Green design, Sustainability and Eco-design are pretty loose terms that are thrown around lately, and it’s becoming ever more popular to be able to stick your flag in the ground and proclaim “I am green!” Hippocrates has it right, and doctors have done it for generations, “Above all else do no harm” is an easy way to build and it’s so easy to remember that what ever we cause has an effect. That’s why I’m green and this is my eco-manifesto.

Eco-manifesto

The problem

Global Warming and Climate Change are a result of over consumption and overuse of our natural resources and environment. They are depleting and greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide and methane, have increased since I was born. “The Greenhouse Effect” was a grade 4 Science class topic in my elementary school, so this IS NOT a new theory or problem

The solutions

10. RECYCLE EVERYTHING YOU CAN

Starbucks Coffee SOLO lids & cardboard sleeves, ketchup bottles, cereal boxes, magazines, deodorant sticks… it all can be recycled. Demand of your municipality or public works department that recycling is an effective cost reduction and responsible task to take on. We can live in a world where we demand that corporations and waste producing services provide recyclable or compost able products.

How:

• Buy wood furniture second hand and have it refinished in non-toxic paint or stain
• Inherit a sofa that becomes re-upholstered in a great wool fabric
• Use something you already have in a new way

9. TAKE ALTERNATE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION

Public transit is how I travel everywhere from Paris, Valencia, Barcelona, London, New York, Seattle, Winnipeg, Calgary, Bangkok, Seoul, Hong Kong, Jakarta, and especially at home. If you can walk there, do it. If you can ride your bike, do it. If you can buy a hybrid car, do it. Expect more of yourself and reduce your carbon dioxide emissions.

How:

• Instead of driving around finding materials, I’ll shop from my home on the internet
• Rather than owning a car and increasing my rates, I take transit

8. TURN OUT THE LIGHTS

Unnecessary lights heat our atmosphere and by switching to energy efficient bulbs such as CFL, LED and Halogen, you can save money and save the world. Be careful when the bulbs burn out and properly recycle them at retails like IKEA or Canadian Tire. Energy efficient bulbs reduce energy consumption by upwards of 75%.

How:

• I use CFL bulbs and specify LED lights for your project
• Use day-lighting whenever possible to save on wasteful electricity consumption

7. BUILD GREEN

Remodel and renovations are the single highest waste contributor per-capita. WHERE EVER POSSIBLE you should always reduce your needs, reuse and/or re-purpose your existing materials, and recycle anything you can. When ever you need to purchase new, be sure to look for the most Eco-friendly option with the smallest carbon footprint. You never know what’s in your backyard until you start to passionately look.

How:

• Find local manufacturers who produce quality product in safe ways
• Use LEED specified products and materials whenever possible

6. RENEW YOUR ENERGY

Switching to green power is so cost effective. Use nature to harness and tame those hot summer days or windy Vancouver nights into power for your home. We have it pretty cool here in BC, hydro-electric power isn’t in Alberta… boo on Coal

How:

• One thing: Energy-Star
  

5. DO YOU NEED TO PRINT THAT?

Do you really need to print that document? Is it necessary? Can you shrink it or double side it? Just think about it.

How:

• Send you digital files and work virtually
• Print on recycled paper, reuse print outs on both sides
• Only print if if I NEED to

4. SAY NO TO PLASTIC BAGS

It is so frustrating to see someone purchase a small item, like a card or shaving cream, and just take the bag that it’s in and walk the couple blocks home (better yet, just drive home into the garage.) Do you really need that plastic bag? If you do, bring it back to Safeway for recycling, or just say “No thanks.”

How:

• Everything comes wrapped in plastic (Ew! Gross!) so why not ask if it comes wrapped first?
• Avoid unnecessary plastics

3. EAT GREEN AND LOCAL

Water bottles? For something that comes fresh and clean out of the tap? What about fresh Strawberries in February, or Kiwi in January? Think about where your food comes from, how long it took to get to your plate, how much energy was expelled, and why you need it in the first place? It’s so easy to stick local and support your local community these days. It’s so awesome, in BC, that we have such abundant fruit and vegetable growers whose food is so delicious. Take advantage of the local harvests.

How:

• Hey, if Radha can do it, so can you

2. ONE DEGREE OF DIFFERENCE

Turning down the thermostat a degree or two and putting on some socks makes a world of difference. If your chilled, grab a blanket because the heat around you takes more energy to make than you can make yourself in your own body. 1% toward the earth. 1% toward your bank account.

How:

• Install radiant heat. It’s our feet that are cold anyway.
• Install a digital thermostat that can be programmed

1. PLANT A TREE

Planting a tree is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. One tree will absorb one tonne of carbon dioxide in its lifetime. Shade is forgotten and shade can reduce your air conditioning bill by 10-15%. Now that’ epic.

How:

• At least 1% of my profits go towards planting trees

Take back your greenhouse

I urge you to do what you can, save in a piggy bank, and make the right decision for you, your future, and the future of our globe to take back the term “Greenhouse Effect” and make it your own. Make your effect reverberate through every facet of your space and life because it’s really easy.

Resources

ENERGY STAR© appliances (BC Hydro) [PDF, 322kb]

Qualified ENERGY STAR© appliances and equipment (NRCan OEE)

Passive Design Toolkit for Vancouver, BC residents (City of Vancouver)

Sustainability at Home in B.C.: a toolkit (David Suzuki Foundation)