Whether we want to admit it or not, society has become all about mass consumption. We like our food fast, our entertainment free and plentiful, our information in an instant, and our broadband connected non-stop. We want as much was we can handle as quick as we can get it. And whether we like it or not, the youth’s consumption habits play a part in society’s greater problems. One of these main problems is something that is becoming more and more apparent as the days go by — global warming.
Instead, however, of scaring everyone with the problem, I’d rather offer a doable solution, specifically for the youth. Most adults have already made up their minds and are set in their ways. Our generation, though, can by and large still be convinced that change is possible.
To aid in minimizing our energy consumption and the negative effects it has, not only to the environment, but to the economy and government policy as well, here are some tips on how this generation can help.
1. Carpool to school. If you know of people in your area who travel to school or work at the same place you do, you might want to consider forming a carpool. It will reduce the redundant trips that consume unnecessary amounts of gasoline. Not only does carpooling save money and gas, it also helps in reducing traffic.
2. Ride a bike. Everyone gets sent on errands at some point every week. If you’re asked to buy some bread or cooking oil from a nearby store, don’t take the car; ride a bike. If you don’t have a bike, buy one. Taking the car short distances for ordinary errands is a highly inefficient and it’s a more expensive alternative to riding a bike.
3. Take the trains– Public transportation is an obvious solution to minimizing gasoline costs. However, taking jeeps or buses is actually pretty counterproductive. Jeeps are technological dead ends that cause a lot of air pollution and buses are barely a notch above. Trains are probably the best alternative, though the geographic area covered is much smaller.
4. In school, just walk. Let’s say you’re on campus and suddenly get the craving for a nice burger from McDonald’s. Whether you’re on Katipunan, Taft, España, Morayta or the Belt, it’s best that you just walk across the street instead of taking a tricycle, a jeep, or even worse, your car. Suck it up. Walking is good for the body.
5. Quit smoking. Studies have shown that cigarette smoke is a significant contributor to global warming. That should be pretty obvious. Another reason to quit smoking, in relation to tip no. 4, is that smokers get tired quicker and develop an aversion to walking. It’s easier to fall into the pitfalls of a wasteful lifestyle, like taking a tricycle when you’re tired and wheezing.
6. Unplug. When you leave the house (or even your room) for an extended period of time, unplug your appliances from the wall sockets. Appliances that are on standby mode consume somewhere between 10 and 30 of its normal electricity requirement. Multiply that by the number of TVs, DVD players and the like you have, and you’ll see how much you’ll be saving.
7. Maximize every page. Don’t waste paper by taking notes on every other page. Maximize the space you have in your notebook or pad and avoid tearing out pages that may still be used. I’ve seen too many obsessive-compulsive note-takers tear out entire pages because of a misspelled word. Reuse old sheets of paper from previous classes or meetings if you must.
8. Use the Internet. Convince your professor to start adapting to technology. Instead of photocopying pages and pages of lecture notes and handing out memos, tell your professor to just upload them online. It’ll be quicker to access and once you have them on your computer screen, at least you have the option of just reading it there paper-free, or printing it on recycled paper. Taking advantage of technology is one of the best ways to reduce paper waste.
9. Turn it down. The brightness of your computer screen and TV, the thermostat in your room or car air conditioner, the knob on your faucet or shower, the speed you drive your vehicle — turn them all down. You can live with a room that’s a bit warmer, a screen that’s a bit darker and a car that’s a bit slower. A little change in each will help.
10. Educate your parents. Since they’re paying the bills, they have greater incentive to adjust their lifestyle. All they need is that nudge from someone they trust.
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For questions, comments, or corrections, please e-mail me at carlfrancisramirez@gmail.com.