What are you doing to help the sustainable movement? As you’ll recall, in March and April I started to tackle this question. Next on the American Actions list are using re-usable shopping bags, composting, reducing trash, carrying one’s own beverage container, conserving water and raising or lowering the thermostat. I’ll discuss some of these items in this article.

I recall that in the ‘70s when I visited my Grandmother in the UK, she would do her grocery shopping and bring the items home in a string bag. Now, in 2010, we seem to be reverting to the “take your own bag” practice, although for Americans it can often be difficult to remember to take the bags into the stores. Several supermarkets have reminder signs in the parking lots, and this, together with the fact I leave the bags near my son’s seat so I see them, means I generally remember them for big shops. Whilst at an office supply store in Australia (a country deeply concerned about plastic bag use) I forgot my bags. The store didn’t provide plastic ones and I couldn’t see material ones to buy. The uncomfortable process of balancing my purchases precariously meant I didn’t forget the bags again!

As summer approaches here in the Northern Hemisphere and we move towards the growing season, composting sounds like a good idea. In some US areas composting is apparently not encouraged due to possible contamination of the soil by pathogens on imported produce. Our township, Caln, has recently changed the trash recycling process. Previously items needed to be separated from each other, eg, paper from glass etc. Now all recyclable items can go into one large bin. This means households and offices are more likely to recycle. We also keep a recycle bin in our house to help make the process easier. Local businesses have the option of joining the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, thus encouraging sustainable business practices.

Since we have a well (borehole) at home, I recently looked into replacing our toilets to conserve water. As it happens, the cistern alone cannot be replaced. The cost of a new toilet (with dual flush options) is generally over US$250. This starts to become a costly exercise if one considers the cost of the plumber and replacement of several toilets in the house! To compromise, I bought a type of inexpensive plastic bag (less than US$10) which is water filled then inserted into the cistern to displace water. I remember that as a child in South Africa, we would put a brick in the cistern, but not only would a brick not fit inside our cisterns, I also recall that the disintegrating particles didn’t do much for the cistern parts.

I’ve often sat in South Africa and wondered about the US oil consumption, but having lived through about 8 US East-coast winters I now view things slightly differently.  While I don’t feel comfortable about the US dependence on oil, quite frankly huddling together in our 100 year old house might be romantic, but it isn’t warm enough when the temperature is - 10°C and there is four feet of snow at the door! In this area of the US, oil, electricity and natural gas are used for heating. There are several attempts to provide environmental sustainability and local West Chester University has installed a geothermal HVAC system that will support both new facilities as well as existing buildings. Not surprisingly, with the current oil crisis in the Gulf of Mexico, organizations such as the Sierra Club are likely to receive more support to explore and help develop overdue alternatives.

Debbie Early, PhD graduated with a life sciences degree from ‘Maritzburg ‘Varsity in the ‘90s. She has a PhD in toxicology obtained in the UK. She is Principal of Waratah Communications LLC and writes from her certified wildlife habitat in Chester County, PA, USA. You can contact her on info@waratahcommunications.

Copyright © 2010 by Debbie Early