We all know this very important term - conservation, its
meaning & importance. We've learned about it in school and have been
reading about it in the news always. The word conservation or preservation as
we know has predominantly been associated with resources. And yes, we are
speaking of conservation of resources - natural resources, be it water, energy
or environment.
But do we really, really conserve our resources....? This question has probably been with us all our lives. By whether we've acted upon it, is something which only each one of us alone knows.
Without getting into how much we do, what big contribution can we make, what could have been done, etc, I would like to share simple things that I do in my daily life.
But do we really, really conserve our resources....? This question has probably been with us all our lives. By whether we've acted upon it, is something which only each one of us alone knows.
Without getting into how much we do, what big contribution can we make, what could have been done, etc, I would like to share simple things that I do in my daily life.
Water
1. Bathroom showers
For all the shower lovers, like me, switching to using a limited one bucket of water for bathing might seem unwanted. But try doing it once a week.. You'll see that in the process you've saved time.. To your surprise you'll be out of the bathroom in half the time you take usually! Convert that one day, to two, then three.. Till you start bathing in the shower only once a week : ) and still feel as clean & fresh everyday as you would otherwise!
2. Usage in the kitchen
Instead of washing vegetables under running taps, try this-
Soak them in a vessel of water, then remove them & transfer the water of the vessel into a bucket. Fill the vessel with fresh tap water again, soak the vegetables and clean them in the vessel itself. Transfer the water again.. & repeat the process till you are content that the vegetables are clean : )
Well done! You've still used lesser water than you would otherwise. Wait a minute! There’s more to this. Now, use the bucket water, to water your plants!! Try this.. You'll feel good for making such good use of water!
Energy
For all the shower lovers, like me, switching to using a limited one bucket of water for bathing might seem unwanted. But try doing it once a week.. You'll see that in the process you've saved time.. To your surprise you'll be out of the bathroom in half the time you take usually! Convert that one day, to two, then three.. Till you start bathing in the shower only once a week : ) and still feel as clean & fresh everyday as you would otherwise!
2. Usage in the kitchen
Instead of washing vegetables under running taps, try this-
Soak them in a vessel of water, then remove them & transfer the water of the vessel into a bucket. Fill the vessel with fresh tap water again, soak the vegetables and clean them in the vessel itself. Transfer the water again.. & repeat the process till you are content that the vegetables are clean : )
Well done! You've still used lesser water than you would otherwise. Wait a minute! There’s more to this. Now, use the bucket water, to water your plants!! Try this.. You'll feel good for making such good use of water!
Energy
1. Cars
Despite being great drivers & responsible citizens it's amazing to see that 90% of the vehicles waiting on long traffic signals still keep their vehicles engines & headlights on! We know it! But we don't do it!!
You can switch off at least on your regular routes, or on signals displaying the time left to go before the signal opens.
2. AirCons
Yes, we live in a warm & humid climate, but it's not that bad always. If switching on your air conditioner every night has become a compulsion then you can try making changes to your habit moderately. First, turn it off after some time. Second, reduce the time that you keep it on. Third, refrain from turning it on at least twice a week. Fourth, increase the number of times you do not turn on your AC! You will notice that you have adjusted to the natural climate without any problems.
3. Workplace
Put up an energy conserving initiative at your workplace. Write rules such as, all lights, fans, ac's to be switched off during lunch or for at least an hour every day. You'll receive appreciation, & before you know it, people at your office will start following it. The organization will be happy to term this as a CSR activity.
Environment
For everything that we buy from the market, we feel that it’s the vendors' duty to give a plastic bag. It's like paying to deteriorate the environment.
Keep a cloth / jute bag, or for that matter a used plastic bag that’s been in your house, always with you. Irrespective of whether you do grocery shopping or not, keep it with you. Because it's that time when you buy something from a store without having planned to go to buy it, is when you will realize the importance of keeping your own empty carry bag always with you.
I am proud to say this: all the grocers & shop vendors in my vicinity know my family & me as the ones who will never ever take plastic bags from them. My grocer once said to us that if all shoppers stop taking plastic bags, it is a rupees 200 daily saving for them!
There are just so many ways of conserving our resources, but we've somewhere taken our easy lives for granted. These are easy steps we can take to make a big difference. We've heard of all of these & are well aware too. The question is, ‘When will you implement them?’
By Aditi Mavani
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