Say Hello to Eco-Friendly Homes
It would be great if all houses and condominiums were as eco-friendly as the eco-friendly condominium movie celebrity Leonardo Dicaprio recently bought.
The said condo has a 24-hour fresh-filtered air system, a gray and black water treatment facility, rooftop green landscaping and free bike storage. Moreover, the entire building was built with only non-pollutant materials and solar-powered energy.
In the US, the residential sector is responsible for approximately 22% of the national energy use.
These days, however, more and more people are getting into eco-friendly architecture. Locally, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s School of Design and Arts is an example of a local environment-friendly structure. Air flows freely inside the building so the need for air-conditioning is not that much. There is also a lot of natural lighting to minimize dependence on artificial lighting, as well as a sewer treatment plant.
But for those also interested in taking a stand for the environment, there are still a lot of ways to put the foot where the mouth is.
In the garage
If you, your students’ families, or someone you know is shopping for a car, pitch for hybrid cars. Cars like Toyota Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid greatly cut down on gas consumption.
In the home office or living room
Computers, no matter how useful they are, sometimes still contain lead and cadmium circuit boards, lead oxide and barium in monitors, mercury in flat screens and plastics and flame retardants in casings and cables. The next time you want to upgrade your PC, go for companies like HP, Dell, NEC and IBM that take back old machines and replace them with “detoxified” ones.
For your water
Expend energy protecting the drinking water supply in your neighborhood, and promote sound water policies in your cities. Find out more about what is happening to the nearest water source, and monitor news about it.
Simple acts like turning off the faucet while brushing teeth help in water conservation. You should also take care of leaking toilets and faucets immediately. Toilets are the home’s largest water user.
In your actions
Support international agreements like the Kyoto Protocol by raising awareness for it or reducing your own energy use as much as possible. Recycle not just newspapers and bottles, but also old lumber, furniture, clothes.
In the dining room
Compost waste such as leftover food makes up a country’s solid waste stream. That’s why leftover food should be a big no-no, not only because it is a waste of money, but also because land and countless resources are used to produce the food.
Make it a point to consume less water, food, gas and other resources. Be conscious of the small decisions made each day and how they contribute to the environment’s demise.
Remember, the steps you take to change your lifestyle to conserve energy are the best contributions you can do for the environment. So start now.
Sources:
“Eat Your Leftovers.” Retrieved April 9, 2008 from
http://www.thegreenguide.com/blog/tow/1274
“How to Save the Earth.” Retrieved April 9, 2008 from
http://www.ehow.com/how_136632_save-earth.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art
Karlstrom, Solvie. “Tip of the Week.” Retrieved April 9, 2008 from
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/environment/alternative-energy/does-come-solar.html?nav=FEATURES
“Leonardo DiCaprio Buys Eco-Friendly NYC Condo.” Retrieved April 9, 2008 from http://www.usmagazine.com/leonardo_dicaprio_buys_ecofriendly_nyc_condo
Main, Emily. “Bathroom Revamp: Savings by the Gallon.” Retrieved April 9, 2008 from
http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/122/bathroom
Vergara, Alex. “Shrine to cutting-edge creativity.” Retrieved April 9, 2008 from
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=72940
(Published 21 April 2008, Smart Schools Program)
