“You are either part of the solution, or you are going to be part of the problem.”
The first book on climate change was published in 2003. Since then, thousands of books, hundreds of TED talks, and numerous international meetings have been held. And what are the results of that?
We released 37 Billion Tonnes of Co2 in 2019, twice the amount released in 2000. So the question is, is it enough to talk about climate change? Is it enough to be aware of Climate Change? Is it enough to raise your hand and take a pledge of climate correction?
Everyone wants to grow and develop in their own space, whether it is a country, state, city, or individual person. But at what cost? Our planet is finite, but if we all want to live the way the West lives, we require five Earths!
So what to do? Should we stop growing? Using the wrong energy in the wrong way to use the right energy in the right way is the only solution.
Here, we will go through the Avoid, Minimize, and Generate (AMG) approach to cut down our GHG emissions.
⭐ AVOID
In today’s consumer-driven world, it’s easy to accumulate more than we actually need, filling our homes with items that serve little purpose.
Imagine you’re walking down the street and seeing a beautiful pen sold by a vendor. Even though you don’t need a pen, you decide to buy it because it looks nice and it’s just a few cents. But you might not realize how much that pen actually costs in terms of energy consumption!
The journey of a pen involves a complex, energy-intensive process that significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. It starts with crude oil extraction and is then refined into plastic for the pen’s body.
Additional materials like ink, steel for the tip, and plastic for the cap all require separate extraction, manufacturing, and transportation processes—each step consuming energy.
These components are then assembled, packaged, and distributed through a logistics network that relies heavily on fossil fuels.
Despite the pen’s simplicity, every stage in its production and delivery adds up, revealing the hidden environmental impact of even small purchases.
Sure, you might have the money to buy these things, but nature can’t afford to keep supplying them. By rethinking what we truly need and cutting down on excess, we can declutter our lives and take meaningful steps toward a more sustainable, minimalist lifestyle.
⭐ MINIMIZE
Yes, it’s understandable that completely avoiding certain things can be very challenging, especially essential resources like electricity, food, water, and other necessities of life.
So, if we can’t entirely avoid these, we can at least reduce their unnecessary use and limit consumption to only what’s essential. Residential electricity usage contributes around 11%, and food accounts for 26% of total GHG emissions. By limiting our use of these resources, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint.
→ Electricity
+ Start with an Energy Audit
An energy audit can identify where your home is losing energy. For instance, air leaks around doors and windows can account for up to 30% of your home’s heating and cooling energy use. Sealing these leaks and improving insulation can significantly reduce wasted energy.
+ Switch to Energy-Efficient Appliances
Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances can reduce household energy consumption by up to 30%. Replacing incandescent bulbs with LED lighting could save 75% of the energy used for lighting, and LED bulbs can last 25 times longer.
Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) fans consume 40-50% less electricity compared to conventional ceiling fans. This can save up to 15% on your electricity bills in warm climates.
+ Lighten Up Your Walls
Did you know that light-colored walls can reflect up to 80% of the natural light, compared to 10-15% for dark walls? This means you can rely less on artificial lighting during the day.
→ Food: Think Before You Eat
The World Wildlife Fund has released its Living Planet Report, highlighting India’s food consumption patterns as the most sustainable among the major economies. The report indicates that if all nations were to adopt India’s food consumption approach, it would lead to the least climate-damaging scenario.
“The report praises India’s commitment to promoting climate-resilient millets, also known as nutri-cereals, through the National Millet Campaign, which aims to enhance the consumption of this ancient grain that is both healthful and resilient to climate change. It emphasizes that adopting more sustainable diets could significantly reduce the land required for food production, freeing up grazing land for alternative uses, including nature restoration and carbon sequestration, while advancing healthy alternative protein sources like legumes, nutri-cereals, plant-based meat alternatives, and nutrient-rich algae.” – IBEF
- Less Packaged Food: Packaged food contributes to plastic pollution. Buying fresh, local food cuts down on packaging waste and emissions.
- Fridge Management: Keeping your fridge overfull makes it work harder, using more energy. Keeping it organized can improve efficiency by 10%.
- Compost Food Waste: Instead of sending food waste to landfills where it produces methane, compost it, which will become a natural fertilizer.
- Reusable Bags: The average person uses 150 plastic bags a year. Switching to reusable bags reduces plastic waste.
→ Water: Every Drop Counts
- Rainwater Harvesting: This system can meet 30-50% of your water needs, reducing reliance on city water systems.
- Reuse RO Waste Water: RO systems waste 3-4 liters of water for every liter of purified water. Use that wastewater for tasks like flushing to save water.
- Manual Flushing: Automatic flushes use 3-6 liters per flush. Switching to manual flushing can save thousands of liters of water each year.
- Limit AI Reliance: AI technologies, from smart home assistants to cloud services, use vast data centers that indirectly consume water for cooling. Reducing reliance on AI where possible helps lessen the demand for these resources, contributing to water conservation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
→ Materials: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Reuse and Repair: Instead of throwing things away, try repairing them. This reduces waste and saves energy.
- Use Recycled Products: Products made from recycled materials use less energy and create fewer emissions. For example, recycled aluminum uses 95% less energy than new aluminum.
- Buy Less, Buy Better: Every item you buy increases demand for production. Only buy what you need and choose products made from sustainable materials.
⭐ GENERATE
After Avoiding and Minimizing usage, the final step is to generate clean, renewable energy ourselves. Think about it—every ray of sunlight that hits your rooftop is a missed opportunity if left untapped. By harnessing the sun’s energy, you can significantly cut down on your household’s greenhouse gas emissions while saving money on electricity bills.
→ Install Solar Panels
Solar panels are one of the simplest and most effective ways to generate clean energy. Here’s why:
- Cut Carbon Emissions: If your electricity comes from coal, every unit you use creates 1000g of CO2, which stays in the air for 300 years. This means every unit of solar electricity helps to cut down this CO2 emission.
- Cost Savings: While the upfront cost of installing solar panels can seem high, the return on investment through energy savings and potential government incentives can be significant over time.
- Community Solar Initiatives: Community solar programs can be a fantastic alternative for those unable to install rooftop solar panels. These initiatives allow multiple households to share the benefits of a larger solar installation, promoting clean energy access for everyone.
→ Solar Water Heaters
Switching from conventional water heaters to solar water heaters can save up to 1500 kWh of electricity annually for an average household. That’s enough energy to power a refrigerator for nearly two years!
Final Thoughts
Don’t worry about the planet—the planet is fine. We are the problem. We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it.
Adopting the Avoid, Minimize, and Generate (AMG) approach can make a profound difference. By cutting unnecessary consumption, conserving resources, and embracing renewable energy like solar power, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a sustainable future. Every choice we make today, no matter how small, helps shape a better tomorrow. The time is to Take Action Now!