A volunteer shares a few lifestyle changes he has adopted over past few years as his contribution towards a clean India and climate action:
1. Consumerism has done a lot of harm to the society. This rat race of owning things to look cool or for self-esteem has led people to BUY things they DON'T need. I buy ONLY what is necessary. Following the first R in waste management REDUCE, REUSE RECYCLE.
2. I try to REUSE whatever waste I have in some or the other form. For example, using an expired credit card as a key chain. Or I use thermocol packing material as a mini stand for my laptop, using old towel as a mop, a discarded CD as a tea-coaster etc.
3. I own a car and a scooter but I commute to office by metro. I use metro as extensively as possible. Imagine doing that in a city that's obsessed with the culture of showing off! I walk to places within 1-1.5 kms. I'll take a scooter only if it's a time-critical errand. For long distances, I take scooter only if there is no last-mile connectivity by metro available. I use car as a last option, in cases such as when we have to go for our spotfixes - so I can carry a lot of paint buckets, brushes etc. and also a few volunteers.
4. I minimize my water usage as well. At my home we use AC water to water plants or maybe for cleaning and mopping purposes.
5. None of us in my family likes to waste food. So when at home we cook in a limited quantity and even then if it's left, we consume it later. If we are out we will always start with a little in our plates and we always ensure we consume the entire portion in our plates.
6. I don't shop much. Even if I do I don't take ANY bag from shopping mall even if it's free. No cloth bag, no paper bag either. I believe whenever we buy something we have generated waste. So I try to minimize my consumption at all levels - by carrying my own bag. I don't shop online much because the packaging material itself creates a lot of waste!
7. All electrical appliances in my house have a BEE Energy Star rating of 5. Meaning they are energy efficient. I even use my AC at 26 degrees, unlike people who have the habit of running it between 16 to 23 degrees. It just works fine for me even though my room doesn't have any more room above and is under direct exposure to scorching heat of Delhi's Sun. My laptop also runs on energy saving mode. Its screen turns off in case the laptop is idle for 5 mins.
8. When at home, I prefer to sit in a room with natural daylight. That ways I don't have to use lights and I save on electricity. Saving electricity is very important because 60% of India's power generation still depends on fossil fuels, that contribute to pollution.
9. I don't urinate in the open even in the highest matters of urgencies. I'll try to locate a nearest possible toilet. It's not that tough. If a Sulabh toilet isn't available I visit a nearest restaurant or a mall or a petrol pump.
10. I segregate plastic waste from normal waste and would eventually move to complete waste segregation.
Personally, it's not that difficult to follow the above. And I take pride in whatever I do towards reducing my carbon and garbage footprint. And eventually for a clean Delhi and a clean India.
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