Sustainabilty
The past few decades have seen a growing concern among people of the impact modern living is having on the environment. Natural resources, such as oil, forests, and many raw materials, are being depleted, and pollution increases. In addition, the gap between rich and poor in the world has widened.
We now realise that we need to change the way we live to protect the environment, so that we can allow the entire population, of this and future generations, to reap to have the same quality of life as we do now.
In other words, society must become sustainable. This means a fair share of wealth and resources for everyone now, while making sure that future generations will be able to achieve the same.
This is just a common sense approach to living in a way that does not waste resources, such as energy, or needlessly damage the world around us.
Making society sustainable means a lot more than trying to solve a few particular environmental problems. It is a broad approach to bringing society forward in a way that is both intelligent and morally sound. It is also a sensible way for us all to choose to live.
Sustainability involves everyone. If we decide on a sustainable approach to life, everyone should choose to be involved and to take an active part in shaping their society. The starting point for all of us is personal action; deciding for ourselves how we want to live.
Sustainable Energy
We all depend on energy to improve our lives. But using energy means nothing on its own, it is just a way to achieve something else. And we are becoming more aware of some of the problems that come from wasting energy. The way we use fossil fuels, such as coal, oil or gas, or electricity generated from these fuels, cannot be sustained. Fossil fuels will not last forever; once they are used up they are gone. Also, burning these fuels is a major cause of global warming. Global warming is a serious environmental issue that affects the whole planet. We must act now to tackle this problem.
Looking at why we use energy
Thinking about energy and sustainability starts with looking at the needs that energy fulfils, such as warmth, light, transport, comfort and convenience, and looking for better ways to meet these needs. Are there other ways of achieving these things without using so much energy? For example, we drive to the shops to buy something, not just for the drive. Why not think about cycling or walking instead?
Did You Know That
Compact Floursecent Lamps (CFLs) use a fraction of the electricity and last up to 10 times longer that ordinary light-bulbs - could you install more in your home ?
You can walk one kilometre in just 10 minutes - do you really need to use the car for short journeys ?
Did You Know That
20oC is an ideal room temperature, proper control and regular maintenance of your heating system can reduce fuel consumption by 10-20% - are you overheating your home ?
A television in standby mode can use up to as much as half of the electricity as when it is switched on - are you leaving lights, appliances or even your heating system on unnecessarily ?
Public transport where convenient is often quicker than driving, particularly during peak rush-hour - why not try it, you'll be surprised how convenient it can be
Thinking about energy when we buy
When buying something new, it is worthwhile thinking about energy efficiency as part of choosing which model to buy. Whether it is a washing machine or a fridge freezer, or new heaters or even a new car, there are energy efficient options available. These are sensible choices to make; using less energy means spending less money.
Did You Know That
Often more energy is consumed in making goods than is consumed through the rest of their life - do you really need to replace your existing item ? can the old item be recycled in anyway ?
An energy efficient appliance costs less to run and is kinder to the environment - look for the energy label on washers, dryers, fridges, freezers and dishwashers and simply choose A or B.
Attic insulation will keep the heat in your home for longer and pay for itself in 2-3 years - do you have sufficient insulation in your home ?
A lagging jacket on your hot water cylinder will keep water hotter for longer and pay for itself in 2-3 months - do you have a lagging jacket? is it in need of replacement ?
Moving towards sustainable energy sources
As well as our individual behaviour, we can also think together about how society meets its energy needs. We can make collective decisions about using energy efficiently and using energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar power.
Transmission of light through windows (passive solar heating) can reduce heating costs - could you allow for passive solar heating in the design of a new home? what about integrating a solar water heating system onto a south facing roof ?
Wind, hydro and solar are all clean sources of energy, which unlike fossil fuel combustion can be harnessed without the release of significant emissions of CO2 and other so called greenhouse gases - you could choose to support the development of renewable resources for your community
Sustainability is a wise approach to take to the way we live. And using energy in a more sustainable way is a part of this approach. We can save money, reduce imports, protect the environment, and move society forward in a smart way. If we start doing this now we win as individuals and we win as a society.
Everyone can decide how they want to live. Shaping society together starts by shaping our individual behaviour.
Click here to download the National Climate Change Abatement Strategy