A few weeks ago, I reviewed six of the easier techniques we can use to save money, strengthen our economy, and help preserve the environment. The third of these techniques which helps minimize our Negative Environmental Impact (NEI) is:
Use Energy Wisely such as high efficiency devices and keeping them unplugged.
Makes sense right? But let’s be careful to be realistic here, because I think some of these concepts are not thought through completely and some people are getting more credit than they are due, while others have a smaller NEI and they aren’t getting the accolades they deserve.
I’ve often heard the praises of what I called Privileged Purchasers. Here was the definition I tossed out 4/17/17
- Privileged Purchasers: These people feel they are ahead of the pack because their new custom made home has an energy efficient dishwasher and since they have solar power, the average person could never hope to be as cool to the environment as they are.
As I have pointed out more than once, does having an energy efficient home cancel out the larger NEI a person with a high income produces, because let’s be clear, in general the more income one has the higher their general impact. And before we consider how true this is, let’s also think about this world-wide. An individual living in a low income rural village has a very different life than say a middle class man in the USA, so let’s try to take a global perspective here.
So let’s imagine two people. One is Brian Whitney, who is worth a hundred thousand dollars and just bought a new home with energy savings devices. Good for you Bri, at least you’re trying, but when we consider his life overall, is this lessening of his NEI even worth mentioning, compared to Ari Bhaat, who lives in an agricultural community near the base of the Himalayas, NEI? Could Ari be kicking Bri up and down the street just by being poor?
Let’s consider each lifestyles pros and cons.
Brian Whitney’s Negative Environmental Impact
- Drives an average of 150 miles a week.
- Heats or cools his home throughout the year
- Uses electricity, natural gas, and water daily
- Buys food transported long distances
- Eats luxury food items with a higher NEI, like meat
- Buys complex devices and manufactured items
- Wears more intricate clothes and personal items
Ari Baat’s Negative Environmental Impact
- Eats local food, but more plants than meat
- Does not drive, uses bus for long trips on rare occasions
- Does not use electric heating and cooling
- Uses some electric power
- Wears simple clothing
- Buys manufactured tools
Ari would have a household carbon imprint 0f around 200kg. https://bit.ly/2XL6A0w
The average American’s carbon footprint per person in 2014 was 21.5 metric tons CO2 or 21500 kg, so Brian creates 107.5% as much as Ari https://bit.ly/2xAdeer
But wait, what about the dishwasher Brian bought?
An energy effect dishwasher saves 40$ a year over washing dishes by hand, and reduces 50% of washing dishes NEI, but since washing dishes is roughly 1% of a home’s energy output, which is 14% of Brian Whitney’s carbon footprint, this is reducing his Carbon Footprint by 15.05kg (.5 of 14% of 21500kg = 15.05kg) or about 7% of Ari total NEI. But also keep in mind this only lowered Brian from 21500 to 21,484.05 kg. Wow, those energy efficient dishwashers are so not amazing.
540g CO2e: by hand, using water sparingly and not too hot
770g CO2e: in a dishwasher at 55°C
990g CO2e: in a dishwasher at 65°C
8000g CO2e: by hand, with extravagant use of water
Let’s give Brian one more chance. Solar panels. And look, I’m a hundred percent in favor of solar panels. I wish we all had them. I’d love to flip the bird to the electric company and help withdraw our country from dependence on fascist theocracies. Electric cars, running my laptop like an anarchist, let me at it.
Still if roughly 14% of our NEI comes from an individual’s use of electricity, even if we fueled 100% of our home with solar, that would leave 18,490 kg a year for the average USA adult. We saved 3,100 kg or a little over 15 times what Ari produces in a year.
Look I’m not saying don’t try to do everything you can to reduce your NEI and increase your freedom against the Bills. I just want to spin the chair until we are seeing the reality of what we’re facing if we wish to lower our NEI and wish to point out again, in general, the poorer a person is, the better they treat the planet. So the next time you see a homeless guy, suck it up and admit then it comes to being an environmentalist, he’s kicking your ass.
You can check out some of my fiction here, where they power everything with nuclear, who knew?
WildernessPunk 