Well, we took this quiz in our Sustainable Development
Class and I seemed to have gotten the same results. About 4.5 Earths. However,
I argue that every American will at least need 4 Earths. We are just, just, used to living large. The results are on par to what I thought they
would be: Energy Resources as well as Services (Cars, Planes ect…). I do use a lot of energy, but so do you, and
so does Little Tommy Walker. We, as humans, tend do that. We are in a building
for roughly, what 20 hours a day? While in that building we have lights, TV,
radio, microwave, AC/Heat, water pumps, and so much more. All of that is using
energy, and we are benefiting from it!
Not too sure I’m going to change because of this. I don’t
think I live nessicary ‘outside’ of the norm, but I do think I consume a lot.
However, my aurgument, is that all that I do, I need to do.
Car Driving: 1-50 Miles a Week: I drive to and from school every
day, as well as to work. To and From school is about 25-30 minutes, and to work
is about 15 minutes. If I gave up my driving, well how would I get to school?
Public Transportation?! Please, our country hasn’t invested enough in
mass-public transit for that to be reliable and timely.
Electricity: Here, I ‘spose
I could try something different, but in all actuality I have, Lights, cell
phone, computer, refrigerator, oven, microwave ect.. Sure, I could give
up—well—let’s not lie to ourselves, I couldn’t give up any of that (haha) I
mean, could I go without a cell phone? I guess, people do it, but it’d be a
major inconvenience. Plus I’d have to get Home-Phone, which would be more
expensive than just my 60 bucks a month for my cell phone plan. The others seem
to be much more ‘basic need’ in nature. Without a fridge how am I to keep my
food cool? Without the oven how can I cook? Open flame? Nah, that sounds like a
little too much work for my dinner.
Thus, I don’t think I can really ‘change’ perhaps limit
what I do, or even lower consumptions, but I think even that would be
difficult.
We can all agree that Americans, on average, consume the
most. We are just used to it. Most Americans who move overseas are shocked by
the small living spaces, lack of driving, and general simple way of life. We
were conditioned for it. I, personally, believe that it follows the American
Dream: House with a white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and a dog. Now it’s more so:
Mansion, with an Iphone, 2.5 kids with Iphones, a Hummer, ect… it’s all about
status. Making a statement if you will. Even going back to that [very very very]
liberal video we watched in Sustainable Development: Go forth and buy! BUY ALL
THE THINGS! Consume everything cause
it’s all made for you.
The general attitude towards the
environment seems to be one of convenience. “When it suits me to be ‘green’ then
I shall, but if I have to go out of my way to do so…well…eh.”—Everyone in America. So the question becomes: Can we change THEIR
attitude? Nope. I’m going to be pessimistic and realistic in this. As I stated
earlier Americans are just generally consumption happy. Thus, if we truly wanted Americans to use
less, and consume less, then we would have to complete change our society ideas
and wants. I truly think we are conditioned to consume. We must break that
conditioning, which I think is just a little out of touch with reality.
Perhaps we could change, slowly.
Very slowly. Very, Very, Very slowly. It would take a while, and I believe that
even if that change does happen, it will only be negligible. Perhaps we should
look at the economy as one of the ways to change the entire system. In our
Sustainable Development class we spoke about our economy and how it plays it’s
part in sustainable development. Mostly about device failure, and the need to
keep buying. I think if we want to change our habits, our Economy must change first.
I offer these three ways to fix this problem:
1) Invest
in Green Technologies
2) Use
high-grade materials that will make products last longer
3) Keep
the ‘tech’ curve just slightly ahead so
device outdating is slower
First, Invest in Green Technologies.
In my Discussion group I discussed the fact that no matter what, it seems, the
people are just not all that into Green Technologies. I think it’s because it’s
so new. We aren’t exactly sure what the investment will bring or what exactly
we will get out of this. It’s also expensive; any new technology is really, but
it seems that green-energy/tech is the most expensive. Not too long ago I remember
the energy efficient light bulbs were quite expensive, but as more and more
were produced and demand went up the prices fell. I believe that is one thing
we will have to do with the other green technologies. We will need to work and
wait for the demand to go up, to bring the prices down.
Second, Using high-grade
materials that will make products last longer. Now, the aurgument here is that
either the company is using cheaper materials so that the consumer will A) have
to buy more of them, more frequently or B) to save on money. I think the latter
is truer than the former. However, in today’s world we really can’t rule
anything out can we? I think companies just want to use products that are
cheaper, thereby, their profit margins are extended. It may just be an added
plus that they tend to break six to eight months down the line and the consumer
must buy more.
Third, keeping the ‘tech’ curve just slightly ahead so device outdating is slower. We all know device outdating is the new thing in technologies. Case and point: Apple. Once you buy the Apple Iphone 4 they already announced the Iphone5. Then, people with perfectly good, working, wonderful Iphone 2-4s had to run out and buy the Iphone5. All the waste from those phones has to go somewhere and thus the cycle does not end. I believe that companies should always be researching and developing, it’s what the company is there for. However, I think companies should keep the curve only slightly ahead, this way device outdating would be slower. Perhaps give the device a two to three year life instead of a six month to a year.
I believe that if companies
would take these three simple steps into their business practices I think we
could very well Green our Economy. And once we green up our economy, I believe
that people may be able to change their practices and perhaps even slowly turn
the tide of how many “Earths” each of us need to live on.