Sustainable Living: Save the future!

 



What is Sustainability?

The term refers to the consumption and usage of natural resources mindfully and economically with minimal or no harm caused to the environment.

What will happen if we as a citizen of the world aren’t actively working towards living sustainably?

1. It will severely affect the air we breathe.

The percentage of pollution we cause on daily basis to the environment by the vehicle we ride is quite high. The two wheelers which are maximum on Bangalore roads lets out high quantity of particulate matter (PM) and Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) into the air causing severe pollution.

What can we do to make it better?

For most of us taking a two wheeler is very convenient for moving across the city, but a person must also know its effects on the environment.

  • -          Always get periodic servicing done, that includes Emission and PUC tests. When you give your vehicle for servicing, specifically mention to them about doing Emission and PUC test of the vehicle as most of the service centres do not include this as a part of the servicing.
  • -          Try to use more public transport for obvious reasons that its one vehicle taking many people to a destination causing less harm to the environment than those many people getting their own vehicles on the road causing more harm to the environment.
  • -          Carpooling while commuting to a common destination.
  • -          Start switching to EV’s. Which is a boon to the environment.
  • -          Also it can be advised to the authorised service centres to make Emission and PUC tests as a mandatory factor in the services.

If these habits are not adapted today, we are slowly moving towards living a life with severe illnesses, unpleasant climate changes and unhealthy eco systems.


2. The luxury of availing water 24/7, be it drinking or washing will only be a dream.

Most of us relish the blessing of 24/7 availability of water in all of the taps at homes, work and around the city, most of us can’t even imagine living with minimal water availability. But you know what? that’s a sensible way of living. Here are a few things we can do to save our environment:

  • -          Take bucket baths instead of shower baths, so that you can monitor water usage.
  • -          Minimal hair washes, due to more water requisites.
  • -          Don’t turn taps 100%, as more than half of the water is wasted by just flowing into the sink, instead keep a policy of turning water tap only 40%.
  • -          Use appliances like water purifier, washing machine, dishwasher, etc, that use minimum water. Modern appliances are designed in a way that are sustainable.
  • -          Replace old toilet fittings that uses more than 13 litres of water with modern bathroom fittings that uses less than 4 litres of water to flush out.
  • -          Educate house helpers about using minimal water and avoid running taps unnecessarily.
  • -          Fix any kind of water leakages

If steps aren’t soon taken towards water conservation at homes, workplaces or commercial buildings, we are soon going to get back bitten by nature in a way that will be ruthless. There will be:

  • -          Food Scarcity
  • -          Dryness of wetlands causing bio diversity loss and habitat destruction
  • -          High energy costs, as water treating and supplying requires lot of energy
  • -          Nation & communities conflicts over water.
  • -          Negative effects on economic growth.

A few other lifestyles changes that can help you contribute towards sustainability:

  • -          Avoid using one Single Use Plastics, instead use re-usable water bottles, shopping bags, food containers.
  • -          Reducing food waste by planning meals. Avoid over cooking and wasting food.
  • -          Shopping locally that supports farmers and reduces harm to the environment caused by transportation and pesticides that is used to for long shelf life.
  • -          Switch to organic produce.
  • -          Avoid over shopping and keeping wardrobes stuffed with clothes. Shop what you use and use what you shop! Rest you can donate for recycling.
  • -          If you feel your bathing soap is harder to rinse off and needs more water, then it’s better to switch to another soap that rinses off easily.
  • -          Use bathing soaps and detergents that are not causing water pollution.

Most of us know about this already, it’s time we act upon it. As the citizen of the world it is each of ours duty to protect our environment and make this planet a better place to live for our future generations.

Popular posts from this blog

Palitana – The Unfading Enchantment.

Image
  Witnessing a Cluster of Temples After Climbing 3,500 Steps A hike that is both rejuvenating and a feast for the eyes, as one ascends the holy mountain. Every breath feels fresh and soothing to the soul. The Palitana Temples are the abode of Lord Adinatha, the first Tirthankara according to Jain scriptures. These temples have existed since the 11th century and have a history of construction and restoration spanning about 900 years. Kumarpal Solanki, a Jain patron, was the first person to build a temple on the Shatrunjay Hill. This is one of the most important and holiest pilgrimage sites for Jains. A Place of Soul Purification. A Place of Peace. A Place of Hope. Interesting Facts: The main idol of Lord Adinatha was believed to have breathed seven times after its installation in 1006 AD.  The holy hill of Palitana is believed to be an abode only for divine souls, and therefore, no one is allowed to stay overnight, including the priests. A Sufi Pir, Angaarsha, the Sav...
Read more

The Art of Letting Go

Image
  Why do we have to let go? We need to let go of old materialistic stuff to make space for the new. We need to let go of old unhealthy habits to have a healthier life. We need to let go of unpleasant thoughts for a beautiful mind. We need to let go of people who don’t add value to our lives in order to move ahead to a fresh chapter. We need to let go of our loved ones to let them explore their lives. We need to let go of fear to experience fearlessness. It doesn’t happen in a day, of course. It is a process—a gradual journey toward the outcome. Why is it hard to let go? We have memories and attachments. A few are worth keeping until the end of our lives, but many aren’t—and they’re better to let go of. For example : I can never let go of the jewelry given to me by my mom, but keeping an accessory from an old lover will hold me back, making it tough to move on. We are accustomed to habits ...
Read more

People of Today, Lifestyle of Yesterday!

Image
People of this era are somewhat drawn towards the methods, culture, and lifestyle of the past. Why is that? Is it because we all feel that people in the past were more sensible? They believed in efficiency and sustainability, and their lives revolved around these concepts? Here are a few things that made me feel like we—the people of this era—are in love with the past: We are moving more towards living sustainably. The love for organic items in the market has boomed to such an extent that people don't mind paying a few extra bucks to ensure they’re consuming naturally grown or produced products. We want to start eating the way our ancestors once ate—we’re slowly adopting new ways of cooking and eating, based on old traditions. The demand for earthenware has increased—they're back with a bang! People have switched back to using oils they had once given up, choosing traditionally used oils over the more commercially marketed ones—for example, switching back to groundnut oil ...
Read more