological advances in the energy industry. I have also started exploring a career transition to work in areas that promote a "green" world from industry and business to government and non-profits.
Joe Call, Fairfax, Va., USA
Making choices, spreading the word
I'm cycle commuting more year-round as now we seem to get less snowfall.
I'm even more mindful of my impact on the planet when I buy something new instead of adapting or using something used. I'm rethinking my food choices as to impact on the planet and will try 2 days/week vegan. I'm consciously starting conversations about environmental footprints.
Ron Beland, Boston, Mass., USA
Several easy (but radical) steps
Global warming has brought us to abandon plans to move to a low-lying coastal town. We have also taken several steps to reduce our carbon footprint: purchased a plug-in electric vehicle and an electric lawn mower, increased our bicycle commuting, turned much more to local growers and manufacturers, nearly stopped using the clothes dryer, and purchased only Energy Star appliances.
We are planning to build a passive solar house which will require very little heating or cooling, and are staying closer to home on vacations. We think that cities will shrink, organic agriculture will take hold, and people will live much closer to their workplaces as higher fuel prices hit home.
Jerry McIntire, Portland, Ore., USA
Change is evident in Alaska
I live in Alaska. What I see is a shorter ski season. In reality it is devastating. The permafrost is melting and people's homes are literally falling into the sea. One student of mine no longer goes to her village in the summer because of this. Her home there is lost. The fish will also become more scarce. I think that we will adapt as we have to, without any real plan in mind, just as we adapt to a harsher winter than normal.
Karen Aleksa, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Unleash the clothes line
I grew up with a clothes line. I still have one and luckily I live in a place I can use one. Many of my friends, family, can't. Why? "Covenants, conditions, and restrictions" on their new developments fine them for using a clothes line. My aunt who loves hanging out her clothes has to use a clothes dryer in Reno even when the temperature is over 100 degrees. Then she has to run the air conditioner because the dryer heats up her house. CC&R's, a simple thing to elevate the clothes line from "class" to classy. Let's work on it!
Rosita Nunes, Castro Valley, Calif., USA
Ride a bike!
First off, why are we not driving solar powered cars in the Southwest United States?
I ride my bike for errands as much as possible. If I need just a few things at the store, I put on a backpack, ride my bicycle and make the trip. Saves gas, a grocery bag and I burn some calories.
Scott Wilson, Santa Barbara, Calif., USA
Easy changes that benefit more than just the environment
Three years ago, when my husband and I purchased a home, we chose one close to public transit, work, and family. I run errands along the bus route I take to and from work. We've planted more trees. We turn the AC up and use fans. We never water the lawn, but wait for the rain to replenish it. None of these changes have been difficult, and in fact, our lives are better for them. Because I walk more, I've lost weight and feel better.
Global warming's potential impact on our lives and the lives of our children is the greatest threat we face as a species and as a planet.
Robin McMillion, Austin, Tex., USA
Act now for future generations
I frame every decision that I make, from my career path to purchasing products, to include my impact on the earth. (It's not always the major determining factor, but it is a factor). I drive as infrequently as possible, purchase local foods, used clothing, and I've weatherized my home. I've also chosen a profession where I can educate others on how to make informed decisions. I don't do any of these things for myself, but for the generations to come who will be impacted by how I, and we as a society, respond to this challenge over the next few decades.
Asa Foss, Washington, D.C., USA
Curb fertilizer use
In northeast Ohio, we are fortunate to have two reliable sources of water, Lake Erie and abundant ground water. However, we treat water as a throw away resource with no regards to the contaminants we add to this life giving resource. I am lobbying my neighbors, village, county and state to curb the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides for putting-green lawns. The products are manufactured from millions of barrels of oil. They damage all forms of wildlife, and add too many nutrients and poisons to the water runoff, which in turn effects the water quality we drink.
Larry Wise, S. Russell, Ohio, USA
Home garden of vegetables
The view most prevalent is to reduce consumption of finite resources - meaning anything that is produced on earth naturally or synthetically. Nature demonstrates to us that an ecological system has a limited amount of local resources in which one or many can adapt to over a designated period of time. This a typical conditioning process for sustainability.
The human species with its reason and capitalistic model has exceeded the mythical information that earth resources are infinite. Therefore, reduced use of fossil fuels by growing a home garden of vegetables in the back yard is by far the most effective means to address our dependency to encourage self-sufficiency. This alteration reduces use of petroleum for distribution of produce, animal production, and mitigates climatic excesses from our current consumeristic habits.
On a small local or larger regional scale, this type of alteration can have beneficial results to all. It also provides a leadership role for the US population to demonstrate to the developing and Third world that we can provide an example that is attainable by all humans as opposed to an idealistic approach which prophesies non-pragmatic, non-sustainable approach. With these comments in mind, one needs to seek within oneself to reflect the change one wants to see in the world one perceives.
Don Anthony, Cape Coral, Fla., USA
Air-dry clothing
I have purchased some clothesline to dry my clothes instead of using the dryer. I have also started to turn off my computer when it's not in use.
Scott Tetreault, Cambridge, Mass., USA
Lower standard of living
The standard of living will be lower than that of the "baby boomers." We will be living on less water, consuming more local foods, etc. Programs and legislation designed to lower emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere will become the norm.
Sid Conaway, Fullerton, Calif., USA
