By adopting simple guidelines for our behavior, each and every one of us helps to substantially reduce our consumption of energy without giving up the comforts that we are used to. Consider these two main points: The first is to use energy efficiently, meaning to maximize the result achieved with a given quantity of energy. The second is to use renewable sources of energy from the sun, water, wind, and biomass.
It is important to mention that by contributing to the sustainability of the environment, you can save on electricity and gas, as well as save in the middle and long-term.
INFORMATION
Interest and demand accelerate innovation in technological progress: The key is “interest” and in order to have interest, you must generate ecological awareness. We recommend several documentaries that we think you will not only find to be informative, but that will also awaken your inner “sustentator.”
Generating environmental awareness in children is key for aspiring to a sustainable present and future. Because of this, education in kindergartens and grade schools is fundamental.
AT HOME
Energy
The consumption of energy in our homes is a function of many factors, from the geographic region where we live to our home’s location with respect to the sun, the quality of construction, level of insulation, lifestyle, and the degree to which we use appliances and electronics.
If you are building a house, your freedom to make a more sustainable home is enormous. For a new house, Sustentator recommends consulting architects with environmental expertise who can advise you on a design for your house that maximizes the use of renewable energy and optimizes use of non-renewable energy. For more information, send an email to info@sustentator.com.
Lighting
The lighting efficiency of a light bulb is the amount of light emitted per unit of electric power (W) consumed. It is measured in lumens per watt, and this allows you to compare the efficiency of various lighting sources against each other.
Here are the types of light bulbs that can be found on the market:
- Incandescent light bulbs: Light is produced when electrical current passes through a highly resistant metallic filament. These consume the most electricity, are the cheapest, and last the least amount of time (1,000 hours.) Incandescent light bulbs only convert 5% of the electricity they consume into light. The remaining 95% is transformed into heat, without the added benefit of light.
- Fluorescent Tubes: The emission of light is based on the fact that some gases, such as fluor, emit light when an electric current passes through them. Lighting efficiency is much greater than for incandescent bulbs, because in this process there is less heating, and the electricity is mostly used to obtain light.
Fluorescent light bulbs are more expensive, but they consume up to 80% less electricity than incandescent light bulbs for the same emission of light and they last 8 to 10 times longer.
Lighting efficiency of incandescent bulbs is between 12 lm/W and 20 lm/W, while for fluorescent lights it is between 40 lm/W and 100 lm/W.
- Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs): These are small fluorescent tubes that have been progressively adapted to the size, style, and screw-top that we are used to seeing in a light bulb.
They are more expensive than conventional light bulbs, although because they save on electricity, they make up for their higher cost long before the end of their useful lives (between 8,000 and 10,000 hours.) They last eight times longer than conventional light bulbs and provide the same light, consuming just 20-25% of the electricity that incandescent bulbs require. It is recommended that you use this type of light bulb, although in places where lights are frequently turned on and off, it is better to put electric lights, since the useful life of compact bulbs is significantly reduced according to the number of times they are turned on.
Solar lights for outdoors: These use solar energy to recharge during the day and use this energy to provide light during the night.
Flashlights: It is ideal to avoid using batteries. However, if you must, use rechargeable batteries.
LED (Light Emitting Diode.) The new era in lighting.
LED technology has many advantages.
First of all, it saves electricity. Lighting efficiency for high-powered LED bulbs is more than eight times that of incandescent (common) light bulbs and two times that of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). LED bulbs emit a much higher percentage of light in the desired direction, making them even more efficient compared with incandescent bulbs or CFLs, especially for task lighting, desk lamps, reading lamps, and flashlights.
As far as color, the light that comes from LEDs can be a specific color. With other sources of light, a large part of the light produced is composed of other, undesired colors that must be filtered out, which wastes energy. However, LEDs produce pure light (monochromatic light), which doesn’t require filtration.
They instantly provide the maximum amount of light without any time needed to warm up. CFLs gradually increase their light when turned on, since they need to warm up. Depending on the temperature and age of the light bulb, they can take a while to heat up. If it is cold enough, they will not heat up at all.
- They do not contain mercury or any other dangerous substance. CFLs, on the other hand, contain mercury and should be treated as dangerous waste.
- They do not produce ultraviolet (UV) light, avoiding causing the discoloration and aging of works of art and other sensitive materials. Halogen lights and CFLs can cause significant amounts of damage over time.
- Their useful life is much greater than any other type of bulb. They can work for 30,000 hours or more. An LED bulb can last longer than 30 common light bulbs or 6 CFLs! When used for 8 hours a day, they can last 10 years or more.
- They are less sensitive to knocks, vibrations, extreme temperatures, and changes that can quickly ruin fragile incandescent bulbs. Unlike CFLs, LEDs are not affected by being turned on and off frequently.
-The long life of LEDs reduce the time, effort, and cost of replacing bulbs. Even though their cost per unit is higher than other types of bulbs, without a doubt the new era of lighting is upon us.
Sustentator recommends
- Taking advantage of sunlight as much as possible… it is natural, free, and does not cause pollution.
- Use light colors on walls and ceilings to take advantage of natural light.
- Use fluorescent light bulbs or CFLs in areas where you do not have to turn lights on and off frequently.
- For outside lighting, take advantage of solar energy by using solar lights.
- If you have a battery-operated flashlight, try to use rechargeable batteries.
Source: Energy Savings Guide, Greenpeace
Refrigeration, Heating, and Hot Water
It is important to understand how important good insulation is to having a more efficient system: a poorly insulated house uses more energy. In the winter, it will get cold quickly, and may have condensation in the interior; in summer it heats up more and in less time.
Heat escapes mainly through windows, doors, molding, and fireplaces. With good insulation, you can save between 20% and 40% on heating.
Double-paned windows reduce heat loss to almost half that of single-paned windows, and also reduce drafts and condensation. Draft excluders also contribute to insulation.
The type of building structure you have also makes a difference. Some materials such as iron and aluminum are known for their high thermal conductivity, which allows cold or heat to pass easily through them.
Cooling your home
Sustentator recommends
- Installing awnings on windows in areas that receive the most sun and closing curtains and drapes: these are very effective and simple methods for reducing the temperature of your home.
- In many cases, a fan is enough to maintain an acceptable comfort level: the movement of air produces the same sensation as if the temperature had dropped between 3° and 5°C. At the same time, it consumes a low amount of electricity.
- The best spot to place an air conditioner is on a shady part of your house. On hot days, turn on your air conditioner before your house heats up and keep the windows closed.
- Keep the thermostat of your air conditioner at a temperature of around 24°C.
- When turning on your air conditioner, don’t adjust the thermostat to a temperature lower than normal: it won’t cool down the house faster, and it may cool it down too much. This would cause unnecessary waste.
Source: Energy Savings Guide, Greenpeace
Heating your home
Heating represents a large percentage of the energy expenditure in a house. Decisions about the methods used to heat a home and generate hot water are limited by the type of dwelling and existing hook-ups.
In apartment buildings, heating may be central or individual.
Centralized, collective heating, with individualized regulation for each apartment is, from an energy and economical standpoint, much more efficient than individual systems, since the yield from one large furnace is greater than that of multiple smaller wall units.
There are different types of systems for individual heating:
Individual Furnaces
It is important to choose the furnace with the best yield. Considering the type of combustion, furnaces can be:
Central warm air: combustion takes place in contact with the air where the furnace is located.
Airtight: the air admission and gas exhaust are placed in a closed chamber, without any contact with the air in the place of installation. Central warm air furnaces have better yield.
Automatic flame modulation: This minimizes the furnace’s stops and starts, saving energy while providing necessary heat by controlling the thermal power (flame power.)
Radiators
These are heating elements that exchange heat between heated water and the area to be heated. It is best not to obstruct or cover radiators to take advantage of the maximum heat that they emit.
Radiant Heat:
These are tubes of plastic material (they used to be made of metal) laid under the floor, in which hot water circulates. The floor then emits heat. The temperature to which the water must be heated is much less (generally between 35 and 45°C) than for radiators.
Electrical systems:
Heat is created through electrical resistance. From an energy efficiency standpoint, these are not recommended.
Sustentator recommends
- Maintain your interior temperature between 18° and 22°C in the winter: the ideal temperature is fairly subjective, but every degree counts.
- Close the chimney flue when you are not using it.
- Close your blinds and curtains at night: you will avoid heat loss.
- For boiler systems and hot water radiators, it is best to install thermostats over each radiator to maintain the desired temperature in each room.
- If your house is empty for several hours, consider replacing your normal thermostat with a programmable thermostat, which will allow you to set different temperatures during different time frames or even on weekends or special days.
Hot Water
After heating, hot water is the second highest consumer of energy in our homes.
There are two main types of hot water heaters:
-On-demand systems: These heat water when it is needed. This is what happens with the typical gas or electric heaters or wall furnace and hot water units (combined furnaces). The bad thing about these units is that until the water reaches the desired temperature at point of destination, a considerable amount of water and energy are wasted. And the further the hot water heater is from the points of consumption, the more water is wasted. Another important disadvantage is that each time you turn on hot water, the heater turns on. This constant on-and-off increases consumption of energy and deterioration of the unit. These systems are also unable to provide hot water to more than two points simultaneously. Despite all this, tankless systems continue to be the most commonly used option for heating water.
-Accumulation systems: Accumulation systems can be subdivided into two categories:
- Heaters that heat the water (for example, with a furnace or heat pump) plus a thermal tank.
- Water heaters with a tank that use electrical resistance.
An electrical hot water pump is a much more efficient option than electric hot water heaters.
Hot water heaters with tanks are the most widely used among centralized hot water systems. Water, once heated, is stored for later use in an insulated hot water tank. These systems are more efficient than tankless water heaters and have numerous advantages:
- They avoid continually stopping and starting of the heater, instead working continuously and therefore more efficiently.
- The power needed to deliver hot water to a group of users is much less than the power that would be needed if each one were supplied individually.
Electric hot water heaters with tanks are not recommended from an energy and cost point of view. Then the temperature of the water in the tank falls below a certain temperature, the heater begins to create electrical resistance. That is why it is important that the tank is not only well-insulated, but also that it is heated only when truly necessary, by using a programmable thermostat.
Source: Instituto para la diversificación y ahorro de energía
Sustentator recommends
- Systems with tanks are more efficient than tankless water heaters with on-demand production.
- It is very important that your hot water tank and hot water distribution pipes be well-insulated.
- Temperature regulators that have a thermostat, principally for the shower, can save between 4% and 6% of energy.
- The worst way to heat water is with electricity. A family that does this emits an average of half a ton of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. Source: Greenpeace
- Solar-powered water heaters are highly recommended. You can save up to 80% of the gas traditionally used and even more energy if you used to use electricity to heat your water.
How does a solar-powered water heater work?
A solar-powered water heater is a thermal system that uses energy from the sun to heat water without using any other type of fuel. This system is composed of the following elements:
• A solar panel to capture solar energy that will later be transferred to the water.
• A thermal tank where hot water is stored.
• A system of pipes where the water circulates.
In cold climates, solar-powered water heaters should be on a closed circuit and have anti-freeze to prevent the water from freezing inside the panel. This antifreeze is what transfers the heat to the water so it can be used domestically.
The solar panel is the most important element in solar-powered water heaters and the most representative of thermal solar energy. A modern solar panel is made up of empty glass tubes running parallel to each other.
Each one consists of an exterior tube and an interior, or absorption, tube. The interior tube is covered with a special metallic coating that absorbs solar energy and inhibits heat loss, since the area is evacuated (extracted) from the space between the tubes to form a semi-vacuum that eliminates convective and conductive heat loss. The exterior tube is made of transparent, highly resistant borosylicate that is capable of resisting the impact of large hail.
Image: http://www.ecoyeco.com/
Most solar panels have a surface of 1.8 m2 to 2 m2. These are connected to a storage tank that may have a capacity of between 115 and 200 liters.
Water is stored in a thermal tank in order to keep it hot and ready for use as needed. The thermal tank is covered with a thermal insulation to avoid heat loss. It maintains heat that has been generated for up to 72 hours.
A solar hot water heater should be facing north (in the Southern Hemisphere) so that it is exposed to heat for most of the day. To avoid shadows, avoid placing it close to walls or trees. It should also be at an incline of approximately 10 degrees more than the location of the installation, so it can take maximum advantage of the radiation energy.
If you use a thermal tank that is attached to the panel, it should be at least 30 cm above the panel to allow it to fill from the force of gravity.
To make sure you have hot water 100% of the time, it is recommended that you consider having a split system with a gas or electric backup. In this case, the backup would only turn on when the sun does not generate enough energy (several cloudy days in a row.)
The diagram below describes a scheme that guarantees hot water 365 days a year no matter what the climatic conditions. Savings on gas or electricity to heat hot water is estimated to be about 80%.
Image: http://www.folkecenter.net/gb/
Social and Environmental Advantages:
- Spend less of the family budget: It is estimated that this will save approximately 80% of gas consumption. It is worth mentioning that the cost of the system and installation can be recovered in a couple of years depending on prices and government rebates.
- It does not contribute to global warming: Since it uses solar power to heat the water, it does not use fossil fuels or emit CO2.
- They last longer than conventional hot water heaters: A solar hot water heater with evacuated tubes has a useful life of approximately 30 years, surpassing the duration of a conventional system by many years.
Appliances
Basic principles
The rule of thumb is to evaluate your needs thoroughly before choosing a model. Do not choose appliances that are larger or more powerful than you need, since they will be more expensive and will waste energy.
Proper maintenance and cleaning of appliances prolongs their lives and saves energy. 
Refrigerators consume the most overall energy, due to the fact that their consumption is continuous, even though they do not use as much energy at a time as other appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, or irons.
Buying an efficient appliance is important, and they are easy to find, thanks to the energy label
There are 7 efficiency classes, which are indicated by a color code and letters ranging from the color green and the letter A for the most efficient appliances, to the color red and the letter G for less efficient appliances.
The formula that determines the rating for each appliance comes from comparisons done in Europe in 1993. The annual consumption of refrigerators, dishwashers, etc. was measured, and the median consumption of the appliances analyzed were assigned a point value between letters D and E. A Class A appliance, for example, consumes only 55% of the energy consumed by an average (a D/E) appliance and 3 times less than a Class G. Class B consumes between 55% and 75%; a Class C washing machine expends between 75 and 90%.
Source: Pages 18 and 19 of the IRAM PDF.
During the useful life of an appliance, expenditure on electricity may be many times higher than the purchase price of the appliance. That is why when purchasing an appliance, you much figure in the cost of energy consumption and preferably opt for Class A appliances: they are more efficient, even though they may cost more. However, always keep in mind the concept of adapting an appliance to your needs: a Class A refrigerator with a 300 liter capacity can use more electricity than a Class G refrigerator with a capacity of 100 liters.
Source: www.energias-renovables.com
Refrigerators
Refrigerators use the most energy, followed by the television and washing machine. Since they are in use continuously, they consume considerable amounts of energy, although they are not very powerful.
Maximize the efficiency of your refrigerator by placing it in the best possible location. It is important to place it far away from heat sources. At the same time, if you do not allow for air circulation behind the back part of the refrigerator, energy consumption will increase 15%.
Source: Greenpeace PDF
Factors to consider when purchasing:
- The quality of the insulation is important, since this is what prevents loss of cold air. For the insulation to be effective, it should be made of polyurethane foam. Notice the thickness of the walls of the refrigerator, and especially of the freezer, and of the joints between the plastic and the door.
- Refrigerant gas: There are 3 main kinds:
CFC: Chloro-fluoro carbon (the most know is R12)
HCFC: Hydro-chloro-fluoro carbon (the most known is R22)
HFC: Hydro-fluoro carbon (the most widely known is R134a)
All of these contribute to global warming, but CFC and HCFC also have a greater capacity for destruction of the %%%ozone layer%%%, so choose a refrigerator with HFC.
The European Council prohibited the sale and use of CFC in the year 2000. At the same time, it prohibited the manufacture of HCFC in the year 2004 and its use starting in the year 2010.
Sources: webfrio.com, wakeup2phaseout
Sustentator recommends:
- Check to make sure that your freezer and refrigerator door close hermetically; keep them open for as little time as possible.
- Adjust your thermostat to maintain a temperature of 6° C in the refrigeration compartment and -18° C in the freezer compartment.
- Clean the back part of your appliance at least once a year.
- Never place hot food in the refrigerator or freezer, since this stresses the appliance.
- When you take food out of the freezer to eat it the next day, thaw it in the refrigerator; that way you will take advantage of the free cooling effect it offers.
- Open the door as few times as possible and make sure to close it properly: you will avoid a useless waste of energy.
Washing Machine and Dishwasher
Most of the energy these appliances use is to heat water.
Sustentator recommends
- Buy washing machines with energy Class A labels. You will save energy and money on your electric bill, and will get good results when washing.
- Wash with the low temperature cycles.
- Take advantage of the maximum capacity of your appliance; do not turn it on until it is completely full. You will reduce your consumption of water, detergent, energy, and lengthen the life of the appliance.
- Proper maintenance improves energy use: regularly clean impurities from the filter and review the levels of polish and salt in your dishwasher.
- Dryers use a lot of energy; limit their use to urgent situations. Don’t mix light and heavy clothing. The best thing to do is hang clothes out to dry in the air and sun.
- If you buy a new dishwasher, choose a model with a mechanism for washing a half load. They use less detergent and save up to 30% in water and energy every time you wash.
- Bithermic appliances have two separate pipes- one for cold water and the other for hot water. This way, the hot water comes from the solar-powered or gas hot water heater. Thanks to this setup, wash time is reduced by 25% and you save energy.
Small Appliances
These are generally low power, except for vacuum cleaners. However, they produce heat (iron, toaster, hairdryer), they have greater power, and cause significant consumption.
As a general rule, do not leave them on if you are not using them (i.e. the iron) and use them efficiently.
Here is an interesting fact: using an electric razor can use less energy than a “manual” razor; it all depends on how long you leave the hot water running.
TV, Video and Computers
Keep this in mind
- Not all devices consume the same amount of electricity, and the difference between some models can be significant. That is why you should request information about energy consumption when buying a device, and purchase the one that uses the least energy.
Many devices consume energy when merely plugged in, just because they are on stand-by mode. In the case of a television, a DVD player, and other types of electronics controlled by remote: when turned off, they consume an average of about a third of the energy that they use when they are on. One solution to this problem is to plug all related electronics (TV, DVD player, Playstation, CD player) in an area into a power strip and turn it off when you’re not using them.
Televisions
The growing consumption of televisions worldwide has made it necessary to establish measures of the energy they consume. It has been estimated that reducing the energy used by a model of TV by 25% in 2009 could save more than 10 million kWh per year in the United States ( IEC).
In Europe, Australia and the United States, they are considering establishing minimum energy efficiency standards to eliminate the least efficient models from the market (“Minimum Energy Performance Standards”, MEPS). The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is dedicated to preparing and publishing international standards for all electronic, electric, and technology-related devices. In December 2008, it published IEC 62087, the Standard for measuring energy efficiency in the latest generation of plasma, LCD and CRT televisions, and other related devices. IEC
Currently there are 4 main types of television technologies:
CRT: cathode ray tube.
Plasma: a flat screen with a bright image. The reduction in price in the last few years has translated into an increase in demand.
LCD (liquid crystal display): the flat screen design, improved and brightened image have increased their popularity.
Projectors: used in “home theaters,” projectors require a lot of space to obtain a good viewing angle.
The development of new technologies is intended to minimize energy consumption and reducing environmental impact generated by their production. Within the television market can be found LED, HDTVs. Their components produce less environmental impact, they have superior definition to current TVs, and they consume up to 50% less energy. They also include an energy-saving optimization mode that adjusts the background light and image quality.
It has been estimated that a 55″ LED TV uses less energy than a 32″ LCD monitor from 2008.
For example, the Samsung line of LED HDTVs (6000, 7000 and 8000) not only comply with the EnergyStar requirements; they also consume between 40% and 50% less energy compared with an LCD monitor and 60% with respect to plasma TVs of similar proportions.
It can be considered the most ecological line of TVs, since its liquid crystal design is created using a non-toxic molding technology, minimizing emissions of environmental contaminants. Samsung obtained the ECHO – FLOWER from the European Union and Greenpeace has designated the company as a manufacturing leader in its 2008 annual report on companies committed to the health of the planet
Tips Sustentator
- The size of your screen is directly related to energy consumption (except with projectors.)
- CRT (cathode ray tube) televisions use more energy than flat-screen televisions. In principle, plasmas use more energy than LCDs of the same size.
- Although the new technologies are a little more expensive, they have less of an impact on the environment, from the materials and energy used to manufacture them to the energy they will use in their useful lifetimes.
Sources: Panasonic Energy-Wise, Projectorpeople, Energy Rating Australia, Idae.es
Computers
Computer play a larger and larger role in our lives these days, from being a tool for communication (email), to a source of information, to a method for shopping.
Tips from Sustentator
- Turn off your computer if you are not going to be using it for a long period of time. For shorter periods, just turn off the screen.
- Computers with “Energy Star” labels have the ability to go into a sleep mode after a determined period of non-use. In sleep mode, energy consumption is a maximum of 15% of normal consumption.
- The screen is the part of the computer that consumes the most energy and its consumption is directly proportional to its size. Flat screens (TFT) consume less energy than conventional screens.
Source: Idae.es
WATER: A scarce resource
Water covers 75% of the surface of the earth. Fresh water makes up only 3% of the water on the planet. Of the fresh water, 80% is in the form of ice, 19% is underground, and 0.7% is found in the atmosphere. Because of this, only the remaining 0.3% of fresh water is surface water in the form of streams, rivers, and lakes. WIKIPEDIA , Fida
Potable water is a scarce, precious resource. Do not waste it. Furthermore, saving water saves energy, since the water treatment and storage processes as well as transportation to your house is done with electric pumps that require enormous amounts of energy.
Sustentator recommends
- Single controlled faucets are more efficient as far as water use than independent hot and cold water faucets.
1- In the bathroom
- Choose to shower rather than take a bath. This choice can save around 150 liters of water every time you wash. On top of that, you can increase this savings if you turn off the shower while washing and install efficient shower heads to reduce the amount of water consumed. Single controlled or thermostatic faucets can allow you to turn off the shower while washing and then turn it on again without having to readjust the water temperature. Water used for bathing typically represents 20% to 30% of the total water consumed in the home. At the same time, it is estimated that a shower consumes approx. 50 to 100 liters of water, and a bath consumes between 150 and 250 liters.
- Ration water consumption: Water used at sinks can represent around 17% of the total water consumed in a household. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving. A running faucet uses approximately 10 liters of water per minute.
- Fix leaky faucets: A dripping faucet can waste around 30 liters of water per day, and if it is a fast drip, the number can increase to 700 liters of water per day.
- Do not flush the toilet if you do not need to. It uses between 8 and 10 liters of water per flush.
There is a toilet that uses water from the sink or shower to flush the toilet. It is called “ Ecoflush”
- Use water aerators on faucets, for example: AM Conservation Group
2- In the kitchen:
- Turn off the water when washing dishes by hand. Do not leave it running when you wash fruits, vegetables, or other foods, either.
- Thaw foods by leaving them in the refrigerator for a few hours instead of leaving them under cold running water.
- Wait until the dishwasher is full before running it. A dishwasher uses about 40 liters of water per wash and a washing machine uses about 100 liters per wash.
Source: www.ecologistasenaccion.org
3- In the garden or backyard:
- Choose native plants, which require less water.
- Water plants in the morning or evening, since if you water during peak sunlight hours in the middle of the day, approx. 30% of the water will evaporate.
Source: fida.es
FOOD
The type of food you eat influences the environment, so your choices have a direct impact on the planet.
A study by the United National Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) concluded that the production of meat and other animal products for human consumption contribute significantly to the primary global warming gases: CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide. You can see this study by clicking here.
Sustentator recommends
- Reduce your consumption of foods from animal origin as much as possible. Aside from benefiting your health, you will be contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions. In the post on “The China Study” you can find the scientific basis for this (in Spanish).
- Choose organic foods: Organic agriculture attempts to be sustainable; it doesn’t use up non-renewable resources. There is increasing awareness of organic foods. Even the President of the United States, Barack Obama, promoted them from the White House, with his own organic garden. You can find the article here (in Spanish).
- Choose fresh produce: they are healthier and require less energy than frozen produce from the store (from the freezing process, to shipping, to the raw materials used for packaging.)
- Buy fruits and vegetables in season locally: this limits the use of fuel for shipping.
CLOTHING
The choices we make about our clothing impact the environment.
For example, 150 grams of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are needed to produce cotton for one T-shirt. Source: Green Planet.
Organic clothing, on the other hand, is produced from natural fibers grown in land not subjected to synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and other similar products. Genetically modified seeds are not allowed for organic certification. Cotton, wool, linen, and hemp can be grown organically.
Sustentator recommends
- According to several studies, the greatest environmental impact occurs from washing clothing. This produces a large output of energy, water, and chemicals. Because of this, choose clothing that you can wash in cold water and hang out to dry.
- Plan before you buy. The success of a purchase hinges on your maximizing the use and the useful life of the purchased article. Giving up impulsive shopping sounds boring, but having a closet full of clothes with nothing to wear is not very exciting either.
- Choose pieces that meet your own needs, but that you can wear for several years. It’s better to buy a traditional cotton shirt that you like and wear for several seasons than an organic bamboo shirt that you only wear a couple of times.
- Durability also counts when selecting clothing. Organic materials are biodegradable and generally less durable. A lot of the time, adding synthetics to natural fibers extends their useful life. For example, the company Patagonia created a pair of pants from hemp and PCR (post-consumer recycled) polyester made from water bottles. For more information, read the Treehugger post
- Care for your clothing. You are saving money and helping the environment.
- Try to avoid dry-cleaning. It is very likely that your dry-cleaner uses tetrachloroethylene, a known carcinogen.
- Many articles of clothing with labels that recommend dry-cleaning can be washed by hand, especially clothing made of silk, wool, and linen. Find information for each specific piece of clothing.
- Reuse clothing: If you need clothes, maybe you can find used clothes that you like. For example, you can organize an exchange of used clothing in good condition between some of your friends.
- Donate clothes that you no longer wear; there is always someone else who can use it.
- If you are going to buy new clothing, try to choose organic clothing.
- It is important to be aware about what organic means: even if the cotton is organic, the piece of clothing itself may have been transformed by chemical products and loaded with metals and dyes. Try to get more information about the label and certification.
Several European companies, such as H&M, a Swiss company, are already committed to the environment in an integral way, from raising awareness among employees and providers, to an environmental commitment in the chain of production and a commitment to continue increasing their use of organic cotton, cotton raised without the help of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. They have been licensed to use the Ecological Flower since 2005. For more information, see: H&M.
Sources:
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/wardrobe/index.html, http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/06/ecotip_choosing.php
TRANSPORTATION
The combustion process that takes place in vehicles’ motors generates pollutant emissions that are extremely harmful for human beings and environment. These effects are accentuated in urban centers, where they are the principal source of pollution.
Sustentator recommends
- In the spirit of efficiency, if you buy a car, adapt it to your needs. For example, if you drive in primarily urban areas, you do not need a powerful 4×4. This choice means greater gas consumption, greater emissions of polluting gases and greater maintenance costs, but without being able to enjoy the size and power advantages, since these are not used in urban travel.
- If you can, share your car with friends and acquaintances. Organize a car pool to take your kids to school; you will use less gas per person transported, and will also split the cost.
- As much as possible, use public transportation, since it is much more efficient. (The emissions per person are drastically reduced as a function of the vehicle capacity.)
- If time and distance permit, walk or bike, which is also healthier than driving.
New technologies
1- Biofuels:
Biofuels are combustible liquids or gases that are made from biomass. Therefore, they are considered a type of renewable energy. Currently there are two main types: biodiesel, obtained from plant seed oils (rapeseed, sunflower, palm and soybean) and from used vegetable oil and animal fats through esterification and transesterification; and bioethanol, obtained from seeds rich in sugars (sugar beets), starch (cereals) or cellulose (agricultural and forest waste) through fermentation.
2- Hybrid cars:
Hybrid cars use approximately half of the gasoline that normal cars use. This is a growing market and although it does not completely solve the problem, it improves it substantially. You can read about the way they work here.
2- Electric cars:
This technology is really starting to become popular. It is begin studied in depth as the preferred alternative for replacing automobiles as we currently know them. These are the barriers that must be overcome:
- Electricity must be generated from renewable sources, since if it comes from burning coal, it will not solve any problems, just transfer them.
- The batteries must be recycled or disposed of ecologically.
- They must be roughly as practical and easy to recharge as current cars that run on gasoline.
Several of these challenges are being met head-on Shai Agassi (in Spanish) by the company Better Place
Tips from Sustentator for Efficient Driving
1 . Start the car without stepping on the gas.
2. Acceleration and shifting: Pay attention to revolutions per minute. Gasoline motors: between 2,000 and 2,500 rpm, Diesel motors: between 1,500 and 2,000 rpm. After shifting gears, accelerate lightly.
3. Driving speed: Keep it as uniform as possible; seek fluid driving, avoiding unnecessary braking, acceleration, and shifting of gears.
4. Deceleration: Take your foot off of the accelerator and let the vehicle move forward in neutral for a moment, without braking. When needed, brake gently and progressively.
5- At high speeds, those over 100 km/h, gas consumption multiplies.
Efficient driving allows for an average savings of gas and CO2 emissions of 15%.
More tips:
– Exterior accessories increase a vehicle’s air resistance, and therefore increase gas consumption. Try to avoid transporting objects on the outside of your car. Try to avoid transporting objects on the outside of your car.
– The use of auxiliary equipment significantly increased gas consumption; air conditioning in particular has the greatest influence.
- Driving with your windows down causes greater resistance to movement and therefore the motor has to expend more effort and there is greater gas consumption. For ventilation, the best thing is to use the forced air circulation feature on your vehicle.
- Car maintenance influences gas consumption. It is especially important to have your motor in good shape and control fluid levels and filters, and above all, to have your tires inflated to the correct pressure. The pressure and condition of the tires are fundamental for safety.
WASTE
A growing problem
Excess trash is a growing problem in the world. Materials put in landfills put off gases that cause the greenhouse effect and leak toxic chemical substances into the ground and rivers.
The production of paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and metals require a lot of energy. At the same time, wastes are a potential source of energy and raw materials that can be taken advantage of in production, with the appropriate treatments.
Sustentator recommends the video The Story of Stuff , which analyzes the cycle of consumption in a simple and graphic way.
Zero Trash Law
In the year 2005, the legislature of the city of Buenos Aires unanimously approved Law 1,854, “Zero Trash,” which was promoted by Greenpeace. The law established a management policy for urban solid wastes and sets progressive reduction schedules for burying trash (30% reduction of trash by the year 2010, compared to 2004 levels, 50% reduction for the year 2012, and 75% for the year 2017.) Finally, it prohibits burying usable and recyclable trash in the year 2020. At the same time, it prohibits incineration and extends responsibility for items to the producer. You can find the text of the law here.
The management system includes household separation of dry and wet wastes, installation of wet and dry waste containers in the entire city, and differentiated collection (carried out by waste collection companies contracted by the city.) Dry wastes will be taken to selection centers, known as “green centers.” In these centers, recyclable materials will be classified and conditioned for sale to recycling plants.
In the federal capital, you can find containers color coded according to the type of waste they collect:
Green: glass
Yellow: Plastic
Blue: paper and cardboard
There have been big delays in the implementation of the law and its objectives will only be reached with supportive effort of each and every one of us. That is why correct separation of waste is indispensable. You can find instructions here. It is very simple, and when you do this, you contribute to creating a cycle of materials that is energy efficient and environmentally sustainable.
The Basics: the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce
Reducing the generation of waste in a large part depends on changing our habits. We live in a society based on consumption, so stop to think if that product you are tempted to buy is really something you need or will use.
Sustentator recommends:
- Do not accept packages or bags when they do not perform a vital function for conserving a product or easing its transport. For example, if you are going to buy a candy bar at a newsstand or a bottle of medicine at a pharmacy, do not take the plastic bag that they typically offer you.
- Avoid using products with excessive packaging, disposable products, and all kinds of plastics.
-Bottled water: If you buy bottled water, the bigger the container, the better. For example, buy the big 20 liter jugs.
- The best thing to do is to use a water filter instead of bottled water. These remove chlorine and sediments from the faucet. There are several models available.
- Large, family-sized containers are preferable to containers with individual portions.
- When you go shopping, carry your own cloth bag. You can buy these at many supermarkets. You can also use a shopping cart. This way you can minimize the amount of plastic bags thrown in landfills.
Reuse
Try to make the most possible use out of any product: first at home, or if not, by returning it to the commercial cycle. Creativity is the key with this step.
Sustentator recommends
- Returnable glass bottles are preferable to plastic bottles (for example, for beer), since they are washed and then used again.
- If you need batteries, use rechargeable ones. If possible, get a solar charger.
- If you have plastic bags from the supermarket, reuse them as trash bags.
- When you use paper, print on both sides of the page and reuse sheets that only have writing on one side.
- Take advantage of used items that you cannot use any more, for example, by having a garage sale or taking them to the market. You also may be able to find a used product in good condition that you need to buy.
Recycle
The Basics
Using new materials to manufacture products uses a lot of energy and the production processes for most products contribute to global warming. Less energy and less natural resources are used if products are manufactured using recycled materials.
Recycled materials can be made into a wide range of products.
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), estimates that around 75% of domestic trash can be recycled instead of being sent to a landfill. The materials that are recycled in the highest percentages are paper, glass, and metals.
Glass is 100% recyclable. The manufacture of aluminum (cans, containers), is an industrial processes with the one of the highest levels of energy consumption and the greatest environmental impact. The same amount of energy used to produce one new aluminum can is used to recycle the same can 20 times. Every glass jar that is recycled saves enough electricity to keep a light bulb lit for 4 hours (source: www.cleanup.org .)
If you have the choice, always choose a glass container over a metal one, and a paper container to a plastic one.
Organic waste
The first major step to making a contribution by recycling your trash is to separate organic from inorganic trash. Organic trash can be turned into compost, a high quality fertilizer.
Sustentator recommends
- If you have decided to compost at home, use only organic vegetable waste (all types of fruit and vegetable peels) and egg shells (these are composed mainly of calcium and other elements that become a very useful fertilizer.) Decomposition time for organic animal waste is much greater than that for vegetable waste. For more information, you can watch this video or read this article.
Paper and cardboard
Paper that goes to landfills decomposes and produces methane, a damaging gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect. However, paper and cardboard can be broken down with water to make a paste that can be used to make new sheets of paper. Recycled paper uses an estimated 60% less energy than manufacturing paper from virgin wood. Each ton of recycled paper saves 13 trees, 2.5 barrels of oil, 4,100 kw of electricity, 4 m3 of trash, and 31,000 liters of water(source: www.cleanup.org )
You can watch a video about the paper recycling process here (in Spanish) o here (in English)
- Paper, envelopes, newspapers, pamphlets, cardboard boxes, magazines, etc. can be recycled. However, laminated papers, adhesives, wax-coated papers, fax paper, used napkins, and papers with food stains on them (for example, a french fry box) cannot be recycled.
Sustentator recommends
- Save paper and cardboard that you would throw in the trash separate, and then give it to a recycling company in your area.
Plastic
Plastic is made from oil. That is why the consumption of plastics contributes to the exhaustion of a non-renewable resource. Plastics take a long time to degrade, and if they are incinerated, they emit not only CO2 into the atmosphere, but also pollutants that are very dangerous to human health and the environment.
Sustentator recommends
- Try to minimize your consumption of plastic bottles, especially water bottles, since there are substitutes available: 20 liter jugs, or even better, a water filter that you install on your faucet.
Waste from Electronics and Appliances
Technological developments in the last few years have reduced the useful lives of appliances considerably. In industrialized countries, the average useful life of computers has dropped from 6 years in 1997 to only 2 years in 2005. Cell phones have a life cycle of less than 2 years.
Where do these old electronics end up?
- In landfills: Toxic chemicals in electronic products can leak into the ground over time or be released into the atmosphere, impacting nearby communities and the environment.
- Incineration: Incineration of electronic products releases heavy metals such as lead and mercury into the atmosphere. Released mercury can bioaccummulate in the food chain, particularly in fish. If the products contain PVC, they release dioxins and furans.
- Recycled: Recycling is a good way to reuse some electronic devices, but dangerous chemicals in these wastes can damage the health of workers in recycling plants as well as neighboring communities and the environment.
- Exportation: Electronic trash is routinely exported from industrialized countries to developing countries, frequently violating the Basel Convention
Upon recognizing that both burying and incinerating these wastes causes problems, the European Union adopted two directives in the year 2002: the“RoHS Directive” and the “WEEE Directive”:
“Clean Up”: The “Restriction of Hazardous Substances” Directive (RoHS) requires that manufacturers stop using toxic chemicals and heavy metals. (This covers all electronics produced in the EU as well as imports.)
“Take back”: The WEEE Directive was approved in November 2002 and makes manufacturers responsible for recovering waste after it is abandoned, starting in August 2005.
In Japan in 2001 a regulation went into effect called “Extended Manufacturer Responsibility,” which requires manufacturers to recover five types of domestic appliances when they are thrown away: refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, TVs and PCs. This way, they are made responsible for the environmental impact of their products throughout the product life cycle: production, use, and final disposal.
Sustentator recommends
- In Buenos Aires, you can find companies that you can contact that will pick up your appliances, take them apart, and recycle any parts that can be used. One of these is Rezagos and the other is Scrapex. If you are in the zona sur, contact Cooperativa La Toma del Sur
- Cell phones can be deposited anywhere Movistar is sold, since they have a contract with the company Silkers.
- You can bring in rechargeable batteries to different points of collection according to Resolution 262 APRA/08 of the Buenos Aires city government, which requires the manufacturers of batteries and rechargeable batteries to present management plans for these products once they are discarded by consumers. You can find them here.
- Ecovolta, an educational and environmental NGO collects used batteries. You can find the different addresses here
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