Environmental Footprint

I was impressed by Gore's "Inconvenient Truth" and I am a believer that we are going to be in big trouble if global warming is not slowed significantly. And I buy the line that mankind is mostly responsible and therefore only mankind can minimize the effects by a world wide concerted effort. So Gore, by not walking the talk, as evidenced by his big power consuming house, and in that I am disappointed but the message by him and hoards of scientists should not be airily dismissed because he is leaving a large so-called environmental footprint. He really should have realized that the American Republicans and other naysayers would jump on the smallest thing to discredit the message.

I live on the coast and I surely will see bad things happen in my area within my lifetime. I also feel bad for my children's generation for they will feel the brunt of the upcoming chaos if the predictions come true. Individuals may think it is out of their hands but if enough individuals world-wide, bitch slap the politicians to wake them up, then something concrete can be accomplished. My apologies if any feminists are perturbed at the use of that term 'bitch slap' but it resonates so well in this case.

So what did I do lately to lessen my environmental footprint?.
1. When I drove my 15 year old car to the junkyard, I did not follow up on my original plan to buy a new car. So we are down to 1 car for this household.
2. I added 6 inches of insulation to my attic and replaced all the windows and door plus added insulation to the outside walls.
3. I recycle as much as possible garbage wise though I am not green enough yet to compost(I plan to look into that).
4. I walk and bike a lot even when the lone car is available.
5. I lower the thermostats in my house every evening before bedtime(except the bedroom)
6. Replaced one of the toilets with a new more water conserving type.

The Time magazine article on 51 things one can do to lessen your footprint is a must read.