The Theme for this year’s Earth day -22^nd April21 is Restore our Earth.  While a lot of serious activities/ deliberations  by various bodies  will be taking place, here is a small symbolic participation .

In the first flush of lockdowns when things were a bit unpredictable about supply chains one went back to conserving ,as if supplies are rationed. The fact that supply chains were resilient after initial logistical hick ups  was a pleasant surprise .  On the occasion of Earth day , conserve, recycle, sustainable  are mottos for most of us and  how to reduce carbon footprints at individual and societal levels , have a sustainable living continue to be  imperatives. Many other more challenging aspects such as intergenerational equity etc. There are many well designed carbon footprint calculators/ guides to reduce carbon footprints  for students, citizens , those linked to diets, lifestyles and so on. So while technological innovation will hopefully strive to correct the existing deficiencies and come up hopefully, with more planet friendly ones ,reducing or being conscious of carbon footprints may help our world. Thinking of the old proverb “little drops of water make  a mighty ocean…. Or I believe in  Tamil they say-siru thulli, perum vellam (small drops and finally a flood )

In a lighter yet serious vein –starting a wiki with my kitchen my house carbon footprint guide &  wishlists- please join…

                                                                                    Carbon footprint  saving/impacts

*Rice and dal washing water first rinse-            best fertilizer for greens and flowers=    

                                                                                  carbon reduction    equivalent  =  inorganic

                                                                            fertilizer for 7  pots (  1tsp=  5gms.savings  gms x24 x 100pots 

*Karu vadams/ mangodis/  vadis  (in hindi)made with veggie peels skins

 e.g. carrots potatoes ,watermelon rind ,greens stalks  ,pulses                   nutrient protein fibre equivalent 

                                                                                                                      1/4kg pulses + 100gms veggies ,

                                                                                                                      =savings natural resources.

*Stock from veggie peels  as base for nice soups and broth           nutrition for free- vermicompost’s loss!

(believe called potlikker in the usa)

*Vinegar bottles  ( or soft drink plastic bottles)                          vertical garden containers -upscale  recycle

*Rinse or  soap   ?                                                                                 balance cleanliness with water useage  

*Boil water or filter    ?                                                                                    

Energy users                                         

*Microwave (1200watts/hr) vs oven (2400/hr)or gas    

*A/C  (1.5 tons -1500watts/hr) vs khus  mats cooler  Vs watering garden terraces in evenings                                     cools in house temperature by 1  degree

*Washing machine (500watts/hr).Dryer-(3000watts/hr)                            Air/sun  clothesline drying

*Refridgerator (4320watts/hr) and CFL bulb-14watts/hr vs incandescent – 60watts/hr and so on

(Source-https://blog.arcadia.com/electricity-costs-10-key-household-products/)    BUT

*Laptops- only 60watts/hr charging

*Cell phones need  only 2-6 watts  for charging               BUT Ewaste- 80% of mobile components are

                                                                                                       Recyclable but  looks like 90% find way into

                                                                                                          landfills leaching  toxicity

(Waste mobile phones s and waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) are listed as one of hazardous wastes by the U.S., European Union, China, and other nations)

(https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-25400-0.pdf?origin=ppub)

*Materials Audit -Reviews required of all non biodegradable materials. Plus

 Quest for new /old biodegradable recycleable materials

Thermocule ban? Alternative useage of production facilities

*Cardboard   and kraft  paper useage  for  packaging.       plant trees forest cover- replenishment rate?     

                                                                       24 trees make 1 ton of paper (1  tree takes 10- 20 years  to grow)

*Building materials- alternatives to river sand?

* Laurie Baker for low cost housing  – adaptation for sustainable high rises??? Or is that a ridiculous thought

*Water aquifers ala  ones at Fatehpur Sikri                        reduce energy costs for cooling

*Scalable Alternatives to insulating materials-                 reduce non biodegradable footprints

                                                                                                 polyeurothene foam, asbestos,….

WIKI    Restore the Earth…Please add or Draw up your own table n share -.