Green Energy and Sustainability

Nobody really wants to talk about eating disorders whether they have one or not. At the same time, pretty much everyone admits they are bad and need to be stopped. Similarly, I'd imagine no one wants to destroy the environment, but many people are hesitant to go green or make changes in their life to become more sustainable. The concept of knowing something is wrong but not acting on it is common. Sustainability and eating disorders have almost nothing in common however they both require action and at the same time people don't want to act on it. 

If this polar bear could talk to us, I'm pretty sure he would tell you his environment is not being sustained. It is easy to ignore climate change when it is not in our back yards. It becomes even easier as winter approaches and we are still freezing our asses off and shoveling snow. Whenever you could care less whether you leave your light on or the water running, remember that little things add up and they by the time you start to see their negative impacts it could be too late. So rather than waiting until you hear about coastal borders flooding over, act now and make steps to a more sustainable and green future.

The United States House of Representative Committee of Science, Space, and Technology recently held a meeting for President Obama's plan to shrink carbon emissions in the US by 30% by 2030. You may think that some of the factors that came into play during this debate would be its financial impact and other aspects like that. However, many committee members took this time, as shown in the video, to call upon false evidence and the most ridiculous ideas to insist that climate change is not even related to carbon emissions. It is extremely unfortunate that even though 97% of scientists agree that climate change is happening and is caused by carbon emissions, the population that really has the power to change it does not due to their own personal benefits.

Just because something is monetarily free does not mean it is free from harming the environment. Only take what you truly need!

In some places yes. In cities and really populated places there is definitely a need to change how they live their lives and use energy. However, in rural environments there is not as much of a need.

There is a balance that must be achieved between the amount of CO2 we release and the environment. This picture illustrates a light bulb that essentially running off of "green energy". It means that we do not need to stop using electricity altogether, but rather find a way for a clean environment and our way of living to work together. 

Since I am just a teenager and do not have the ability to make many of my own financial decisions, it limits the large things I can do to make my life green. However, little things add up and can make a big difference in the long run. Things that I do on a day-to-day basis include using a reusable water bottle instead of grabbing bottles at grab-n-go in the morning, turning off the water while I brush my teeth to save water, and taking shorter showers. It is the little things! 

In Unit 2, I discussed the way my lens of growing up in a well-to-do town changed the way I read and interpreted Richard Stengel's short story, "A Time to Serve". In doing green energy and sustainability, my lens also played a role. My lens limits my ability to consider ways that people who do not have the ability to put solar panels on their roof could live a net zero lifestyle. Walking around my town, the possibility and access that people have to doing things that better the environment, like buying electric cars and installing solar panels is much greater than many of those in other towns. This lens inhibits me from considering ways that others who cannot afford or do not have access to certain items can be environmentally friendly. 

Check out this cool video on how solar panels work. Aside from materials, it is an all natural process and is extremely green and sustainable!

John

Enjoy this 8 hour audio clip of the sounds of nature. You have to listen to all of it because otherwise the surprise ending won’t make sense… Joking around but not when it comes to protecting the environment. Keep the beauty of nature the way it is and make smart, green, and sustainable choices!

http://futurescope.co/ This blog posts current and future technology that could be making waves in the tech-world. Some of this technology is related to my blog because it may post some new types of sustainable redesigns of products and also alternative forms of energy.