How We can Save our Environment

HOW WE CAN SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT

Every day we are bombarded by messages in varied forms, many endorsed by public figures, telling us to save the environment in every which way. However, the solutions suggested are, invariably, not feasible! As an average citizen, what is it that we can do without taking recourse to forming groups/clubs or becoming activists or running to the nearest civic/political authority? Here is a humble list of what we can do without in any way reducing our so called quality of life:

A. Save Water:

· Ensure that the float valve in your overhead tank is functioning properly.

· Ensure that none of the taps in your house are leaking, replace worn out washers in a timely manner. Use taps which help in saving water, there are a large number of models in the market to suit every requirement/pocket.

· Avoid using the shower or a bath-tub; this measure itself will save a huge amount of water.

· Do not waste water, e.g., throwing the water left in a tumbler because you did not have the entire amount, take only what you need, there is no need to fill the tumbler to the brim every time you feel thirsty.

· Harvest the rain water from your roof. Connect all drain pipes to the sump (a moulded tank placed at a convenient place can serve as a sump in case you do not have an underground tank/sump. This is a better alternative to harvesting pit as you can use this water for your garden and other household chores after the monsoons. So how big a sump is required? Depending on your resources and location in the country, you can go for a sump as big as 10 KL! To ensure that the water being accumulated is clean, ensure that your terrace is clean and you have wire mesh filters to remove/prevent vegetation/waste from entering the sump. In case of an apartment complex, the size of the sump/tank can be increased even more and harvesting pits for ground water recharging can also be added.

· When watering potted plants, do not put excess amounts of water, take advice from professionals at the nearby nursery.

· If you live in a bungalow, plant fruit-bearing, flowering and shade-giving trees. They are better than potted plants; you need to water them only for a limited period of time till their roots settle into the soil. Do not plant trees that are not suited to the soil/climatic conditions in your area. Also do not plant trees that consume huge amounts of ground water. Have at least one neem tree in your compound as this will help keep the air clean and insects away.

· Avoid paving the ground around your house/building unnecessarily as this will allow the earth to absorb the rain water and prevent run off!

· If living in a gated community/colony, encourage the owners’ association to provide for rain water harvesting pits in the open areas.

· Avoid installing wells of any kind in an urban setting and instead, first provide for rain water harvesting.

· Do not buy/rent dwelling units which are built illegally near water bodies. During the monsoons, you will be the sufferer and not the builder/developer! Save water bodies and preserve them, do everything within your powers to stop exploitation of water bodies by builders/developers. The same applies for natural drainage systems in your area. Just because someone else is making a mistake, do not compete/copy.

B. Save Electricity:

· Change over to CFLs with the minimum required wattage depending on the lighting requirements in each room/passage/area. Avoid installing decorative lighting in the house or in the garden. If required for certain occasions, hire them. This measure will also save on your capital costs.

· Build your house in a way that daylight is used to advantage and usage of artificial lighting during daytime is minimized.

· Design your house to provide appropriate cross-ventilation and exhaust vents. Have sufficient greenery (trees) and unpaved areas around your house. These measures will reduce your cooling needs to just ceiling fans and obviate use of expensive and power-intensive cooling systems.

· Use a refrigerator of appropriate size and avoid competing with the Joneses when it comes to household and entertainment appliances. Switch off these appliances when not required and never keep them in ‘Stand-by’ as they consume electricity even in this mode.

· Switch off your PC or Laptop when not required and do not leave them in ‘Stand-by’ or ‘Sleep’ mode.

· Use Solar Water Heaters and avoid electric geysers.

C. Save Cooking Gas:

· There is enough information already disseminated on this subject by your LPG dealer/manufacturer and hence, I will not repeat the same. Just follow the advice in word and spirit.

D. Reduce use of Plastic/Rubber/Batteries:

· When travelling, whenever feasible, carry water from your home. This measure will reduce your dependence on outside sources which may be unhygienic and also reduce dependence on bottled water thereby reducing consumption of plastic.

· Whenever you go for shopping, carry a bag and stop asking for a plastic carry bag. This may not be possible when you go shopping on impulse, so, as far as possible, plan your shopping!

· Being Indian also means eating fresh, so avoid packaged foods to the extent possible. Eat only what your system can digest and what is good for the kind of life you lead and the climatic conditions in your area. Eat foods which are indigenous to the place, God and nature meant it that way! This will not only reduce your dependence on packaged food and consequently reduce your consumption of plastic, but, also reduce your contribution to Greenhouse gases.

· If you can locate outlets which sell produce locally manufactured or grown by using indigenous methods, go for them instead of imported stuff!

· Help in the recycling of plastic; do not throw plastic material in garbage and never ever burn plastic material! You can always sell it your ‘raddiwallah’!

· Dispose old tyres and old batteries in a way that it does not harm the environment.

E. Reduce generation of Greenhouse gases:

· Eat fresh, eat vegetarian and eat local produce.

· Reduce dependence on newspapers/magazines. In this age of electronic media, one can get news for free on TV and Internet. Use these media effectively. Reduce your needs for paper and avoid printing unless absolutely necessary. Use scanning facilities and send your documents by e-mail. Avoid photo-copying unless absolutely necessary. Use internet/mobile banking facilities, use credit/debit cards for making payments, ask for account statements, bills and receipts via electronic media. Avoid hard copies unless absolutely necessary. Use external hard disks and flash drives to store your data and information, avoid hard copies and filing systems.

· Reduce usage of personal transportation and instead use mass transport systems. Where these do not exist or are insufficient, give preference to moving around by walk, cycle, two-wheeler and four-wheeler in that order.

· Reduce your consumption of water and electricity.

· Exercise outdoors and take part in games/sports, avoid usage of gyms and do not buy exercising equipment, especially those that consume electricity. Even in a congested city like Mumbai, one can find ways and means of exercising outdoors; all it needs is an application of the mind.

These are some of the basic measures one can take in daily life to save our planet for our future generations. One can do much more by encouraging others to contribute towards the conservation of our planet and wildlife and allow our future generations to enjoy life just as we did! One can even help by joining up with societies, clubs, organizations who are involved in conservation activities or start one of your own! Let us work towards a cleaner and greener environment!

Kali