Stage 1 - Live without making garbage
Stage 2- Emitting no carbon
Stage 3- Least environmental impact with food choices
Stages After- Little environmental impact- consumer purchase, household (heat, electricity, water use)
I never really knew anything about ghost energy usage- I leave everything plugged in always- today, my first task is remembering to un plug my devices...
So far, I am doing okay, I am very good at living without electricity in terms of lights being on and off- my greatest faults are that I utilize outlets a fair amount and I LOVE wifi, and heating-- heating is awesome (I have pretty bad circulation, so I love a good space heater). HOWEVER, I will not indulge today, in one of my favorite pastimes of warming my feet by the heater.
Today, I compromised with myself on use of electricity- If I do not use lights all day than I can get a cup of coffee from Starbucks (in my own container, duh). I feel this is a fair trade off.
I have to say that I don't think I am as strong willed as Colin and Michelle, I absolutely find myself trying to make loopholes or validate my actions by performing other actions.
I was particularly taken aback when I noticed all the electricity around campus- almost every classroom was lit up with electronics and lights. It is interesting to me that on a campus that I considered to be "green" and "aware" we have such a blatant and absurd amount and use of electricity in the classrooms on campus.
Things I am grateful for: stickers, whales, trees, electricity, running water.