Let’s save the environment starting with our own humble abodes. This Friday, @_thealternative wants to talk to you about the ways in which we can go green in our homes on #paintyourgreen 3p (IST).
Contrary to popular belief, all talks of saving the environment start losing steam (even relevance, for many) when it comes to the four walls of our own living space. “Charity begins from home” couldn’t be more cliche a proverb, yet it is the first thumb rule in playing your part for the planet.
No doubt that the act of rolling up your sleeves to clean up the beach or fix “dirty” spots in the city (as The Ugly Indian is well known for) is altruistic (and gives a warm glow to your eco conscience). But cleaning up the mess only fixes the symptom, not the problem. Be rest assured that all the mess in the world has come from our plates and bins. For all the trees we plant, thrice the number gets cut to make boxes of building that leaves more construction waste behind. We could be demanding the Government to stop encroachments on our neighbourhood lake, but do we have all the devices to conserve water on our rooftops? We could build more windmills but are we still leaving our socket points in charge mode even when not in use?
This Friday, @_thealternative wants to talk to you about the ways in which we can go green in our homes – the steps that have worked, the challenges in converting from convenience and blissful ignorance to consciousness and sustainability, the lofty ideals that do not convert into practical solutions and learning from examples and tips shared by others.
Some of the broad topics we’ll be covering in this chat –
– Food: Knowing the source of your food, growing your own food.
– Waste: Segregation practices, upcycling, recycling, reusing.
– Water: Conscious consumption, retrofitting appliances, rainwater harvesting, sewage water treatment, grey water recycling.
– Energy: Energy efficient usage, energy saving appliances, off the grid living, harvesting solar energy.
Join us by using the hashtag #PaintYourGreen at 3pm (IST) on Friday, 21st of June 2013 or directly join the chat here.
This piece is a part of ‘Paint Your Green‘ campaign for World Environment Day to “Bring Sustainability Home.”
The Alternative is an online media publication focused on sustainable living and social impact.
