Indoor cooking adds heat to the inside of the house. In cold weather, cooking can help heat the home. In hot weather, indoor cooking works against your efforts to keep the inside of the home cool. If you are operating an air conditioner at the same time you are cooking, the air conditioner has to work harder to remove the additional heat added by cooking and so uses more energy. If you are not using an air conditioner, the inside of the house is more uncomfortable. Here are some ideas to help keep the heat out of your house while preparing meals in hot weather.
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After I wrote a post about getting started with sustainability actions, I started thinking about what sustainability means. We hear the word a lot but how much do we know about what sustainability really means? I looked at some definitions and thought about what I know about our planet. Here’s what I think sustainability means.
One article used the phrase “healthy planet”. In the biggest sense, sustainability means that individuals, corporations, and governments make choices that support a healthy planet. A healthy planet is one where all of the creatures (including people) and plants can live healthy lives in a habitat that supports them, for many millennia into the future. Based on this definition, we have a long way to go to reach sustainability. We are using irreplaceable resources at an alarming rate, polluting the planet, quickly losing biodiversity and habitat, and changing our climate. And there is no Planet B. I am not suggesting that everyone needs to cut back to using only enough resources to barely remain alive, because there is more to life than just existing. However, if we make lifestyle changes where we can, it will make a difference. Each of us needs to evaluate our own situation - what aspects of our lifestyle are most important to us and what aspects we can change. Start your sustainability lifestyle changes using baby steps so the effort is not overwhelming. Here is a more detailed list of aspects I would include in addressing sustainability. The list seems overwhelming, but don’t let that stop you from taking baby steps. I’ll write more on each of these topics as time goes by.
I have seen a lot of discussion on the Internet about the environmental impact of natural fibers and synthetic fibers used to make clothing. Synthetic fabrics are made from oil, just like plastic is. According to the attached article, “Petrochemical-based synthetics make up 65% of all fibers produced annually, with polyester by far the most widely used synthetic fabric. Despite the serious environmental impacts of cotton production, a T-shirt made from cotton produces 2.1 kg CO2-eqemissions while a polyester T-shirt emits an estimated 5.5 kg CO2-eq.” Synthetic fabrics also contribute to plastic pollution. Washing clothes breaks off microfibers that contribute to microplastic contamination in waterways. Coatings on fibers or clothing contribute to pollution when they wash off and some are made with chemicals that are harmful to us and the planet.
However, sometimes you need the qualities produced by synthetic fabrics and the treatments/coatings applied to the fabric, such as waterproofing. Here are some ideas on how to reduce the environmental impact of clothing made with synthetic fibers.
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