Can We Live without Sustainable Energy?

You should imagine what will happen when oil prices become very expensive in the future. How if we use all of our fossil fuel supply? You should know that right now around 20% of our electricity supply come from fossil fuel. What will happen if they run out? These are questions that you should consider to appreciate the importance of sustainable power. They are not things that we should consider in the future, but they are important now.

Sustainable energy has aroused debates among government officials, NGOs, and oppositions. Some say that sustainability is critical while others consider it as mumbo jumbo. Firstly we need to understand the definition of sustainability. Sustain means to support, uphold, and to keep something from falling. When it comes to sustainable energy, it means energy with unending resources. Sustainable energy is endless resources that can produce energy without destroying the environment and the earth where we live in.

If we scrutinize those debates, we will see that sustainable energy is not the source of conflicts. The alternate source of energy is the thing that has created those conflicts. Some argue that alternate energy resources are new and nobody has investigated whether they are safe or not. Others say that they are not enough to accommodate the demands of this world. No matter what the arguments are, we need to consider that sustainability is important for the future of human beings. It is a must if we want to continue living on this earth. The future is our main reason to fight and to be better.

If we look back way into the past, we can see that alternate energy resources have been used since the ancient time. They are everywhere from the richest countries to the poorest nations. Wind farms are abundant in northwestern Europe while geothermal plants are available in the Philippines, New Zealand, Kenya, Germany, Mexico, Turkey, and the US. People in China have used hydropower to generate electricity to power small towns. Hydropower has also been used in US to power a big city like Las Vegas.

It is important now

You might think that now the earth is polluted and in peril. Then you should think what will happen if our ancestors have used all the fossil fuels. We cannot let this fate to happen for our future generations. Human beings have survived many catastrophes on this planet and together we can achieve something that will slow down the pollution and global warming that threaten our earth.

Think about the great smog in London that killed more than 8000 people. At that time they experienced unusually cold weather and they consumed and lit up more coals which fogged the air with excessive amount of smog. If we never used alternate energy resources, it is likely that we would not be here today. Therefore be a supporter of sustainable energy and start taking action to make this world a better place for us and our future generations. Save this earth, this is a beautiful place to live in.

Understand the Cost of Installing Solar Energy System

Solar energy is abundant and it is free. Unfortunately, we need expensive tools to harness this energy. If you plan to install a solar energy system at your home, then it is better if you understand how much it would cost. In this case, there are three things that you should know.

Firstly, the cost will normally depend on the energy that your household needs. If you need a large amount of energy, then you will need more solar panels, which will lead to higher cost. Fortunately, solar energy technology has developed considerably over the years and the cost has become cheaper nowadays.

Secondly, several countries have offered a rebate for their citizens who decide to switch to use alternative forms of energy. This is good news since the government will cover a portion of the total cost of the system.

Thirdly, some governments also provide tax credits when you use the solar energy system. In the United States, the amount of tax rebate is different from state to state, but it ranges from $1,000 to $2,000.

All of these factors affect the overall cost of your system installation. A photovoltaic system normally cost around $8,000 to $10,000 per 1kW. The amount is equal to $8 to $10 per Watt. In general, an average 3-bedroom American household needs energy around 1.5kW to 3kW. Based on this amount, the cost of installation will be around $14,000 to $30,000 before rebates and tax credits.

As mentioned before, the rebate is different from state to state. For this calculation, we use an average California household that needs 1.5kW system. It means that the system can get as much as $4,200 rebate. The number comes from 1.5kW=1500 watts times $2.80 per watt, which translates to $4,200. Based on the calculation, if your household requires 3kW system, you can get rebate as much as $8,400.

In the beginning, tax credit can go as much as 30%, but then it is lowered to 7.5% of system cost after rebate. Therefore, 1.5kW system can get $735 worth of tax credit that comes from $14,000 deducted by $4,200 and then multiplied by 7.5%. With the same calculation, 3kW system will get $1,620 worth of tax credit (($30,000 - $8,400) x 7.5% = $1,620)

Based on the calculation above, cost of solar energy system for 1.5kW household is $14,000 (cost of the system) deducted by $4,200 for rebate and $735 for tax credit or a grant total of $9065. With the same formula, the cost for 3kW system is: $30,000 - $8,400 - $1,960 = $19,980. This calculation is only a rough estimate. They do not represent real figures, but only serve as a basic idea for the cost of installing a solar energy system.

Hot tips

Normally an energy independent home has higher resale value and the home is also highly preferred by home buyers. Therefore, if you plan to sell your home in several years, it is also a good home improvement option besides providing a nice saving on your electrical bill.

It is a good idea to include the cost for solar energy installation into your mortgage. Another thing that you should remember is that if you have low energy requirement, it means that you can lower the installation cost.

Choose your appliances wisely. You can reduce your electricity load by buying appliances with ENERY STAR logo. If you feel that full solar energy system is too expensive, you can opt for a solar hot water system for only around $3,000.

If your area has a high electricity rate, you will get more saving from your solar energy system. On the other hand, the system is also suitable if your home is located far from existing power lines.

10 Lifestyle Changing Tips to Save the Environment

Sustainability concept becomes a global trend nowadays. News and broadcasts are crammed with information on how to save the environment. This article offers some tips that you can try to contribute for the environment. They cost almost nothing because what you need to do is to change your lifestyle.

1. Change all of your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs use much less energy for the same performance and they last much longer as well. This is the easiest way to save energy and reduce your electrical expense.

2. Turning off the lights whenever you go out from a room. This is a simple and easy way to save energy.

3. Saving energy by adjusting the temperature of your room. For instance, during winter, you can decrease the heater slightly and use sweater inside the house. You will save a considerable amount of money by implementing this tip.

4. Stop asking for plastic bags when shopping. Plastic bags are oil based and they are not biodegradable. Bring your own bag so you contribute in saving our unrenewable resources. You might get a discount from the store as well.

5. When you go shopping, do not buy disposable products. Disposable products will likely end up in landfills and landfills emit gases that cause greenhouse effect and global warming. Choose items that can be used many times. If possible, choose good quality products. They are more expensive, but they can be used for a long period of time.

6. When products need batteries, choose the ones that are rechargeable. Batteries contain toxic materials and their disposal needs proper care. Therefore, it is good if you can reduce battery disposal. You will save money because you don’t keep buying batteries repetitively.

7. When you plan to buy a new car, choose the environmentally friendly one. You can choose hybrid car or if it is too expensive, you can buy the one that consumes less fuel per mile. It is even better if you can travel by public transports or bicycles.

8. Limit your water usage. Water is extremely cheap in some countries and they do not use it wisely. For other, this resource is very important and very difficult to get. Therefore, you need to change your lifestyle and use water more wisely. Cleaning your deck or driveway using a broom will save you gallons of water annually. Use a washing machine when it is full so you use water efficiently. Turn off the water tap while you are brushing your teeth.

9. Using solar energy is another good idea that you should try. It is expensive, but if you have the budget, why don’t you try this option. You can start with small solar panels for your water heater for instance.

10. Why don’t you use a push mower instead of an electrical or fuel one? It works well if your lawn is small and you can also exercise while mowing your lawn.

The Achievement of Earth Hour 2009

From Sydney Harbour to the Empire State Building, cities and world landmarks plunged into darkness as a symbolic energy-saving exercise unfolded across the globe. The pyramids at Giza in Egypt, the Acropolis in Athens and the Houses of Parliament in London cut their electricity as part of "Earth Hour," a worldwide call for action to avert potentially devastating climate change. Some 371 landmarks were due to power down worldwide, including the Eiffel Tower, Niagara Falls, the Las Vegas casino strip and Beijing's "Bird's Nest" Olympic stadium.

The global grassroots movement began in Sydney two years ago, when 2.2 million people switched off their lights. Earth Hour has since grown to include 3,929 cities, villages and localities across the globe.

The Earth Hour 2009 event began dramatically as Sydney's iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge plunged into darkness on Saturday night, killing their lights for an hour, followed later by the glittering Hong Kong waterfront.

Lights in the "city that never sleeps" began going dark at 8:30 pm (0030 GMT) at some of New York City's most renowned buildings and landmarks, including Broadway theaters, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and the signs of several big firms, including Coca-Cola's in Times Square.

In Washington, campuses of major universities and several embassies flipped the switch. People gathered at Freedom Plaza, which has an unobstructed view of the US Congress, to watch the lights dim on nearby buildings and hotels.

In London, the lights went off at the Houses of Parliament and the famous electronic billboard at Piccadilly Circus.

In Paris, hundreds of monuments and buildings, from the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral to the Arc de Triomphe, all went dark. For safety reasons, the lights on the Eiffel Tower were switched off for only five minutes.

Elsewhere across Europe, St Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Greek parliament in Athens were all plunged into darkness, while entertainers danced in front of the Romanian parliament in Bucharest.

In Egypt, the Giza pyramids, the Cairo Tower and the Alexandria Library on the Mediterranean all went dark.

In the United Arab Emirates, which has the highest per capita energy consumption in the world, Dubai's iconic sail-shaped seven-star Burj al-Arab hotel turned off its nightly multi-colored light show.

Mountaineers planned to raise an Earth Hour flag on the 29,000-foot (8,848-meter) summit of Everest, the planet's highest point.

The lights went dark in downtown Manila, as they did in the world's tallest completed skyscraper, the Taipei 101 building.

In South Africa, Table Mountain was to be seen only by starlight for an hour. And the Weekender newspaper reported that one couple would turn the lights down on their marriage at a vineyard near Cape Town.

This report on Earth Hour 2009 was summarized from Landmarks go dark for world climate campaign.

Earth Hour 2009

March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm tens of millions of people in hundreds of cities around the world will come together once again to make a bold statement about their concern about climate change by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for one hour. Earth Hour symbolizes that by working together, each of us can make a positive impact in the fight against climate change.

This year, the goals for Earth Hour are bigger because the stakes are higher. Already 250 cities in 74 countries have agreed to take part including Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami and Nashville with more signing up every day. Around the world cities like Moscow, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Shanghai and Mexico City will turn out their lights in support.

You can participate by easily turning off your lights for only one hour on March 28, 2009 from 8.30 to 9.30 pm of your local time. Show your commitment to the environment by participating on this simple activity and you will see that we can make a big difference if we work together to achieve a common goal. Visit http://www.earthhour.org/ for more information about this worldwide commitment.

Use CFLs to Save the Environment and Reduce Your Expense

In general, most homes in developed countries consume 9% of total energy usage for lighting alone. The number is more than this for other parts of the world. Therefore, if you use cost-efficient lights, they can really become an energy saver.

Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs are made specifically for this purpose. It only consumes around 34% energy of conventional light bulbs. In this case, if you decide to change from incandescent to CFL, you will reduce your electrical consumption by 6%.

CFLs have the same luminescence for less power when compared to conventional light bulbs. It is true that CFLs are more expensive than the incandescent, but they also have longer lifespan. It is estimated that the lifespan is 12 times longer than the incandescent light bulbs. This way, you have saved $30 in electrical costs during the lifespan of the bulbs.

There is an article in the United States stating that if a household changes 30 lighting fixtures and invest $90 in CFLs, they can potentially save $500 to $1500 in five years depending on the areas. This is only a typical house. If we are talking about commercial and office buildings, the savings are much greater. A 75-watt CFL could save $22 every year. If we multiply this number with the number of light bulbs in the building, the saving amount is staggering. You will need to spend an extra $2 for every fixture, but you will recover that amount quickly.

Some manufacturers of CFLs use titanium dioxide coating because it is claimed that titanium dioxide can neutralize bacteria, odors, and molds. Furthermore, some manufacturers also apply a luminous coating to the CFL bulbs to provide extra luminescence after the CFLs are turned off. Therefore, a little light will remain for a short period of time in the case of accidents or power failure. Another good thing about CFLs is that they produce less heat, thus there is less work for air conditioners as well.

Is there any downside to CFLs?

CFLs have different behaviors than the ordinary incandescent bulbs. They take longer to achieve full brightness depending on the temperature. The colder the climate, the longer they need to achieve full brightness. CFLs also give off the brightest light at the beginning of their lifespan. Over time, they begin to dull gradually. A CFL approximately loses 20% of its original brightness at the end of its life.

Conclusion

Saving energy and sustainability are the current trend nowadays. People are buzzing about them. We depend a lot on fossil fuel and it is not renewable. Continuous research is done to come up with new ideas to conserve energy. We can contribute to this effort to save the environment. Changing incandescent light bulbs with CFLs is a simple and good start. It will help the environment and it will reduce our expense as well.

How to Teach Your Kids to Save Energy

Saving energy should become a fun activity for everyone in the family. Kids should also learn a valuable lesson to reduce the electricity bills. Teaching kids about energy efficient is not as easy as it sounds. Here are some simple tips that you can try.

Let them know the importance of saving energy

Your first goal should be teaching your kids about the importance of saving energy. Use a simple story to make them understand how global warming happens and why we should change our habit to help the environment. There are many educational books for kids that discuss the importance of saving energy. They will be a great help to achieve your goal.

It starts from you

If you have kids, you should know that they tend to follow what adults do. Therefore, if you want your kids to save energy, then you should do it first. The habit starts from you. Perhaps you put posters or small notes to encourage kids to save energy, but if you do not follow those notes, your kids will not follow them either. You can’t tell your kids to turn the light off before leaving the room if they never see you do it in the first place. You need to lead by example if you want your kids to change.

Learning new things should be fun

If you want to teach your kids to save energy, you should make the education process fun. There are many teaching materials out there where your kids can learn important lessons to save energy. You should sit together with your kids and explore those educational websites, books, and computer software to conserve energy and save the environment. This is a good method for kids from 5 to 10 years old.

Once they learn those things, you should encourage them to implement the things that they have learnt immediately. Put the lessons into practice and you should keep reminding them of what the right thing to do to save energy.

Pay attention to the age of your kids

Kids with different ages will need different ways to learn about saving energy. For instance, if you want to teach your 6-year old son to turn the light off before leaving the room, you only need to tell him what to do and why it is important to do it. Of course you should lead by example as well.

On the other hand, if your son is 11-year old, then you may want to use different approach. You can show him your electricity bill and tell him that he can contribute significantly by adopting a new habit. Afterwards, you can teach him about the importance of saving energy for the environment. Be creative in teaching this thing to your kids. You should know which method is the most effective and comfortable for them.

Simple habits for your kids

You can start teaching these simple habits to your kids to save energy:

• Turn the light off before leaving the room or the house.
• Turn the computer off after usage or if you leave it for a long period of time.
• Do not hold the refrigerator open for too long. Tell your kids to take what they want from the fridge quickly and close the door immediately.
• Unplug electronic appliances when they are not in use, such as mobile charger, DVD player, stereo, etc.
• Reduce lighting usage and switch to natural light as much as possible.

Saving energy will become more meaningful if you can get your kids involved. They are the future generation that will get benefits from this good habit.

Paper, Plastic, or CFL?

This is an interesting article by Eric Bloom posted in Environmental Lovins blog. He indicates that changing your light bulbs to CFL is more effective in contributing to the enviroment compared to avoiding to use plastic bags. Here's the story.

For concerned environmentalists like us, bags are always on our mind. Checking out at the supermarket often poses the eternal dilemma: Paper or plastic?

The debate surrounding this issue pits the durability and lower material demands of plastic against the renewability of paper sources. Many of us have come up with alternatives such as reusable canvas tote bags or bringing our own plastic.

When we feel we've made the best decision, we rest easy, knowing our actions are in some way improving the condition of our global ecosystem. And they certainly do.

But does that "eco-guilt" we so often feel motivate us to the best possible solutions for the environment -- and for us?

You might be surprised by the answer.

According to the Allen Consulting Group, the use of a reusable bag (like canvas tote bags) creates just 4.4 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year, while single-use plastic bags average 13 pounds, and paper bags ring in at 66 pounds.

As well as restricting trash volume, saving a few pounds of carbon by switching to reusable bags certainly counts. But should it be the focus of our stress when the buildings we live and work in emit carbon dioxide on the scale of tons every year?

The average American's transport, housing, food, goods, and services emit a total of 42 tons of carbon dioxide a year. What this starts to tell us is that we might be sweating the small stuff, and we ought to give some serious thought to our overall carbon emissions profile.

So, while the canvas tote bags do make a difference, there's a lot more we have in our power (literally) to reduce our carbon emissions, which one might say is a good way of measuring eco-guilt.

For example, replacing a single incandescent bulb with a CFL can reduce our energy demand, leading to carbon dioxide reductions of about 70 pounds per year -- that amounts to a little more than one person switching from paper to reusable.

If you have even 10 lightbulbs in your own house, the carbon dioxide savings would reduce emissions as much as 11 people switching from paper to reusable bags.

It's great you can save 5 cents for every paper bag you don't use at Whole Foods (assuming you avoid the use of 6 bags a week, that's a savings of about $15), but if we were to switch just 10 incandescent bulbs to CFLs, we could pocket $65 a year in saved electricity costs.

That's money in the bag -- in fact, you'd have to save over four years' worth of paper bags at Whole Foods to realize savings like that.

So the take-home point is this: The paper-or-plastic dilemma is an important one, but we should remember to take that same concern and transform it into actions that bring about the biggest carbon dioxide reductions.

If you're willing to sweat the small stuff, then don't forget to sweat the big stuff as well. Our homes are a really good place to start.

Sell Your Unwanted Stuffs and Five Recycling Mysteries

Recently I found this interesting website where you can sell your unwanted stuffs. Rather than throwing those stuffs away and adding more garbage to our landfill, why don't you try to sell them. Somebody might need them, you can earn money from them, and more importantly, you will contribute to your environment.





Furthermore, I also saw this interesting article on recycle. The article is posted by Lori Bongiorno and it is available from The Conscious Consumer blog.

Wondering what to do with your stash of old batteries or the cans of unneeded paint taking up space in your garage? You know you shouldn't throw them out, but it really is time to get rid of them.

Resist the temptation to toss them in the trash anyway. The reason: They (and everything on the list below) contain toxic chemicals capable of contaminating the environment if not disposed of properly.

Unlike items that are picked up at the curb, you'll have to make a special effort to unload these ones responsibly. But, with a little advance planning and some good info, you'll see that it's really quite simple to dispose of these seemingly mysterious items. Here's how:

Batteries. Recycling rechargeable batteries is fairly easy. Home Depot, Staples, Radio Shack, Best Buy, and other retailers take them back free of charge. There are fewer options for single-use batteries, but look for bins at your local Whole Foods Market, Ikea, or library. Otherwise, your best bet is the local household hazardous waste drop-off site. Where is it and what are your closest drop-off options? Search here for answers.

CFLs. These energy-efficient bulbs are becoming easier to get rid of. Just drop old bulbs off at any Home Depot or Ikea for free recycling. Or ask about CFL recycling at your local Ace Hardware or home improvement store. You can search for other nearby solutions.

Electronics. Every retailer that takes back rechargeable batteries also accepts mobile phones, as do most wireless providers. For computers, cameras, televisions, and others it's worthwhile do a little homework because some stores charge fees depending on item and brand. Check out Best Buy, Staples, and Office Depot to see what's the best fit. Some places, like Radio Shack, have trade-in programs where you can receive store credit for your old gadgets.

Motor Oil. In case you need some motivation, consider this factoid from Earth911: Every gallon of used motor oil that's improperly disposed of can contaminate one million gallons of drinking water. Bring it to Wal-Mart, Autozone, Jiffy Lube, or search online for more convenient choices.

Paint. It's among the harder items in this group to dispose of, but it's worth it and totally doable. If the paint is still in good shape, consider donating it. As of now, there aren't any retailers that accept used paint so you'll need to make a special trip. Search Earth911 for a comprehensive list of options.

Dreaming of a Green Christmas

This is an excellent post from the Green Gift Guide on how you can green your Christmas holiday season.

Rethink Gift Wrapping
Americans throw away 25% more trash during the holidays. You can reduce a portion of your holiday waste by using alternatives to wrapping paper. Tap into your creative side by using newspaper, magazines, old calendars or even fabric to wrap presents. You can also save money by reusing recycled paper or any other materials around your home to decorate wrapped gifts.

Send holiday e-cards, or print your card on recycled paper
You can save money and the environment by sending a free holiday e-card to your loved ones. Using recycled paper is another way to save the environment because recycled paper helps reduce demand for wood, conserves natural resources and generates less pollution during manufacturing.

Consider real, not artificial, when choosing your Christmas tree this year
Real Christmas trees are both renewable and recyclable. They are grown on tree farms specifically designed to produce trees for the holidays. Artificial trees may be the right choice for some people, and can be cost effective in the long run. However, some artificial trees are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a potential source of hazardous lead, and once those trees are thrown away, they’ll be in a landfill for a long, long time.

Recycle your Christmas tree
A real Christmas tree is 100% biodegradable. By recycling your Christmas tree, you can reduce 690,000 tons of materials that are dumped in landfills. Check your city’s local listings for curbside or drop-off locations for recycling.

Shop for Green Gifts
Browse our Green Gift Guide for holiday presents for your family and friends. By purchasing eco-friendly gifts, you can do your part for the Earth and at the same time encourage your loved ones to reduce their carbon footprint beyond the holiday season. Also consider gifts, given in the name of friends and family, to environmental charities.

Recycle your beverage containers at all holiday parties
The holidays are filled with delicious dinners and festivities that generate a lot of waste. By recycling your bottles and cans, you can help reduce the 4.5 pounds of trash per person per day that Americans produce.

Visit This Site If You Want To "Green" Your Home

Perhaps you have ever heard that the government will help you or give you some kind of incentives if you use or install environmentally friendly or sustainable or green products in your home. You plan to upgrade your house and make it "green". You don't know the benefits that you will get from government, thus you get confuse on what kind of green technology that you need to use.

Now you can get the information that you need. North Carolina State University has run an excellent website that gives you useful information on this issue. You can visit the website here: DSIRE: Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. It offers a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Therefore, if you want to make your house "green" and at the same time make use these government incentives, don't forget to visit DSIRE website first.

A Low Impact Woodland Home

This is such a great initiative from Simon who lives in Wales. The house was built by him, his father in law, and some friends. It required around 4 months, 1000-1500 man hours, and £3000 ($5700) to complete.

It was built with maximum regard for the environment and it gives the opportunity to live close to the nature. Simon says that it is fun to plan and create something that is yours. When you use natural materials, you can do away with producer profits and carcinogenic poisons that fill most modern buildings.

Some key points of the house are:

• Dug into hillside for low visual impact and shelter
• Stone and mud from diggings used for retaining walls, foundations etc.
• Frame of oak thinnings (spare wood) from surrounding woodland
• Reciprocal roof rafters are structurally and aesthaetically fantastic and very easy to do
• Straw bales in floor, walls and roof for super-insulation and easy building
• Plastic sheet and mud/turf roof for low impact and ease
• Lime plaster on walls is breathable and low energy to manufacture (compared to cement)
• Reclaimed (scrap) wood for floors and fittings
• Anything you could possibly want is in a rubbish pile somewhere (windows, burner, plumbing, wiring...)
• Woodburner for heating - renewable and locally plentiful
• Flue goes through big stone/plaster lump to retain and slowly release heat
• Fridge is cooled by air coming underground through foundations
• Skylight in roof lets in natural feeling light
• Solar panels for lighting, music and computing
• Water by gravity from nearby spring
• Compost toilet
• Roof water collects in pond for garden etc.

An initiative like this is something that we need to support. Therefore, if you want to get more information on how and why he made this house or if you want to support him, you can visit his website at A Low Impact Woodland Home.

Global Health and Safety Initiative

Global Health and Safety Initiative (GHSI) was launched in October 2007 and it just released a good website so readers can understand the vision of this organization and get update of what is going on there. The website states that "GHSI is working to build a movement in healthcare which marries safety and sustainability and puts healthcare leaders at the center of a global awareness to support healthy people in healthy communities on a healthy planet". You can get more information on GHSI at http://www.globalhealthsafety.org/.

Recently, Health Building Network has interviewed Bob Eisenman, PhD, the Executive Director of GHSI where the transcript can be found at Health Building Network. When asked about the relevance of the GHSI to the growing green building movement, Eisenman said the following statement.

"Health care facilities and operations have a large ecological footprint that we are only beginning to understand and quantify. Presently health care is in the midst of a building explosion. Obviously the choices we make in the design and construction of new facilities will influence the impact that those buildings have on both the local and global environment. As health care institutions, we believe we can play an especially positive role with regard to establishing examples of how our choices can have long-term positive impacts on human health. Even existing facilities can play an important role in establishing positive examples in terms of energy use, operations and purchasing decision-making, and the health impacts of the materials we select for building, renovation and routine maintenance. What we are doing with the GHSI is creating a sector-wide partnership among some of the largest and most influential health care institutions in order to build a learning community and leverage the expertise and power of GHSI partners to accelerate the pace of the transformation we believe we can lead. I think this impact will be felt in the green building movement."

This is a good statement because in my opinion health and safety is actually part of sustainability, particularly social sustainability.

100 Thing Challenge

I recently found this interesting blog post called 100 Thing Challenge. This is a personalized effort by David Bruno to fight consumerism. Basically he will live with only 100 personal things from November 12, 2008 to November 12, 2009.

He defines personal things as things that are his and not used by others in the household. Items like dining table, bed, and piano are not considered as personal things. He also considers some items as one group, such as working tools, underwear, socks, and books (the last one seems a bit cheating, but anyway).

I recommend you to visit his blog at 100 Thing Challenge to see his current list of things that he has right now. He is updating the list periodically.

For me personally, I congratulate him for his effort. This is indeed something new and creative. The effort is also good for our environment as less personal things mean less waste and less production that contributes to global warming.

It may also become a dilemma because if everyone does the same, the economic will be affected as no one is shopping. However, I feel that everything will balance itself. There will be a point where our economy, our needs, and our environment is at balance and thus every aspect will get benefits. It is interesting to follow this effort further.