January 8, 2004
Hello Everybody:  

This is a reminder that the Central Vermont Sustainable living Network will meet on Wednesday, January 14, 6:30PM in the Board Room of Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier. As you know, we have decided to meet on the SECOND Wednesday of each month to avoid the yearly holiday conflicts. So mark your calendars to reserve the second Wednesdays so you don’t double book your life in this one small way.

Last month we did a “SUSTAINABLE LIVING EXERCISE” which took a look at what each of us were doing to foster sustainability in our personal lives, in our communities and in the world. This time, and maybe next month too, we will be looking at these activities to see how effective our actions are in protecting and preserving the environment. We could look at this as an “EXERCISE IN MAKING EFFECTIVE CHOICES FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING.” What really matters and what doesn’t? What are the big potatoes and the little potatoes? What we shouldn’t sweat and what we should.

To help in this exercise, I’ve outlined some of the key points in Michael Brower’s and Warren Leon’s book, “The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices – Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists.” (There are two of these books at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library) Granted consumer choices are only one part of sustainable living, but it is a big part because consumption drives the economic engine and the environmental destruction that it can cause.

BEFORE you look at the Notes below, ask yourself the following question:

OF ALL THE CONSUMPTION (PURCHASING) AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT YOU DO TO FOSTER SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, WHICH DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST EFFECTIVE OR HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT?

Then make a list and think about why you think these are effective.

NEXT, take a look at the notes below  (or read the book) and see what the authors of the Guide have to say about effective choices. How do your ideas and actions compare to theirs?

FINALLY, what are some of the barriers that you run into (both personal and cultural) that might be keeping you from decreasing the higher impact harmful activities and increasing the more effective sustainable actions?

I’m bummed that I can’t be at the January meeting to be in on what should be a rich dialogue (I scheduled a speaking engagement last fall and didn’t see it on my jammed up notes for the new year before we scheduled the Network meetings). Erika will be taking some notes that will be passed on to the group later.

Enjoy the longer and colder days.

Richard

PS This missive is attached and may come out in better form than this pasting of it into the email.

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Here are some points from the Guide :

Page 50 – THE MOST HARMFUL CONSUMER ACTIVITIES

•    Cars and light trucks
•    Meat and poultry
•    Home heating, hot water, and air conditioning
•    Household appliances and lighting
•    Home construction
•    Household water and sewage

Page 85 – PRIORITY ACTION FOR AMERICAN CONSUMERS

    TRANSPORTATION
1.    Choose a place to live that reduces the need to drive
2.    Think twice before purchasing another car.
3.    Choose a fuel-efficient, low polluting car.
4.    Set concrete goals for reducing your travel.
5.    Whenever practical, wealk, bicycle, or take public transportation.

FOOD
6.    Eat less meat.
7.    Buy certified organic produce.

HOUSEHOLD OPERATIONS
8. Choose your home carefully.
9. Reduce the environmental costs of heating and hot water.
    10. Install efficient lighting and appliances.
11. Choose an electricity supplier offering renewable energy.

Page 109 - AVOID HIGH IMPACT ACTIVITIES

* Powerboats
* Pesticides and fertilizers
* Gasoline powered yard equipment
* Fireplaces and wood stoves
* Recreational off-road driving
* Hazardous cleaners and paints
* Products made from endangered or threatened species

Page 123 – SEVEN RULES FOR RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION

•    Give special attention to major purchases
•    Become a weight watcher
•    Analyze your consumption quantitatively
•    Don’t worry or feel guilty about unimportant decisions
•    Look for opportunities to be a leader
•    Buy more of those things that help the environment
•    Think about non-environmental reasons for reducing consumption

The Guide fills in many details of how to make these choices as consumers. The Guide also recognizes that consumers can only do so much. Government must create the cultural and economic incentives and disincentives to foster the vision of sustainable living and protection of the environment. So the authors add these governmental strategies to focus on:

Page 148 – FOUR KEY GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES

•    Make the marketplace work for the environment
•    Set high standards
•    Invest in the environment
•    Make land use an environmental issue