So I made it through the class...

What have i learned?

Honestly i don't even know where to begin.
I learned so many different aspects of sustainability from the motivation for living this way to the larger issues affecting our planet.

This class has definitely been a personal experience for me in which I have grown not only as a sustainability dude but also as a human being.

Sitting through lecture, examining slides were helpful and educational but the seminar allowed me to get my hands dirty and do the work of sustainability. I was one thing for me to learn about being sustainable, a whole nother thing to actually go out and do it.

Some of the changes in my life that I directly credit to this class are that I now compost my food wastes, I no longer drink from plastic water bottles, I'm joining sustainable youth for next year, I eat lower on the food chain, I turn off the lights when I leave the room, and I'm even more passionate about the outdoors and saving our beautiful planet.

Doing the composting project really opened my eyes to the amount of work that needs to be put in to remain sustainable. I had to shovel and dig and turn smelly rotten compost, but in the end it was worth it to have reduced my trash flow and fertilizer consumption. It was also difficult resisting drinking water from water bottles that were always around. it was always a hassel to go out of my dorm room to fill up my water bottle with water, but I still did it.

I learned a lot of skills in this class and with all that happened, sustainability will always remain close to my heart. Class reunion sometime guys.

Climbing Pt Dume...and realizing im not alone on this quest for self preservation

Okay so... I went climbing at point Dume out in malibu this saturday with theta xi and had a BLAST!

Aside from meeting more of the guys, I had an awesome time enjoying nature. So we got there and me and my friends mike and Bob went to go explore the tide pools. Its so awesome how so much life could be sustained in such a small area. Then a bunch of us set up the climbing gear and we began to climb. it was awesome. i had bought climbing shoes at the used gear sale here at the gym wooden center and they worked GREAT! REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. So i reused and i found absolutely nothing wrong with them and i saved a ton of money on my car insurance. wait climbing shoes. okay lame. but yeah, being up on that rock was amazing. You could just stop and stare out at the ocean or at the beach below you. The earth is an amazing, wonderful place that if we all took a second to stop and appreciate would be worthwhile to preserve.

On the way back we somehow started talking about sustainability and how, sustainability is really becoming much more popular. Is it because it is cool and hip, or do people genuinely realizing that we need to preserve our planet? Im sure there are those from both ends of the spectrum. However, we also talked much about what we had talked about in class, such as eating low on the food chain, the ubiquity of commercial corn, food inc, and simple living. It was awesome to hear how so many people are interested in the things that we are learning, people from all different backgrounds. We also talked about the three R's Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle and how recylcing, although a great alternative to landfills is in fact the lowest amongst those three. My friend Beth who is an agricultural economist told us that plastic bottles are only truely recycled once and then thrown away for quality issues. It made me think that, although i do recylce which is good, it would be better to never use bottles in the first place. Why dont they just put everything into aluminum cans? Plastic really is a killa'!

I had such a good time on Saturday not only because of the wonderful experience but also the confirmation i had that others care about our planet too. Thanks World!

Composting...stinkiest job ever! haha

So today I worked with Brian Hengesbaugh of Theta Xi on composting. We started our epic journey at about 430. We hopped into the trunk of a tiny suburu and drove to the botanical gardens all the while bumping and smashing oour heads on the cars ceiling. We made it to the botanical gardens to collect dead leaves, "browns" that serves to prevent molding and the buildup of excess molding. In our compost we mix in 'greens" which are basically any wet organic matter, usually from the kitchen and "browns" which are dry organic matter such as dried leaves, etc. When we got there the botanical gardens were closing... :( But we were resourceful and collected the leaves on the side...Epic. Haha there were spiders and bugs and webs all in the leaves but we got down and dirty. After filling up to large garbage bags with the dried leaves we walked back to the house and got to work on the compost. Our site is basically a large pile enclosed on all four sides by wooden pallets. so we took out all the organic matter (OMG it smelled so bad, because it was beginning to rot) and mixed it with the browns we collected. Then we put it all back in, one smelly morsel at a time. In the decaying mass were beetles, baby maggots, earwigs, and even a black widow. did I mention how bad it smelled? We hadnt mixed it for about two weeks so it was rotting and smelled like the bowels of the earth had just relieved itself. Next week were going to have to turn it over and mix it again. Were also going to have to add warm water to aid in the process. We dont use worms because we cannot effectively control the temperature in our setup. Afterwards we ate dinner and swam. YAyyyy!

Epic journey today.

Progress Report

So this last week I attended the sustainability meeting for Theta Xi and we discussed implementing solar panels on our roof to become both more sustainable and cost-efficient in the long run. It is however extremely costly with an 8 kW system costing approximately $110, 000 to purchase and install. There are however, a number of government incentives and tax breaks that help lower the costs of installing and running solar systems. Descriptions of the rebates can be found here:

http://www.recsolar.com/californiarebate.aspx

This will help out the house's electricity bill and will also set a precedent for the other Greek houses to consider installing solar panels as well. Right now we are applying to the alumni board to grant us money to go ahead with the project. We are appealing under the terms that this is a major house renovation that will benefit and save money for the fraternity in for the long run.

Also I am slowly taking over duties for composting the house's organic wastes. Brian Hengesbaugh who currently runs it is teaching me the way we do it. We alternate between a later of greens (kitchen scraps), then a layer of browns (decaying leaves which we collect from the yard) and add hot water every other week. I'm enjoying learning the ropes, but sometimes the kitchen scraps smell. But its all good, we are doing a good service. The compost we acquire goes directly to fertilizing our garden which after a recent harvest, is again in the beginning stages of growth.

I am still working on documenting all the resource activities and energy outputs of the house and will have most of it done next week.

As for getting into contact with nature, I am joining the fraternity tomorrow to go rock climbing at Pt. Dume in Malibu.

roomate issues

So Ive been trying to change my ways for the past couple of weeks now...

Instead of using water bottles I now use my canteen.
It was incredibly difficult at first. My roommate has three stacks of water bottles in our room and its always so tempting to just grab one as I run to class. But its easier now as I just keep telling myself no. I make sure to have my bottle filled so that I am not tempted to grab a pre-filled bottle. Also I leave one in my backpack and one on my desk so that it is always accessible. The only thing that bothers me though is that the one UCLA gave us tastes like metal...bleh. Any suggestions? is it okay to drink metal? lol anyone else bothered by this?

Also I am trying to convince my roommate to stop using water bottles but he wont listen. He believes that the quality of water is different between bottled water and the faucet. Which I know after taking the environmental cluster that that is seriously not true. There is a bazillion dollar markup price for bottled water compared to tap for no difference in quality or taste.

On the subject of my roommate, I am trying to get him to turn off the lights when he leaves, any suggestions? It makes me cringe whenever I come back from class and the lights are on but no one is in the room. Ive had conversations with him regarding his practices and how much better it would be to be sustainable but he is not as receptive and says I'm only doing what i do cause of the class....NOT TRUE!

Don't get me wrong though I love my room mate hes a great guy but...

Why do people leave lights on? It benefits absolutely no one and it does not take very much effort at all to turn them off. I believe that it is because the electricity in the dorms are viewed as a commons. I asked my roommate why he doesn't just turn them off and he replied because he is already paying for them so why not just leave them/ the air conditioning on. It is this flawed mentality that since UCLA is already charging us a ridiculous amount of money, might as well take advantage of it or someone else will. This is a vicious cycle. If we all spent less energy we would pay less for utilities and maybe decrease the cost of housing. Also it is just morally responsible to preserve the Earth, she is our home.

Why do we call Earth a she anyway? that's sexist. just kidding shes motherly. and that's exactly the point, the Earth cares for us and we in turn should appreciate her.

So it is going to be my goal not only to reform myself but also my roommate!

Ahhh I wish everyone could take this class. Tonight I am going to Theta Xi's sustainability meeting to discuss the possible installation of solar panels onto our roof. Super excited for that. I am also going to be taking over the composting for Theta Xi and as good as that is...its SMELLY! haha

Radically Cool Simplicity

"A path without a hear is never enjoyable. You have to work hard even to take it. On the other hand, a path with a hear is easy; it does not make you work at liking it."

-Don Juan from the Wiseacre Chapter of RS

This quote started off the wiseacre chapter of RS which examined the motivation and joy with which one lives more sustainably. It is difficult, if not nearly impossible, to live a sustainable life if one simply does not care to do so. With America's fast food and disposable economy/ society it is far to tempting to be wasteful. Internally one needs the drive to preserve the planet in order to do so.
So....

Before Radical Simplicity and this class, I was simply not motivated enough to live sustainably. I had all the means to do so stainless steel bottles, bicycle, whole foods gift card (just kidding), but I never used them. It was always so much easier just to pick up a water bottle then to wait and fill up my canteen. It was so much quicker hopping into the car then to walk or bike. Simply put, i was lazy and didn't see anything wrong with that. In ten years I see myself in an apartment with a girlfriend or friend with whom to share meals and living space. It would most likely be in an upscale location close to where I work. We would probably each have a car no garden as we would be far to busy to maintain one. We would eat out probably once a week and leave the apartment on weekends to travel and explore. I see myself eventually using my canteens more often and trying to be more sustainable. I also could see myself as pessimistic of all the other people not living sustainably. This pessimism would have led me to feel that I needed to partake in Earth's destruction or else I would lose out on planet Earth. I see myself driving everywhere, leaving the water running when I brush my teeth, and not educating my younger peers on preserving the Earth. I see myself as believing that Earth needs to be preserved but always waiting for someone to take the lead in revolutionizing America. I see myself identifying more with America's wasteful side than with the growing trend towards "green living"

But after taking this class/reading this book/ meeting inspirational people...
i know most importantly that if I want to see change and to lead a wholesome sustainable life. I need to take initiative. No one is going to baby me and remind me to turn off the lights, its all up to me. Earth should not be viewed as a commons but more like a home. If we destroy our home, we wont have any place to live. Something in me has clicked, and I realized that i need to be the change I want to see. Now I see myself in ten years leading a more sustainable lifestyle. I see my modest home surrounded on four sides by lush guardians and natural forest ecosystems. I see myself content with my efforts and more in touch with mother nature and her bounty. I recently took a walk in the botanical gardens here at UCLA, as it is my "secret spot" and reaffirmed how much I love nature and all she has to offer. I want a life where I wake up to the sound of birds and other critters and not to the sound of gnarled traffic and machinery. There is nothing worse than living a life void of escape. My material goal of the future is to cut back on the amount I spend. There is no need for excess. In ten years I see myself growing a multi tiered garden in a small home within biking distance of my work place so as to avoid driving and adding fossil fuels. However, I do not see myself trying to earn less or spending less on health care. Also I would still incorporate protein into my diet and eating out. I want to be sustainable but I don't want to give up the things I enjoy doing. I enjoy socializing and hitting up the town. I enjoy traveling and will carpool with friends to places. (If I own a car, it will be very fuel efficient.) We will go camping together and whatnot. I would also drive to visit my parents as we are really close. I will also definitely stop using plastic bottles. I will incorporate sustainable technology into my home such as solar panels, green roofs, and proper insulation. If I ever have kids I will make sure that they are taught not to waste and to appreciate the earth. Overall, in ten years I see myself progressed much from where I am today. It is my goal to see that happen.

As inspiring as radical simplicity is, I could never imagine myself living that way. Merkel leads a life I could never imagine myself living. As much as I would like to help out others, I want stability and security especially in my income and health care. I have invested far to much energy into gaining an education to not continue on to a good paying job. I want to be able to support my family and give my children a childhood where they are allowed to go to Disneyland and to other states. In summary I think that he goes to far because it would be difficult to support a family with his lifestyle. Much as nature serves as an escape for people living in the city, so too might the city be for those living in nature. I think that a balance between the two lifestyles is what is necessary. I believe that in order to create change, we need to work within the system and not on the outskirts. People I am sure are willing to change some aspects of their lives, but not very many I believe are willing to give it all up to live radically simple. As cool and ideal as simple living is, parts of it are for me and yet other parts are not. All the more power to those who can though. You guys are awesome.

my ecological dinosaur footprint!

So my calculated ecological footprint is terrible...absolutely terrible. 43.75 acres.

This makes me terribly sad especially as I have always considered myself not wasteful.
Most of my footprint just as my trash came from my food consumption. Especially taxing of this category was my consumption of protein. Protein sources (pork, chicken, turkey, beef, fish) alone accounted for 79,140 sq yds or 64.4% of my food footprint. I consume so much protein because of my workout regiment which requires me to consume a third of my calories from protein. It is interesting to note that even with only a third of my diet, protein accounts for almost two-thirds of my footprint. I believe this is so because sources of protein are higher up in the food chain and require more processing, effort, and resources to harvest. One needs to not only feed the animal but also transport it, care for it, give it space to roam, and ultimately process it. This requires a lot of energy so it makes sense that protein is so taxing on the environment. One positive factor in my food consumption was that I did not consume any margarine (FF of 1208) which was both beneficial to my health and preserved the environment.

For my monthly housing footprint the major contributor to my footprint was the use of energy from the grid. It wasn't that it had a particularly high footprint factor but that the majority of my energy came from this source. Also to note that because my dorm room is so small as well as being relatively new, I was able to save square footage and conserve more resources. My transportation footprint was based on my travels with my floor mate who has a car. Because he had a car, I rarely ever used the bus system which is less convenient but more beneficial for the environment. Gasoline as expected was a major factor in my footprint. Of my goods and services education had the biggest role not because I used too many resources but mainly because as a student I am always in school. I feel like my monthly stocks footprint is lower than the average American because I do not have much furniture in my petite dorm room. my waste was high due to rampant use of disposable items such as paper napkins and plastic bottles.

In comparison to the average American I am wayyyyyyy over! In fact I use 182.30% more acres and if everyone lived the way I did we would need 9.31 new planets to support ourselves. This is terrible news. However I feel iffy on my findings. I don't eat that much more, I don't have a car, I live in a minuscule dorm room, I recycle, I am attempting to eliminate my use of water bottles, and I am conscientious (not necessarily 100% pursuing) of my goals in sustainable living. However as the numbers add up, I surely am a villainous waster of our planets resources. I am sure that such actions come from the university's bountiful resources being established as commons. In the dining hall food is virtually limitless with one swipe of a bruin card. There are no repercussions for wasted food. In the dorms utilities are paid for and so there is no limit on the amount of energy or hot water used. The resources of the university presents a challenge: limit one's usage.

I plan on reducing...big time.

my short term goal, which I hope to achieve by the end of this quarter is to:
-eat lower on the food scale
-waste less food
-stop using plastic water bottles
-turning the sink off when I brush my teeth
-riding my bike to places i need to go
-Also I will limit my usage in all of the other categories except education...I will not drop out of school.

my medium term goal is also my final project:
-I will be living in the Theta Xi fraternity house and will hopefully take over the position of sustainability chair. I am currently beginning to look after the compost bin on the lot.
-I will also seek to expand my knowledge by educating the other brothers on how to live sustainably within the house.
-I will continue to expand my efforts on my short term goals

For my long term goal I will:
-work to cement the sustainable practices I developed into my day to day life.
-I will spread my knowledge and help others to lead better lives in an ecological sense.
-I will do more community service that aids the environment such as restoration and spreading awareness.


I believe that such practices are without a doubt doable. Going green is not that hard (at times) It wont take much effort to eat all the food on my plate before getting a new one, nor would it take much more time filling up my aluminum water bottle than cracking open and eventually discarding a plastic one. These changes aren't so difficult, it is just difficult to ingrain it into our daily lives and mentalities. I will work hard to change my outlook and on my wastefulness and hopefully the rest will follow.