An Inconvenient Truth is an Oscar-winning documentary by Al Gore. Yes, former Vice President Al Gore actually is as passionate about the environment as he was politics. I was intrigued by this enough to watch the documentary tonight and let me tell you the interesting things I learned and heard.

Al Gore states in the documentary that the most vulnerable part of the earth is its atmosphere. People claim that the Earth is too big for us as humans to actually do any damage to it, however Al Gore goes on to say that the atmosphere is thin enough that we are easily capable of causing damage to it.

He goes on to explain what global warming is. At first he gives the textbook definition, the one we've all heard a dozen times. Then he plays the following clip which definitely adds to the humor of the documentary!

Roger Revelle was one of Al Gores college professors who was the first person to propose measuring carbon dioxide in the Earths atmosphere. After Revelle put together years worth of data he was able to piece together the relationship between the increase in CO2 and the increase in human activity.

The documentary then goes into the melting of glaciers and ice. Gore states that 40% of all people in the world get their drinking water from rivers and streams that are fed more than half from the water coming off of glaciers. Within this next half century, this 40% of the population is going to face a big problem with obtaining drinking water.

If you compare a graph of 1000 years of CO2 concentrations and 1000 years of temperatures, they look the same, the relationship is undeniable. There's evidence that the more CO2 there is, the hotter the temperatures.

"...what we take for granted might not be here for our children..." - Al Gore

The ten hottest years on record have occurred in the last 14 years. The hottest of all was 2005. In 2003, there was a heat wave in Europe that killed 35,000 people. Al Gore says that we are already seeing these predicted heat waves of global warming. Consecutive days of 100+ temperatures are more common now than ever, and not just on land but in oceans too. And when ocean temperatures rise, winds increase, and stronger storms result. Take Hurricane Katrina for example.

"The Era of Procrastination, of Half-Measures, of Soothing and Baffling Expedients, of Delays, is Coming to its Close. In its Place We are Entering a Period of Consequences." - Sir Winston Churchill

Here are some other interesting facts I learned from this documentary: 

• Permafrost is a thick layer of soil that stays frozen and never melts. At least that's what we thought, but we were wrong. We are now seeing permafrost begin to melt and shift, destroying homes, roads, habitats, and more.
• In the Alaskan Tundra, 35 years ago you could drive on the snow safely 225 days a year, now its down to just below 75 days. 
• In the last 40 years the Arctic Ice cap has diminished by 40%
• There are shifts in seasons due to warming temperatures.
• 30 new diseases have emerged in the last century, some that we once had in control are coming back.
• Coral reefs are bleaching because of the warming temperatures, so all animals that rely on the coral reefs now have no habitat
• Scientists predicted that a specific area of ice would last another 100 years, but in just 35 days it was gone... they were shocked. When we will learn?

If the west side of Alaska were to melt, or Greenland were to melt, sea level world wide would rise 20 feet - 40 feet if they both melt. We are already seeing alarming shifts in both of these land masses. With Greenland gone, maps of the United States would have to be redrawn. The World Trade Center Memorial would be underwater...

Communicating and educating is key. We already have the knowledge and science it would take to make the correct changes. Are we in the U.S. going to be left behind as the rest of the world bands together to help save the environment? Are we capable of making changes even if they are hard? Yes we are.

We thought the hole in the ozone layer would be impossible to fix, but we fixed it. And it took the world working together, making the right changes to slowly mend what was broken. We can do it again.

Are you ready to change the way you live?

I often find myself watching documentaries on Netflix about environmental and political issues. Kristy Canty's documentary Farmageddon is one that I watched today, and I want to share with you some information from the movie that I found interesting, to say the least... 

"If the people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson

There are two types of farming;
1. Industrial Farming
2. Local, Sustainable Farming :)

Most food production laws were made to support industrial farming. There's a chance local food production could completely go away soon.

Most food born illnesses are traced back to processed foods, yet the government is regulating local farmers harder than they are processing plants, requiring more permits and things of this sort that run local farmers out of business.

Soon we wont have any other option than to buy from our local grocery stores.

READ THIS!

When mad cow disease became an issue, a couple came up with the idea to milk sheep. Tests were done on the sheep and they passed with flying colors. Then, the USDA ordered them to surrender the sheep, and quarantined the sheep because they were "at risk of mad cow disease". They told the couple if they go to the media, or tell anyone about this, the USDA would shut them down.

The USDA spent over a million dollars watching the couples sheep farm. Every car with a "Save Our Sheep" bumper sticker had their license plate written down, and then later were investigated.


The couple took the USDA to court to stop them from taking their sheep, and 17 days before the court hearing, 42 federal agents and USDA officials showed up at 530 in the morning and seized their sheep. The sheep were taken to Iowa and killed, "for a disease that never existed". Tissue samples were taken from the sheep, and every single sheep's test results were negative for mad cow disease.

The USDA then came and starting taking their hay, and parts from their farm claiming it was all "contaminated" and that they needed to properly dispose of it. The husband became suspicious, so one day he followed the USDA trucks. They went straight to a landfill a few miles away and dumped the "contaminated" sheep material... looks like it really wasn't that dangerous after all. So much money wasted.

Between 1970 and now, the US has lost 88% of its dairy farms. We're told raw milk is dangerous, yet our ancestors drank only raw milk. Raw milk has proven to help allergies, and asthma.

In the mid 1800s, kids became sick and died from rotten milk that was enriched with flower and chalk to appear fresh. It was at this time that people turned to pasteurized milk because it killed the bacteria in raw milk. Some claim that we are exposed to so little bacteria now a days that raw milk is too risky for us to drink, however most of the bacteria is harmless or beneficial. But because some of the bacteria is potentially dangerous, the selling of raw milk is heavily regulated, making it hard to sell.

"The only farm crop regulated more than raw milk is marijuana. It seems ridiculous" - Steve Smith

DID YOU KNOW: The higher prices of organic farmed food, for the most part, has nothing to do with production, it has to do with the price of regulations.

Most local farms are raided, having thousands of dollars worth of animals and food seized simply because they do not have a permit, which should just result in a fine. Guns are drawn by police officers, accompanied by federal and USDA agents whose permits do not even allow them to seize more than a few testable samples.

Check out Kristy Canty's documentary Farmageddon to see more shocking stories from local farmers.

A bittersweet goodbye...

Only one more class, then the following week the final, and then I will have officially completed my Environmental Science class at Riverside Community College.

What would you like to do if money were no object? Personally, I would love to work outdoors. I'd love to spend my days hiking, walking along trails, and working with nature. This is why I have chosen a career in Environmental Science. I want to live my life doing what I enjoy most, no matter what others have to say.

After all that we discussed this semester in my class, in my opinion, the following are the most important worldwide environmental issues today;

• Climate Change 

Temperatures will continue to rise, there will be an increased risk of floods and fires, snow covered areas will no longer exist, species of animals and plant will become extinct, and habitats will be lost. Food will be harder to grow which will make it more expensive, meaning more people will go hungry. If global warming continues, the world will be lost. People around the world need to realize that we need to start making changes now to save our planet. Reduce fossil fuel use (use less energy!), reduce your use of the worlds natural resources (conserve water!), plant trees, reduce the amount of waste you accumulate and reuse whenever possible. As an individual, I can help educate those I know on the issue of climate change so that they can start making  the right changes in their lives to better the world, and then spread the word to their friends and family. I honestly believe the lack of education is the main reason why more people aren't making the correct changes to help preserve the environment.

• Resource Depletion

 

"Earth's population will be forced to colonise two planets within 50 years if natural resources continue to be exploited at the current rate... A study by the World Wildlife Fund... warns that the human race is plundering the planet at a pace that outstrips its capacity to support life." (The Guardian). Plain and simple, Earth's natural resources will not last us forever and we're using them up as if they will. One report states that 1/3 of the world has been destroyed by humans just over the past 30 years... imagine the Earth in another 60!

Our oceans will have no fish, we will have no fresh water to drink, we will have no oil, our forests will be wiped out, and most animals will become extinct. Before things run out, the world will most likely start wars over what natural resources are still left. The U.S. makes up just 5% off the world, yet we consumer 20% of its natural resources, or in other words we consumer 15% MORE resources than we should. What happens when more people want to start living like Americans? Then we will really be in trouble.

Obviously we can't just create another inhabitable planet, so our only smart choice is to start saving the only planet we have!

What society can do to help preserve our Earth's resources is by recycling, buying only items that can be recycled or that are made from recycled goods. Do not allow yourself to buy unnecessary things, buy locally, and use energy efficient products. Don't waste water or electricity. Avoid plastic bags. There are a TON of things you can do to help preserve natural resources. Educate yourself, and take one step at a time.

Educate yourself, and then those around you so that they too can start making changes to save our planet.
That is exactly what I am going to do!

 

• Waste/Pollution (Air, Water, and Land)

Contaminated drinking water, air quality so bad you're asked to stay indoors, oceans filled with trash, and landfills exceeding their limits; these are things happening now, and if we continue to live the way we are living, it will only get worse. If you watch the documentary gas land, you'll see that in some homes water is so contaminated that it actually catches on fire. The air here in Riverside is so bad it's been known to cause respiratory problems. Ever heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? Eventually the ocean will be uninhabitable, killing off animals, and taking away our once beautiful ocean. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in 2010 Americans generated 250 million tons of trash. In the U.S we don't incinerate our trash, we crush it and bury it. So in just one year, 250 million tons of trash was buried beneath our feet, covered to make it look as if it was never there. But there it is, not decomposing but sitting there for years and year to come. 

What can we as a society do about pollution? Drive less, plant trees (again!), become educated on the topic and then educate others, use less energy, Refuse Reduce Reuse Recycle!, buy locally, compost, reduce your personal amount of waste, volunteer to help clean up what's already out there, use less plastic! As an individual, again I will first make the above changes in my own life, then educate those I know and hopefully start a domino effect and start getting more people to HELP SAVE THIS PLANET!

• Endangered Species

The combination of people, pollution and climate change results in a loss of habitat and extinction of many plants and animals. Sea levels rise, introduction of new species wipes out original species, breeding becomes difficult or impossible because of habitat disruption, people feel the need to hunt animals for various reasons, among other things result in the endangerment or extinction of species. In 2007 a scientist by the name of Wilson said that he believes by the year 2100, half of all plant and animal species will be extinct.
There was actually a 12 year study conducted in the Chihuahuan desert in Texas, where "a kangaroo-rat guild composed of three closely related species" was removed. Quickly the shrublands turned to grasslands, supporting fewer plants and birds. Note hat these species were not key-stone species, but imagine a key-stone species becoming extinct, the drastic changes that would take place. No more kelp in the kelp forests? We are negatively impacting biodiversity.
As a society we need to better protect the already endangered species, and protect those who are not yet endangered. We need more protected wildlife areas, we need to stop removing and altering habitats, introducing exotic species, over-harvesting, and over-exploiting. We also need to try our best to stop global warming, and polluting the environment because these directly affect the environment and all living organisms.
I'm not sure how many times I can say this, but as an individual I would start will educating those I know, and those in the public willing to listen.

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Most of the stuff I learned in my Environmental Science class I found interesting. There were a couple thing however that I found very interesting! -

* Finding out my ecological footprint the first week of class was great! I would have never guessed that it would take 5.1 Earths to provide enough resources for everyone to live the way that I do. I highly suggest everyone take the short test to find out your ecological footprint.

http://www.footprintnetwork.org/calculator

* Learning about the dangers of household chemicals was also something I found to be interesting. You don't really think about what your floss is made of, or how it is that Febreze makes odors "disappear" until your told to research it. Everything in our homes has at least one chemical that is dangerous, or even deadly. Immediately after learning about these chemicals I switched my mouthwash and began trying out a few home made alternatives to store bought products.

 

* One thing I never really thought about was the pollution inside your home. Then I was taught in class that the inside of your house actually contains MORE pollution than the outside. This is something I also found interesting, and have since bought a couple houseplants to absorb this unwanted pollution! 

 

* All of that trash that gets buried in our landfills never decomposes. You can literally dig up a newspaper from 60 years ago and it will till look as it did 60 years ago. This is because oxygen is not aloud in the ground where our trash is buried for safety reasons. So our trash really never goes away... this should make you want to reduce your amount of waste drastically right? Eventually our homes will be on top of 50 feet of garbage and our kids will be rolling down hills of trash covered in grass to make it look like nothing's there.


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We have one planet... 

 

Just one, and we're living our lives as if we have an infinite amount of Earth's at our disposal. We can't just think about now, we need to think about the future. I want my children, and their children to see wild animals, not just in books or zoos, but in the actual wild. I want my children to know what a real rainforest looks like, and what it's like to live in a world where you don't have to wear a gas mask to breath. A world where the ocean is still beautiful and inhabited by sea life. A world where drinking water isn't scarce, and where climate change is no longer an issue. Where land fills aren't piled so high you can't see beyond them.

 

It takes just one person to realize we need to start making changes now, but we need everyone to work together to get these changes happening world wide.

 

Sources:
http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/top-ways-stop-global-warming-3138.html
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/index.htm
http://www.earthtimes.org/encyclopaedia/environmental-issues/endangered-species/
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/animal-extinction--the-greatest-threat-to-mankind-397939.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/jul/07/research.waste

Badlands Landfill

On Friday, May 17th my Environmental Science class had  its last and final field trip to the Badlands Landfill in Moreno Valley, California. Now, it took just 20 minutes to get there, not only that but it's right by my grandpas house where I go once a year for Christmas eve... and I never knew this landfill was there.

I carpooled to the Landfill with Denis, a classmate of mine (carpool whenever you can!). The first thing I noticed were the plastic bags stuck in the trees in front of the parking lot. To our surprise it didn't smell horrible as we had anticipated, in fact it really didn't smell very much at all.

The fence is used to catch trash.

Our tour began with a few quick facts from Sara, our guide;

• This landfill use to be a burn site (all garbage was piled up then lit on fire), now instead the garbage is compacted and buried with dirt.
• Methane gas is produced from the breaking down of garbage
• Gas to Energy; The landfill collects the methane and converts it to energy... They run the AC all summer long without paying a penny!
• Leachate is water that picks up trash and other things and becomes contaminated
• Leachate can't be released into our water supply so the landfill sprays it back onto the dirt to help eliminate dust
• All gas is pulled from the landfill to eliminate water contamination
• At the end of the day the compacted garbage has to be covered:
• At first 6 inches of dirt was piled onto the compacted garbage, then they started putting green-waste (your yard waste), then finally they decided to use tarps

• Using tarps saves 6 months to a year of land space

Then our tour really began and our first stop was where the electronics and appliances are put. Here two people work every day, literally just unscrewing and taking apart the electronics so that the good parts can be sold and reused.

Then from here we hiked down to where the sedimentation basin. This is where basically all of the rain water runoff goes, and also where the water is collected and tested to make sure its not contaminated.

COOL FACT: Hydrologists have the ability to estimate how much water our worst storm would throw at us, and these sedimentation basins were designed to be able to handle the worse case scenario!

Here are some other facts we learned on the way to our final stop, where the trash is dumped and buried...

Sedimentation Basin

• All over the world except the US, their main way to rid of trash is by burning it
• Stakes placed in the ground tell just how high the pile of trash is aloud to go
• Old asphalt is recycled and used at the landfill to make their roads
• No oxygen is aloud in the landfills so things don't decompose... Crazy!!!
• There are disturbance limits on site, and endangered species of plants have to be move
• Lots of fossils are found here at the Badlands Landfill
• Pre-1993 landfills have no liners
• The landfill is not run off of taxes but is run off of revenue, its like a business
• Coyote footprints are left behind when they are looking for food.

Seeing the big trucks lined up to dump off trash was a sad site to see. On top of 200 feet of garbage is where we stood to view this all happening... It's something everyone should see at some point to understand how much garbage we just take to landfills to bury and cover as if it was never there.

Climate Change

For as long as I can remember, scientists around the world have been researching the reasons behind our Earths change in climate. First, let's define the word climate. Climate is the average, or typical weather in a given area over a long period of time. This is not like weather, which is the state of the atmosphere on a given day (temperature, wind, precipitation, humidity, cloudiness, etc.).

So now that we know what climate change is I'm going to answer 3 questions that will tell you why climate change is occurring, and how it affects our society and our world...


Is there evidence that the climate is changing right now?

Yes. Scientists have been measuring the temperature of the Earth since around 1880, and if you look at the graph to the right, you can see the increase in temperature from 1880 to the year 2000. The increase in average temperature over the last 100 years around the world is 1.4°F (0.8°C). This may not seem like a lot, but according to the National Research Council, a mere 9°F drop in today's average temperature is the estimated difference in today's temperature and an Ice Age!!! This is proof that climate change is happening now, and has been happening for years.

Some think this change in climate is because of the sun, however evidence proves this is not true. Satellites have the ability to measure solar output from the sun, and according to satellite readings over a period of 30 years, records showed no increase in the sun's output. So who is to blame for the changing climate? 

What does evidence say about humans' roles in  the changing climate?

Greenhouse gases, which include carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and nitrous oxide, are a natural thing that helps keep the Earths surface warm. We of course need this in order to survive. However, when these greenhouse gases are greatly increased they act like a giant blanket on the Earth, trapping a more than needed amount of heat in the lower atmosphere.
What causes this great increase in greenhouse gases is people. Decades of research has proven that human actives has lead to an increase in the Earth's temperature. The burning of coal and oil, cutting down forests and the production of things such as cement add CO2 into the atmosphere. Land use also affects climate change because when an entire forest is wiped out, the ground it once shaded is now completely exposed to the sun for years to come. The burning of fossil fuel add to the methane in the atmosphere. Fertilizers used on farms add to nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. There are statistics, and long term studies supporting all of these things I just listed that prove human activities greatly contribute to the changing climate.

How is climate change likely to affect our society and our world? What will Earth be like in 50 years?

Scientists predict temperatures will continue to rise, and by the end of the century we will see an additional 60-90 days of temperatures reaching more than 100°F. In California we can expect much longer, hotter summers. Say goodbye to Fall and say hello to a shorter, much warmer winter.

Not only this, but scientists say that dryer places will get even drier, and wet places even wetter. This is
because with the heat, more water will evaporate from oceans, lakes and rivers, sucking the earth dry in some places and greatly increasing rainfall in others. This will lead to an increased risk of fires, and floods.

Snow covered areas will no longer exist. We already see much of it disappearing, eventually it will all be gone. This will wipe out many species of animals that live and depend on snow and ice such as the Polar Bears. And what about the rising sea level which is a result of the increased greenhouse gases? With the snow and ice melting this will cause the oceans to rise even faster.

With the changes in climate, animals will need to adapt. Some will move to more favorable locations, others will learn to adapt, and the ones that can't, such as Polar Bears, will become extinct. The animals that depend on the ones who move to different locations will need to find a new sources of food, move, or die off.

And what about food for humans? Do we really think livestock will learn to adapt to living on dry land in 110 degree weather for 4 months at a time? Or would we build special buildings with AC's to grow our livestock which will then GREATLY increase our price of meat. "If 5°C (9°F ) of global warming were to be reached, most regions of the world would experience yield losses, and global grain prices would potentially double". So even farming vegetables would become very expensive. The changing climate could possibly starve the world.

If we continue at the rate we're going, we're just setting up the world, and every living thing on it to die. If CO2 in the atmosphere continues to rise, in the next 50 years we will definitely see all of the above affects of climate change happening before our eyes.

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Even with all of this evidence, some people still deny the fact that the changing climate is a serious issue that needs to be addressed when it clearly is, and it needs to be addressed NOW! Here are some common reasons people don't see the changing climate as a crisis:

• It costs too much money to fix
• It's inconvenient to make the proper changes/people don't like changes
• Some people believe that the natural greenhouse gases affect the earth more than we do
• Other think it affects the future, not now so why worry?
• A lot of people are too uneducated on the topic to care
• Scientists do admit its happening, but their future predictions are not guaranteed so people are iffy
• There are benefits to warming temperatures so why not let it happen?

Sources:
http://nas-sites.org/americasclimatechoices/

The Dangers of Household Chemicals

My all time favorite Febreze Air Effects scent is Cranberries & Frost... sounds refreshing right? Now, forget the name, and let me just list out 80+ chemicals found in Febreze that are linked to cancer, and other serious health problems... does it still sound refreshing?

Did you know some air fresheners use chemicals that reduce your ability to smell by coating the membranes of your nasal passages?

Household care products such as air fresheners, soap, shampoo, and cleaning products, and even what these products are packaged in, are loaded with potentially dangerous chemicals. In other words, in the comfort of our homes, we are surrounded by hundreds of chemicals that could easily cause great harm to our health.

Let's take a look at two common chemicals found in household care products;

According to the United States Department of Labor website, absorption of phenol through the skin of a human can lead to impairment of the central nervous system, as well as  liver and kidney damage.

A small amount of exposure can cause shock, convulsions, sever burns, muscle twitching, chemical burns, blindness, and can even lead to coma or death. The website also claims that a man, while working, spilled a strong solution of phenol all over his head, face, neck, and back and died just 10 minutes later.

Now, constant exposure to phenol has been known to cause vomiting, difficulty swallowing, constant headaches, sudden fainting, diarrhea, vertigo, darkening of the pigmentation of the skin, and more (osha.gov).

With 50% of all reported cases involving phenol resulting in death, why would we EVER want this chemical anywhere near our homes, even in small doses!

Here are some common household products that contain phenol:
Lysol
Pine-sol
Mouthwash
Some Acne Medications

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that acute exposure to nitrobenzene results in methemogobinemia, a blood problem in which the amount of oxygen released to the tissues in your body is reduced. This leads to tiredness, dizziness and headaches, and at higher exposure can lead to bluish-gray skin, vision impairment, or coma. Other affects of chronic exposure include liver damage.

There is evidence that nitrobenzene also affects the male reproductive system. This was shown in tests done with rats where their testis significantly decreased in size, however, since this only occurred when the highest doses were given to the rats, and  no human evidence was found, it was not included in the list of risks given to the public. Methemogobinemia resulted at the lowest of doses which is why it is listed in the risks of the chemical.

Here are some common household products that contain nitrobenzene:
Pesticides
Paint
Floor and furniture polish

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In my bathroom, under the sink you can find a bottle of Listerine Mouthwash, which does in fact contain PHENOL.

Now, I very rarely use this mouthwash if ever, but my boyfriend uses it daily...

Think about it, mouthwash goes in your mouth where your skin is absorbing the chemicals, and then of course there's the few times you accidentally swallow a little bit. Think back to the effects of just a small amount of exposure to phenol and it's scary enough for me to never allow Listerine mouthwash in my house again!

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Well, there are a ton of homemade mouthwash recipes out there on the internet that will not contain the harmful chemicals store bought mouthwash contains. You just have to try them out and find the ones you like! Yes, it might take you a little longer to do your morning or nightly routine, but you're health makes it more than worth your time...

Here are the ones I plan to try out!

BAKING SODA Mouthwash
2 ounces of distilled water
1/4 tsp baking soda or sea salt
1 drop of pure peppermint oil
1 drop of tea tree oil

http://bathnbody.craftgossip.com/diy-chemical-free-mouthwash-recipes/2011/06/17/

MINT AND HONEY Mouthwash
1 cup of distilled water
1 tsp raw honey
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
2 drops peppermint essential oil
2 drops spearmint essential oil
1 drop anise seed oil

http://www.breathmd.com/homemade-mouthwash.php





 Sources:
http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/febreze.html
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/phenol/recognition.html
http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/nitroben.html
http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0079.htm

Minimizing Energy Use

Let's say for 24 hours you minimized your use of energy as much as possible. This means unplugging everything that is not in use (even if it's turned off it's still drawing energy!). This includes microwaves, laptops, TVs, lamps, and cell phone chargers. This also means driving as little as possible, using lights only when absolutely necessary and turning them off as soon as you leave the room, reducing your use of hot water (hang dry your clothes, take shorter showers!), and trying your best to find alternatives to warming or cooling your home.

Well, for my Environmental Science class that is exactly what I had to do. I had to save energy!

So here's what I did to reduce my use of energy for 24 hours...

 I started my morning by rinsing my face with cool water and brushing my teeth with very minimal water. Then I went around and unplugged everything that wasn't being used. A couple lamps, cell phone and computer chargers, 3 TVs, a microwave, and a few other electronics. This is when I told myself I would not use my cell phone for the rest of the day. I would only answer urgent calls. I was honestly happy about this part because I really hate being on the phone! Then I ate breakfast. After breakfast I opened up all the windows in my house to air it out and get some fresh air instead of turning on the fans or AC.

Now, usually I spend a majority of the morning catching up on TV shows (lazy I know but I'm being honest), but this morning, to save energy, I decided to take my dogs outside and I invited my mom to hang out with me. I enjoyed hours of conversation with my mom, bonding with my dog, and tanning out by the pool. Then I cleaned my pool and instead of turning on pool pump, I just used a net and cleaned the pool myself.

What shocks me, is that I actually got the courage to go into the pool! Since last summer I haven't gotten into my pool because I was thinking it's too cold, but this morning I said "why not try it?!". So I jumped in, my dog went in with me, I swam a few laps and had one of the best mornings I've had in a very long time.

Unfortunately this day I had work. To save some energy I did take a very fast, cool shower. I let my hair air dry as much as possible for finishing the drying process with a blow dryer (normally I would blow dry my hair completely wet), then instead of using a straightener on my hair I just threw it up in a pony tail. Then I left to work, and I wish I could say I rode my bike, but I work 20 miles away so driving is more convenient.

I work retail so there is a lot I cannot control in my store (a lot of things need to always be plugged in, lights always need to be on all day, and we have to keep the AC running to keep it cool for customers). However, at night I turned off all of the ACs, I unplugged our microwave, turned off all of the lights that I could turn off, and unplugged the TV (any little thing helps!). This day I also made sure to take my lunch so that I wouldn't have to drive anywhere else.

I didn't get off work until 9pm.

I went straight home. All of the windows were still open so it was cool in the house, I planned on just closing the windows when it got cold. Instead of plopping on the couch and watching TV I decided to for a jog with my dog, and so I did. Let me tell you, I use to run religiously and stopped about a year ago, so this was very exciting for me to be in the mood to run again!

When I got back I took a quick cold shower and got ready for bed. Then I unplugged the fish tank light since we were no longer using it. I normally end my night watching one episode of American Dad to fall asleep to, but tonight I decided to read instead. I only ready about 20 pages before falling asleep but it was so much better than staring at a TV screen.

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After the 24 hours I considered how I felt about the changes I made to conserve energy. I felt GREAT! Not only did I spend valuable time with my family, but I spent my entire morning before work enjoying the sun, my pool, and bonding time. I went to work thinking of ways to conserve energy there. I went home and did two things I use to enjoy so much but have recently told myself I'm "too busy" to do them anymore, I went for a jog, and I started reading a book I've been dying to read. 

Everything I did during those 24 hours are things I could do everyday. I want to do it for an entire month and compare the utility bills!

I don't think there was one thing I feel I couldn't give up. I love not having to text people back, I'd love to get up on my bike more often, and I love just being outdoors every chance I get. I've actually been meaning to plant a garden and why not do it in my spare time instead of watching TV?

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What else can I do besides giving up conveniences and technology to conserve energy?

• Plant shade trees to reduce the heat in my home (I just got a free shade tree coupon!)
• Change all of my light bulbs to energy effecient light bulbs
• Buy only energy efficient appliances
• Solar heat for water
• Solar panels or wind turbines for energy
• Install good insulation to reduce heat
• Reduce air leakage around doors by using weather strips
• Install low-flow showerheads
• Buy LED lights for the holidays
• Buy shades/curtains that reflect the sun

 Everything on this list could easily be accomplished in the near future given time and money, other than the solar panels and wind turbines (they are pricey and would require  long-term payments).

What would you be willing to give up?