Overconsumption (Week 11)

I am a firm believer that sometimes just enough is actually too much.  We as Americans overuse, over consume, and overly waste so many products on a daily basis.  Bigger, better, faster, stronger.  We want it all and we want a lot of it.  After all, who doesn't want the best of everything!?  Well, maybe some people truly don't.  Is it really necessary to buy closets full of clothes that will be worn seasonally and thrown out 365 days later?  Is it necessary to pay someone to let you lift heavy objects and run in place for hours on end?  Do we really need to have a television set in every room, along side of our laptops, cell phones, and ipads?  Do we need copious amount of food stored in several refrigerators, freezers, and storage compartments throughout our already overly spacious houses?  Some people may answer yes to these questions, but once all of these materialistic things are put into perspective, they don't seem like such necessities after all.  One of the biggest problems we are facing now days is definitely...hands down...over consumption.

There are a lot of things people can do to reduce the amount of over consumption.  The biggest problem in my household is buying too much food at once, and then it expires and we throw it away.  Actually, let's rewind that and press play.  To correct myself, my FATHER is the reason that there is a fairly large amount or small grocery store in my garage.  My dad sees a sale at the store and is convinced that the item will never be that ridiculously inexpensive again!  Talk about a crazy notion, but this is a type of problem that occurs all of the time.  We have an idea that we can save money by purchasing in bulk or numerous items at once.  Though this may be a good idea, it isn't the most practical option in the long run.  Things expire and they go bad and sooner or later you will have to discard these items.  Not only are you wasting the food itself but you are also wasting the packing that comes along with most of these products.  Almost every single item that comes off of the shelf is packaged and made from some kind of aluminum or plastic.  Even if you are discarding them by recycling the cans and plastics, you are still probably pouring the food in the trash or down the garbage disposal, using more water to ensure it goes down the drain.  It is all just a vicious cycle.  This problem is not just for food, but it applies to many different aspects consumers enjoy purchasing sporadically.  A very good way of reducing the chance of over purchasing is not going to the store until you need the items.  Once you are running low on a product, check the adds that weekend to see if there are any good sales and pick up only what's needed.  And for those impulse items that you purchase on a whim, try waiting an extra week.  The extra time spent pondering the item will give you a chance to put it into perspective and make you realize if it a want or a need.

What can I do personally about the over consumption problem?  Well I can start by using more of the food my dad purchases and spend less on going out to restaurants or grabbing easy foods or beverages on the go that usually involve lots of packaging.  I can also encourage people I know to spend less on items that they don't actually NEED.  Instead of going out for a cup of coffee with a friend, I could invite her over and make coffee and some deserts for us to munch on.  I have to admit I am a sucker for long showers on really cold winter days, but I could soak in a hot bath instead of sitting in the shower while the water continues to run for a long time.  Or I work at a gym and instead of using the water from my household, I could use the hot tub or steam room that we have at my gym to warm up.  Remember,  there are always alternatives for anything!

The most interesting thing that I have learned this quarter would definitely be the current event project I did on antibiotic resistance from environmental pollution.  I always knew that doctors were constantly doing research and coming out with new medication for diseases, viruses, and bacterias.  However, I wasn't aware that the majority of the research was because our antibiotics being discarded improperly were causing the bacteria to be immune to the antibiotics and we need stronger medicine to rid the bacteria from our bodies.  Another interesting thing that I learned was the argument between bottled versus tap water.  I was amazed that the FDA stated that the water standards are exempt from those who bottle the water and sell them in the same states.  I thought that was extremely ridiculous that not all bottled waters had the same standards.  We assume that what the packing states on the water bottles is completely true.  But a good amount of bottled water is actually regular tap water placed in the water bottle packaging.  There were many interesting facts I learned this quarter in Environmental Science and I strongly encourage that everyone takes the time to experience one of these classes very soon!

Toxic Chemicals (Week10)

"BPA stands for bisphenol A. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. "- Mayo Clinic

We have heard a lot of talk recently about the different plastics used to create plastic water bottles.  Whether the bottles are recyclable and made for one-time use or if it is made to last through numerous uses, each plastic bottle contains certain chemicals to create the plastic texture.  You may be more familiar with the No.7 recycling symbol on the bottom of the bottles, this is the same number associated with bottles containing BPA.  Recently, BPA has been under great study due to the fact that there were concerns leading to certain health problems in infants and children.  Here is a quote I read from the Mayo Clinic website concerning BPA:

"The American Chemistry Council, an association that represents plastics manufacturers, contends that BPA poses no risk to human health. But the National Toxicology Program at the Department of Health and Human Services says it has "someconcern" about the possible health effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. This level of concern is midway on its five-level scale, which ranges from serious to negligible. The Food and Drug Administration now shares this level of concern and is taking steps to reduce human exposure to BPA in the food supply by finding alternatives to BPA in food containers."

Not only are plastic containers made from BPA as most of the media has voiced, but it also appears in food cans, bottle tops, and water supply lines.  Several ways to prevent any seepage of chemicals into your foods and other necessities that may be consumed are to avoid using products that contain these types of chemicals, microwave cautiously, use alternatives, and cut back on cans in general.  Although BPA has been deemed safe for humans, there is still speculations of long term affects on humans.  In conclusion, you would be a lot safer avoiding any types of containers that are made with BPA.

Energy Efficient Products (Week 9)

We have all heard a lot of talk about energy efficient products that are streaming throughout the media.  It seems as though eco-friendly products are making their way out into the lives of many Americans.  Some energy efficient products may seem silly at first, but when you see the numbers and positive affects that the products have on our atmosphere, you might change your mind or think twice while purchasing items at the store.  For example, we can use the compact fluorescent spiral light bulbs.  Not only are they easy to use, but they can be used for individual household use or commercial buildings, which makes them very versatile.  The bulbs can also be used interiorly as well as exteriorly.  The bulbs can also be taken back to stores for proper disposal after the use.  Let's dig a little deeper into these light bulbs.
  
T-2 Compact Fluorescent Spirals

"The LUMAcoil™ is a new 12,000 hour T-2 compact fluorescent developed to be environmentally friendly, have long life, high lumens per watt and great energy savings. Meets ENERGY STAR’S®. 4.0, for 12,000 hour average rated life. The LUMAcoil’s™ smaller base and T-2 glass make it more compact in size than other cfl ’s – fits most places incandescent bulbs do! Ideal for use in residential and commercial energy efficiency and direct install programs where long-life and customer satisfaction are needed."

These energy efficient light bulbs can save an average person anywhere from 34 to 100 dollars per bulb.  The life expectancy of each light bulb is 10,000 to 12,000 hours.  Which is very impressive, seeing as regular incandescent lights on last about 800 to 1,000 hours.  That means even if you left the light bulb turned on for 24 hours a day, the bulbs would still last 416 to 500 days.  These bulbs have also been deemed energy efficient, labeled with the blue energy star.  The bulbs run between 9 and 23 watts depending on the light fixture needed. 

To read more about the different types of energy efficient bulbs please see: Energy Efficient Lighting