CAN I MAKE SOMETHING VERY CLEAR: Contrails are scientific. The conspiracy theory calling them "chemtrails" is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT and obviously goofy and nonsense. I am talking about the scientific and factual consequence on the earth, NOT the stupid theory that these trails are actually filled with mind bending chemicals put in there by the government to control people. I mean honestly, do you really think I would be spewing nonsense about conspiracy theories on here? Contrails are not a conspiracy. "chemtrails" are. I can't believe I have to explain this considering I didn't even talk about chemtrails or the conspiracy. what is the internet coming to?
What do you di for your job? Just asking bc I think some jobs can make it a bit difficult to be minimalistic and bring your own reusable items. I used to work at a hospital and due to the pandemic I couldn't bring my reusable bottle to my work.
I live in the woods and it is 300 meters into the woods from the village road, I have solar panels, because that is the only way for me to have electricitybut we (me and my partner and 2 cats) live so so simple, we colect rain water, we have small garden with vegetables and fruits, I wash by hand my laundry, I make my own laundry detergent , my deo creme, my dish detergent, I composted everything , I have composted bucket toilet etc etc and we are very happy, we dont see people so often, that is a blessings :-) Great video
@@Jessica-5827 maybe one day We will, now we are still working, hard work, we have lots of land ( 20 000 meters) and we want that one day people can come and enjoy the silent, sleep, rest, listen to the birds and so on..... (sorry for my english, I live in Istria- Croatia)
This video got me thinking and I'm going to pitch this to the company I work for: every year, we celebrate National (u.s.) Customer Service Month with, among other things, giving each employee a gift. Past gifts have been umbrellas, drink tumblers, etc. I'm going to suggest that we give a glass dish with cover that employees can use to bring their lunches OR take their lunches in at our employee restaurant. And ask for a discount at the restaurant for those employees who use it. Crossing fingers!
That's such a good idea! I am trying to start a committee at work around low impact living and would love to get our recognition teams on board with this too!
I don't know anyone who's even trying to reduce their impact and to be honest I gave up talking to people about it. I got tired of being told I'm weird and to stop ranting and stop being difficult. I've enough to be dealing with as it is without people swearing at me to shut the f*** up. I just do my own thing and don't engage with people much.
I am sorry to hear this. Do not be put off by all the ignorant imbeciles that shout you down about environmental issues. You are wiser and good for you. It is better to be a loner rather than having toxic people in life that criticise one. Look after yourself and al the best. King greetings.
Same! I am not at all militant about environmental issues, but I do like to talk about them and try to live by example. But it's extremely frustrating being laughed at or told you're being ridiculous. Part of my eco anxiety comes from how alienating living sustainably can be 😓
I find that it’s better to think of yourself as more of a role model than an educator. You don’t need to tell anyone about sustainability unless it comes up in your discussion or when making plans with them. Most people were raised to be very selfish, but they REALLY don’t like to think of themselves in that way. I believe that people are good at heart, so they really want to believe that they do good. So when you talk to them about how unsustainable their lifestyle is, it’s like hitting them in the face with a frying pan. Their ill-formed conscience starts to wonder if they are doing wrong, which is a painful experience and then their ego, which wants to cling to their wasteful ways (because they are convinced these ways will make them happy), reacts to this by being super aggressive to you. However, if you are instead just a positive role model, and occasionally you very modestly and kindly bring up things you are doing for the planet, it is more like a constant, gentle poking on their forehead. They start to slowly rethink their selfish attitude, and hopefully do not react too negatively to you. You will lose a lot of friends if you try to convert people. If you’d rather be alone then hang out with people who ignore the climate crisis, then your approach is the right one. But I think it’s actually more effective and more rewarding for you to be compassionate to people who do so little for the environment. They are a product of their upbringing and their personal circumstances. And for most human beings, change is a painfully slow process. Be grateful that you have been graced with a heart and mind that makes you care about the future of the planet and our species. You had a certain set of experiences that educated you in a very different way from most, and made you more open-hearted and willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Not everyone is so fortunate, and that doesn’t make them terrible people, even if they do tell you to “shut the f*** up”. You might be so rude too if you had just been hit in the face with a frying pan.
RE: electric cars: I'm in a research fellowship with someone who's doing research on this topic. And granted, this is US-based data. But the gist of his findings are that electric cars (especially if you buy used) are not much or even any more expensive than buying an internal combustion (IC) car, and the maintenance and fueling costs are significantly lower (electricity in America anyway being far cheaper than gas for the same distance driving, especially with newer more efficient models of electric cars). Also, because there are far fewer moving parts, electric cars tend to be far more reliable and cheaper to run over time if properly operated and maintained, have far fewer toxic chemicals to leak out, don't release gasoline fumes into the air every time they're fueled and (obviously) don't produce exhaust outside of what is produced to make the electricity (which, if you're getting yours through an ethical, green source, will be virtually negligible). And a lot of the things people fear most about them (getting stranded, not having good distance per charge) have mostly been worked out technologically so that for commuters they're comparable to IC cars. Of course, they do have their issues. The lithium issue is a biggie, as is the reliance of our current grid on fossil fuels and the proper disposal/recycling of their batteries. And yes, if you have to drive long distances you do have to make sure you know ahead of time where you can plug in. But they are a better option for the planet in the long run (especially with renewable energy on the uptick). So I personally feel it's better to go electric and use that consumer influence to increase pressure on corporations to solve those challenges than sticking with even more problematic IC vehicles and prolonging the influence of the gas and oil industries until the electric models are perfect.
That is great! Unfortunately, my city has bumped up the tax for owning one to $250/month, making it more difficult to afford to own one, which is extremely sucky and horrible for them to do in fear of losing money on fossil fuels. It is extremely frustrating.
CJ Sweets Ugh that’s disgusting. May I ask which city? Also thank you to OP for all this great info! My next car once my current one finally gives out will definitely be an electric or at least a hybrid.
I love your comment, very interesting read. Here's my take on the electric car, not a research but my own thoughts on the matter relating to my lifestyle. I live in rural Ireland and need the car to move about. Electric car is a no go due to the cost and lack of charging points. We have one 15 minutes drive away and another two an hour's drive in a totally opposite direction so charging the car would be an issue. I would love a hybrid but even second hand they are really expensive. My own car is 21 years old. She's my first car, bought 5 years ago for less than €600 and I still can't afford to replace her if she broke down as I don't work due to disability. My boyfriend has a diesel van for work. He does a lot of driving between jobs (he's in construction) so again, charging would be a problem, especially since he wouldn't be able to sit around waiting for it to charge. Van is second hand as well. He couldn't afford new one either. I'm all for ditching fossil fuels but simply switching to electric or even hybrid is not that straightforward.
@@AdrianaOrtiz-ff7mx It's Chicago. This city is really bad at providing sustainable options. There's hardly any bulk stores around where I live, and it's super hard to own an electric car because of the taxes that come with it (not to mention there aren't that many locations to plug one in). We can't even live off the grid, they made it illegal to do so (I'm unsure if it is like that in other cities? Please correct me if I'm wrong). Our city is already so polluted, and it's so cold of them to avoid any hope at fixing that issue under the fear of losing that $. It just really frustrates me, as I'd really like to live more sustainably and contribute more to the low waste lifestyle but they're making it harder than it should be
In terms of water usage, it makes a lot of sense to focus on what foods you are consuming. Some foods need a Lot more water in production than others, and learning/being mindful of that can make a big impact in terms of how much water is being used
Clothing, too. Cotton is so water-intensive that growing it is basically an environmental catastrophe wherever it is done. Look up the disappearance of the Aral Sea: Formerly the world's 4 largest lake - it is almost entirely gone due largely to cotton irrigation (not to mention the fact that the growers still use slave labor to harvest it). See also: fashion in general, as the industry basically uses a tenth of all water used for industrial purposes, and very wastefully so since most of the clothes produced end up in a landfill within a year. www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/sustainable-fashion-blog/2014/oct/01/cotton-production-linked-to-images-of-the-dried-up-aral-sea-basin
Our kitchen tap drips for a while after it's been used, so my parents have always kept a bowl under it to catch the water. That bowl of water is used for removing etiquettes from wine bottles and stamps from envelopes (my dad collects etiquettes and stamps) or watering plants (My mom grows plants).
I really like the nuanced way in which you try and approach these topics. For example when you speak about electric cars and you make sure to mention that being able to buy that kind of car is a major privilige. It shows how important intersectionality is within activism!
Car clubs could be an option to consider for those who don't need a car all the time but could do with one occasionally. In the UK there is one that offers electric cars (& a van!) - E-Car Club. Seems to be quite local unfortunately... London, Bath/Bristol, Oxford area, Manchester, Cambridge and a few areas in Scotland. I'm guessing there might be more but not had a chance research further. Obviously walking/cycling is better, but sometimes not viable.
Co-wheels is another (available in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Perth, Huntly and Dunbar as well as in various areas all over England; nothing in Wales or Northern Ireland I am afraid). I haven't used them but I have heard from others that it is really good. They have mainly electric cars from what I can tell, and are testing hydrogen ones in Aberdeen www.co-wheels.org.uk/locations
I think investing in a compost bin or a wormery is great to reduce our impact on the earth. You can cut up non-glossy paper and cardboard to use as bedding, and put all garden waste in for bedding too. Then all your fruit and vegetable waste can go in, along with anything natural (any hair, nails etc are fair game). We love ours. I even empty all my tea leaves and coffee grounds in there too. Then I use the digested contents to grow potatoes for my family the following year. Then all the “soil” left is used to top the following years wormery waste to stop any smells.
Thanks so much for watching! Here are the links to some of the videos mentioned: How to stop funding climate change: ruclips.net/video/RskF6y3xn34/видео.html New Scientist Article: www.newscientist.com/article/dn20304-contrails-warm-the-world-more-than-aviation-emissions/ Tiff Ferg's Video: ruclips.net/video/Q21-efJs7yE/видео.html College students on climate change and activism: ruclips.net/video/EVW1rjyMx9U/видео.html
Lovely video and so pleasing to watch. Makes me really happy that I don't own a car, use public transport and do staycations frequently 😊 Also a great way to lower your impact is going vegan, or at least limiting your animal product consumption. Thanks for sharing!
You can reuse pasta water in sauces to make them smoother or use it in soups or for making stock with vegetable scraps or you can use it to steam vegetables or dumplings
I'm surprised to see that I already do most of these things. A lot of the time I feel like I'm not doing anything or not enough. I'm definitely working on the food waste part, which I find quite hard. I didn't fly at all this year but am planning on doing some trips next year. 2 of those will probably be by plane, because no train will go to NYC :D We are getting rid of our car end of the year and only use public transport or car sharing. That works really well in our city.
As usual a wonderful video. Something I have been doing for quite some time at home and work is filling up the kettle with the amount of water I actually need and checking if anyone else at home or work wants a hot drink. If the kettle at work already has water in it and more then I need,I leave it and still boil it because tipping the excess water down the sink seems pointless. Sometimes I touch the kettle at work to see if it has been boiled so I don't have to boil it, if it's hot to touch.
Great tips. I underestimated the social aspect for some time. But by now so many people have adopted things that I started in my circle of friends (and vice versa obs 😅). I'd like to add two things: get a low flow shower head. They are cheap and save a lot of energy because you need to heat less water. And mine paid for itself in less than one year. So especially do it if on a budget. And find out the standby power usage of your appliances and devices that are always plugged in. I did that with a 10 bucks energy monitor thingy you plug between power outlet and device. Lowered my electricity bill by 150 kWh (or 40 bucks).
Thanks for always inspiring me! I came from Finland to Austria for an exchange semester by ferry and train, took me three days but it was a fun adventure for sure! And with an interrail ticket is was about the same price as the flight would have been. I’m definitely flying home on Christmas because I don’t have the time to take the train again, but at least I was flying one less time I guess. And when I’m travelling during this semester I’m only going by train. Love u
Next year I'm planning to go live in a Van, and the talk about electrical car is in my head lately. There are companis start producing electrical vans. But there is that about the bateries and everything that goes in the building of this kind of Van, the price it is really high and is not produce in Brazil, so would need to be shipped here, and that is a lot of miles of transportation. So the only way I could have one is to get a partnership with the company. Just the thinking of traveling with no emission is awesome, but then I don't know how long I would need to travel to compensate for the impact of production and transportation of tha vehicle. Another possibility is a second hand van using some less impact motor like natural gas or alcohol. In any case there are impacts! It is really a puzzle! Thanks for the video always inspiring!!
How is the biodiesel industry in Brazil? You would get the high-power, high-life-mileage and high-gas-mileage benefits of diesel, but using a renewable fuel source (with a properly-designed system, you could even just operate on straight filtered used oil from restaurants, which they often have to pay to get rid of).
Thank you for these tips! Regarding purchasing new cars: when I sought a car to replace my ailing one, I wanted a pre-owned vehicle but the car dealership offered a financing option that beat all other financial institutions. My plan is to save so that I can pay cash for my next vehicle, which will give me more options. I am in the United States.
Such a good video! I’m so over seeing the videos that list ways to live more sustainably but they all list the same things: reusable bags, bulk shop, shampoo bars, reusable water bottle, bring your own coffee cup... things that most low-waste RUclipsr talk about over and over. But this video provided great new ideas to consider! Thank you!
1. make your home more efficient ( electrically) with a smart device 2. switch your lightbulbs to more efficient ones 3. switch your energy provider ( to a more green one/ hybrid one) 4. switch to a bank who invests into ethical causes 5. reduce food waste 6. use public transport 7. share a ride ( car share )/ or buy an electric car ( if you can afford it) ( second hand is best) 8. fly less ( if you can) ( maybe one less time) 9. get engaged politically and in your group /family/ friends 10. save water/ recycle water
Hi Immy, great vlog x I have learnt so much from you. I want to start replacing my bed and bedding as both are on their last legs. Would you be able to do a vlog on how/where to buy ethical/vegan beds and bedding please or can you point me in the direction of any information on this subject? I know second hand is always the first option but I'm looking for products that are sustainable and are going to last for a long time. Thank you x
I drive a Ford Fiesta 1.0L ecoboost, it has stop start which I always use wherever I’m going and I’m constantly dropping/picking people up I work with as well as friends and family. I make sure I don’t have stuff in my car and in my boot that doesn’t need to be in there so I save on fuel that way. It’s not the best car/way to be but it’s better than nothing 😊
Good video. I think you highlighted the issues around cars very well because it is an genuinely difficult area and one I've struggled with. One major issue is the embodied emissions when a new car is made so pointing up the benefits of buying second hand is very good advice. Another issue, related to that, is how many miles in a new electric car would you have to do before the embodied emissions were cancelled out. There is also the separate but related issue of air quality and older diesel cars are an issue here. Mike Berners Lee advocates getting rid if you have an older diesel and do a lot of urban miles, otherwise if you have a small petrol car, make it last and consider an EV when it's time to change. Difficult to do the right thing here!
Thank you as always for the awesome video. Just wanted to let you know that thanks to your inspiration, i will talk to my principal about environmental improvements in our school. So thank you for all the work you do! 💗
Aircrafts are sustainable bc they are the epitome of the safest mode of mass public transportation- Contrails are short for Condensation Trails, its dumped water from the exhaust system. Water is the biggest threat to an aircraft engine therefore it must be dumped overboard. At those high altitudes they become Ice crystals so that creates the look of a trail or cloud. The only thing that I've found in aviation that is not safe are the chemicals such as Skydrol which is a hydraulic fluid produced by Monsanto. It's a bit of a catch 22 bc the use of these chemicals has allowed us to make these strides in technological advancements. An aircraft cannot be flown solely on electricity. So yes you can say take one less flight, but the airlines fly whether every seat is booked or not vs ride sharing, etc. makes an immediate impact.
Major Canadian cities all have decent public transport. I live in Ottawa and use the bus system all the time. My partner and I dont even own a car. Thinking of buying one on the next 5 or so years and will likely go for a used hybrid cause gas is so pricey.
I'm actually switching banks right now! I love how this list is so doable but the actions can have a huge effect. Those are the types of things that appeal more to me than (some!) zero waste-esque "micro-actions" that just end up feeling like they're policing your life and making you feel inadequate and not even having as broad an effect as other things would for the same or less amount of energy. The electric car situation is interesting. Ever since that book you recommended, "How Bad Are Bananas?" (I borrowed it from my library!) mentioned embedded emissions in products I've been really appreciating secondhand shopping even more - especially for resource- and emission-intensive things like cars). I always like these kinds of videos.
Thanks so much for your feedback! It’s always good to hear when something or an idea is working ! Yeah cars are an interesting one and I still have so much to read up on and learn - probs another video coming on that!
Hi! You mentioned how lithium ion batteries hurt Native American communities. I am actually interested in this. Would you mind elaborating on that more or sending some links so I can read more about it. Loved the video!! Thank you!!
www.wired.co.uk/article/lithium-batteries-environment-impact here is a good article explaining what she meant about the lithium batteries. I believe she meant the harm that it causes native communities in several countries, not just America.
Catherine Dianne National Geographic also has a great article online: „www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/02/lithium-is-fueling-technology-today-at-what-cost/„
I don't know how effective this is, but I've gotten into the habit of turning the faucet handle about half as far as it'll go. This makes the water come out in a smaller force, which hopefully helps conserve it if I just need to wash my hands. The water in my building gets super hot if you use it for even a short while, so my primary motivation was to not burn my hands as I wash them, but hopefully it conserves a bit of water too. If you're filling up a container with a specific amount of water then I don't think this applies, but if you're cleaning or rinsing something it might be useful... I think.
You mentioned you didn't know how much smart devices were but I just wanted to mention that part of a (uk) government initiative means that you can get a smart meter for free (from any energy provider) to monitor your energy use
If biodiesel is made of plants that can be used as food too, I see that a bit problematic. Biodiesel can also be made of palm oil. Luckily I live in a place where biodiesel is made from industrial sidestreams:)
In terms of food waste: if you have outdoor space, you can buy a wormery for cooked food (if you can't escape producing waste for whatever reason) that you can't compost. Lil' worms nibble your cooked food and turn it into compost. Then, at least, it is not completely going to waste. Here's a link: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=726 😄
Very informative video, as usual! Keep up the good work :) I don't know if you take requests, but it would be great if you could make a video about good things that are going on in terms of climate change, whether that be local initiatives or policies. I very rarely come across videos like this, and some good news are always inspiring and uplifting!
Great points mentioned. This past weekend here in Switzerland, the Green Political Party had great results so lets hope for more green issues being implemented here. Luckily we have a very dense and reliable public transport system All the best.
I appreciate the realistic suggestions that acknowledge that not everyone is set up to buy a Tesla or stop flying altogether. I think flying and visiting other countries is important on a human level so that we learn about others' points of view. I know I've learned to think beyond myself when I travel. And I saw a video somewhere that buying a Tesla (or similar) is better than buying a gas powered car even with its environmental impact as long as you don't discard your perfectly good car just to get an electric car. And getting involved in politics may magnify your impact since politicians make the laws that promote or hinder measures to relieve climate change.
Great inspo just what I need. It can feel v overwhelming however it is so important. I do find if I had money I could b better. For example choosing environment friendly products for home DIY -Eco paints, AAA nu appliances in the kitchen, hybrid car, clothes. So we just have to keep going and do our best. Get educated and political. We need government on board to make the big decisions -switching to electric cars, banning wasteful plastic products, fast fashion. Thanks to the young generation I believe this will happen. Be kind and inclusive with this journey✨
I only have one energy provider in my region. But I’m fortunate that they are committed to phasing out natural gas in favor of less environmentally taxing energy sources. And for flying, we only take a trip to see family once every three years. That’s the trouble with family living on the other side of the world. If we go visit family across the country, we actually take the train vs driving.
I'm very fortunate to have a husband who is a master mechanic so we can have multiple secondhand vehicles to fit all of our driving needs. We live in very rural Texas, and if I'm going to the grocery store by myself I don't need to take the big vehicle that fits all five of us. Instead I can take the itty bitty compact car. I'm trying to get the town to improve the roads by adding sidewalks so that one day I can bike to the store instead.
In my country Finland, cities collect a lot of bio waste from citizens and farms, and it's used to create bio gass for power. Bio gass cars and some big buildings are using it. It costs 2000€ to convert a benzin car into a benzin-gass hybrid, that starts with benzin and runs with gass. Then you get a 1000€ refund from the authorities, so the end cost is only 1000€. You can fuel them with bio gass in the Southern half of the country and use benzin in Lapland or emergencies. Bio gass cars' greenhouse gass emissions are on equal level to electric cars. It's a no-brainer. We should move from benzin and diesel cars to benzin-gass and diesel-electric hybrids. Together with improving railway, buss and tram connections, and providing public bicycles, I'm sure cutting the traffic emissions in half in the next ten years is possible.
It is the same in Estonia. Also the bio gas and CNG in general are a lot cheaper than petrol which is always a bonus :) in Estonia they are building more and more bio gas and CNG stations all over the country. So it is actually very convinient as well. I drive a secondhand petrol and CNG/bio gas hybrid car and would highly recommend :)
@@trynx127 That's very cool! I wish bio gass hybrids were more talked about in Finland. There is a supply and it's very convenient for many but people aren't very aware of it.
Ah that’s only because I wanted to focus much more on reducing food waste before composting as a last resort. Of course composting is still great but if we can lower the amount we have to compost first then that’s a really great place to start!
I'm somewhat skeptical of claims about the amount of food waste individuals generate. I grow a lot of my own food and compost everything I don't eat, but I still generate food waste. You can't really eat banana peels, onion skins, the ends of carrots, celery, or heads of lettuce, squash skins, fruit and vegetable stems, apple cores, etc. I freeze a lot of scraps and use them to make my own vegetable stock, but even then they're still headed for the compost. Yes, of course people do throw away leftovers, let food go bad, etc., and we should be more mindful of that. But I'm guessing a large portion of waste people are being made to feel guilty about is fairly unavoidable.
Sustainably Vegan thank you for replying, I appreciate what your doing but most people are unaware just how incredibly harmful the methane created by putting food waste in landfill is. I believe it contributes as much as air travel to the average persons CO2 omissions. Not mentioning it is akin to talking to a group who have never heard about recycling or don’t understand why it’s an improvement on throwing things on the street but simply telling them to reduce their consumption. Food waste is also a huge area of concern upstream as well. Personally I believe it should be illegal for companies to put food waste in landfill but for this to happen we need people to support such a campaign which they’re not going to do without understanding the importance of composting for the health of our atmosphere and soil.
Another tip for flying less is making one flight trip for more than one purpose. Make that flight count for more than one visit especially if it’s in the same country or nearby countries because you can always opt for non flying transport such as trains, coaches, ride sharing with other people (think old fashioned horse drawn coaches where you had to share coaches with other people!). Obviously opt for trains over planes when you can afford it! Do a pit stop in the middle of the train journey for a day trip in a new place, if you have the time for it. :D
My husband has always aged for our cars and we drive them forever. I don't drive often and try to combine my tasks like a Dr appointment with shopping and other apartments and plan my route so not to waste gas.we own a Prius and it gets 50 miles to a gallon. I try and offer neighbors rides or offer to pick up items while I'm out shopping to save them trips out.
if anyone could give me some insight on this that’d be great. my family NEVER flies. i mean never. i think i’ve only taken 3 or 4 trips on an airplane in my entire life (i’m 18). so, when my family decides to go on trips we always drive (since we can’t afford to fly five people). but i know that driving is also bad for the environment. so does driving from washington state all the way to southern california actually have a smaller impact than flying that distance? i don’t know the science behind it..
Hi Chloe, using this calculator (www.carbonfootprint.com) and an example journey from Seattle, Washington to San Diego, California: one-way flight = 0.23 tonnes of CO2, versus a one-way drive in average petrol car = 0.36 tonnes of CO2.
It’s hard to prevent people from flying nowadays with all the cheap airlines that offer flights for like 10-50 euros to go to the other side of Europe. Whereas traveling by train could take days and it’s so expensive, especially here in Germany. The bus travel is also cheaper but it’s so uncomfortable.
This is such a great video! Where talking about electric cars...the problem is that so much more complicated considering at least the cost and waste of replacing the entire electrical network in the city. I live in a second world country in east Europe, so I am not sure that the network is an issue in first world countries. Secondarily, I know that where I live, the electricity is sooo mixed that there is no real way of knowing if any provider gives you green energy. So how it works here is: every producers poors energy into a hub and any distributor takes from than hub. Here the EU makes us to have 20% of the electricity in the hub to be green. Maybe in the UK stuff are different!
Hello! I love your videos for many years now, and I'm sad about the Tesla batteries, I was so excited to see more of them out there! About water recycling, how do you implement that living in a flat? Thank you!!
Does anyone know if there is research showing the best options for flying (i.e. what airline, time to fly, direct vs. multi-leg flights, plane size, etc)? I know there are orgs you can book through to offset emissions, but I'm wondering if there is more around planning.
I have a bad feeling about still banking with Chase. Do they invest in fossil fuels? Should I switch over to a credit union? It does feel a little inconvenient to transfer my funds over to a whole other bank, and I have credit cards open with them as well.
Nowadays it's quite often a matter of "balance" if i may say. Electric cars are a good alternative, but mainly due the battery making procedure it sheds a stain on it from being a really valuable option. Nonetheless, as you said if having a car is really a must for you, then electric cars could be the best option if you can afford it.
Could you make a video about Van life and if/how that can be eco friendly. It seems like a really simple low impact way of living, but at the same time you are driving and using fuel?
i live in germany and i went to visit a friend in madrid in august. my original plan was to take the train but the ticket was so expensive that i could not have afforded to go see her. i took a flight in the end and it was about a fifth of the price. i was so frustrated.
I have a motability car - they do new ones only. I have a hoist in it for a motorised wheelchair. I really want an ethical car when I have to change mine next year (2021). I don't fly anywhere though
I've seen others mention this, but if you buy a used electric car (my science proffessor says it's because the technology changes so quickly that these cars depreciate quickly) is just as much if not cheaper than gas. He got a 2-year-old electric car with only 10,000 miles on it for just $15,000 (usd)
I would not advice to buy a hybrid car, as they usually aren't very fuel efficient and can spend more gas than a gas-only car because of the battery weight. I think getting a small car that uses less fuel per km is better than a hybrid. I also wanted to ask if anyone knows in which way airlines offset their emissions when we choose to pay extra to make our flight carbon neutral.
In regards to the eco-friendly cars; i have been telling people about SOLAR CARS!!! they are currently being made in Europe, India and Japan. Not many people are talking about them and i think they may be the best options for climate change, carbon and environment issues. I would love to know if you can maybe find the positive and negative things with them. Thank you and i appreciate you.
I agree on electric cars. They are very expensive however I would love an electric scooter instead. I’d never drive to work if I could use one of those. Roll on the law change!!!
Electric cars being expensive -- if they're used, it is definitely cheaper! I bought a used 2015 Nissan Leaf for $11,000 USD and the batteries on those are supposed to last 8 years. Plus, Nissan offers battery replacements for free at least on my model. So I think electric cars can still be managed to bought much cheaper than the average price :)
So LED lightbulbs are actually worse for the environment in certain regions! They have chemicals (like mercury) that are so dangerous for the environment, and they are NOT recyclable, or very hard to, so they go to waste. And although they save lots of energy, in my province in Canada (BC) we have such clean energy, almost all of it created by dams or wind turbines. So using extra energy clean lightbulbs is not bad for the environment, compared to using LEDs that use less energy, but disperses chemicals and non-recyclable products into the environment :/ I love your videos and you’ve inspired me on this topic tons! But this one thing I think needs more information before it’s preached out! Cuz in some regions with clean power, LEDs are NOT more environmental. Love ya!
I’m happy to hear you talking about electric cars batteries, thank you! Thats my biggest fear from getting an electric car, the ethics of the supply chain and the issue with disposing of the battery at the end of its life. I ended up choosing the car with a low gas milage
This is a really great video, thank you for sharing your tips! I think if everyone followed at least a couple of these tips, we'd see a big shift already. I wish there were more night trains across Europe and that trains were cheaper in general because I'd be able to stop flying almost completely. Last time I wrote to the transport secretary about this, he gave me a load of hogwash about capitalism is great blablabla and the people actually want expensive trains! As if!
In Italy we are lucky because if you renew your house to make it more energy efficient you get tax discounts. We also have car sharing companies, so if you do not have a car you can rent one of those only for few minutes. So we can afford to have only one car that we just use in weekends (not always). I am working on reducing food waste, I need to plan better. Thank you for your motivating videos
I am driving an electric car and I love it. However, the lithium argument is quite flawed. Everybody criticizes the amount of lithium used in batteries that are needed for electric cars, yet people don't seem to get that these are the exact same lithium ion batteries that are used in your phone, tablet, laptop etc. Plus, the batteries of electric cars can be recycled up to 98% and many car manufacturers are using the old batteries of their electric car models to power their production plants. Lithium ion batteries will be a thing of the past soon. It was a transitional solution, but in the next ten years there will be different kinds of batteries that don't require any lithium. Right now it's all about not being reliant on fossil fuels anymore (that cause just as much, if not more environmental damage than lithium mining), eventually there's going to be different batteries produced in a climate neutral way etc., this is just the beginning :)
Electric cars aren’t really the best for the environment because the amount of carbon is created just building the electric battery it takes around 7 years for them to beat gasoline cars of the same size in total lifespan emissions but the average person replaces there car every 5 years. Not to mention if you live somewhere that you’re electric comes from coal (the Midwest). You’re better off getting a 4 or 6 cylinder car with a turbo or supercharger. Turbos or superchargers push more in oxygen to speed up meaning you use less fuel.
I don't understand why you're saying that only the one percent can afford to fly... Yes only they can afford to fly with a private jet frequently, but there are companies for the common people like us where you can buy plane tickets for a reasonable price
Electric cars are on the expensive side but not so much that only 1% of the population can buy them!! Also don't forget you don't have to pay for petrol and they're cheaper to maintain.
CAN I MAKE SOMETHING VERY CLEAR: Contrails are scientific. The conspiracy theory calling them "chemtrails" is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT and obviously goofy and nonsense. I am talking about the scientific and factual consequence on the earth, NOT the stupid theory that these trails are actually filled with mind bending chemicals put in there by the government to control people. I mean honestly, do you really think I would be spewing nonsense about conspiracy theories on here? Contrails are not a conspiracy. "chemtrails" are. I can't believe I have to explain this considering I didn't even talk about chemtrails or the conspiracy. what is the internet coming to?
What do you di for your job? Just asking bc I think some jobs can make it a bit difficult to be minimalistic and bring your own reusable items. I used to work at a hospital and due to the pandemic I couldn't bring my reusable bottle to my work.
I live in the woods and it is 300 meters into the woods from the village road, I have solar panels, because that is the only way for me to have electricitybut we (me and my partner and 2 cats) live so so simple, we colect rain water, we have small garden with vegetables and fruits, I wash by hand my laundry, I make my own laundry detergent , my deo creme, my dish detergent, I composted everything , I have composted bucket toilet etc etc and we are very happy, we dont see people so often, that is a blessings :-)
Great video
Hopefully my future as well :)
Thanks for sharing
I love that
But we have internet :-) This is the only think that we are paying
You should start your own channel 👍
@@Jessica-5827 maybe one day We will, now we are still working, hard work, we have lots of land ( 20 000 meters) and we want that one day people can come and enjoy the silent, sleep, rest, listen to the birds and so on..... (sorry for my english, I live in Istria- Croatia)
This video got me thinking and I'm going to pitch this to the company I work for: every year, we celebrate National (u.s.) Customer Service Month with, among other things, giving each employee a gift. Past gifts have been umbrellas, drink tumblers, etc. I'm going to suggest that we give a glass dish with cover that employees can use to bring their lunches OR take their lunches in at our employee restaurant. And ask for a discount at the restaurant for those employees who use it. Crossing fingers!
That's such a good idea! I am trying to start a committee at work around low impact living and would love to get our recognition teams on board with this too!
This is such an amazing idea! I hope it goes through!
This is such an amazing idea! I hope it goes through!
Would love a vid on reducing food waste!
I don't know anyone who's even trying to reduce their impact and to be honest I gave up talking to people about it. I got tired of being told I'm weird and to stop ranting and stop being difficult. I've enough to be dealing with as it is without people swearing at me to shut the f*** up. I just do my own thing and don't engage with people much.
I am sorry to hear this. Do not
be put off by all the ignorant imbeciles that shout you down
about environmental issues. You
are wiser and good for you. It is
better to be a loner rather than
having toxic people in life that
criticise one. Look after yourself
and al the best. King greetings.
Same! I am not at all militant about environmental issues, but I do like to talk about them and try to live by example. But it's extremely frustrating being laughed at or told you're being ridiculous. Part of my eco anxiety comes from how alienating living sustainably can be 😓
I find that it’s better to think of yourself as more of a role model than an educator. You don’t need to tell anyone about sustainability unless it comes up in your discussion or when making plans with them.
Most people were raised to be very selfish, but they REALLY don’t like to think of themselves in that way. I believe that people are good at heart, so they really want to believe that they do good. So when you talk to them about how unsustainable their lifestyle is, it’s like hitting them in the face with a frying pan. Their ill-formed conscience starts to wonder if they are doing wrong, which is a painful experience and then their ego, which wants to cling to their wasteful ways (because they are convinced these ways will make them happy), reacts to this by being super aggressive to you.
However, if you are instead just a positive role model, and occasionally you very modestly and kindly bring up things you are doing for the planet, it is more like a constant, gentle poking on their forehead. They start to slowly rethink their selfish attitude, and hopefully do not react too negatively to you.
You will lose a lot of friends if you try to convert people. If you’d rather be alone then hang out with people who ignore the climate crisis, then your approach is the right one. But I think it’s actually more effective and more rewarding for you to be compassionate to people who do so little for the environment. They are a product of their upbringing and their personal circumstances. And for most human beings, change is a painfully slow process. Be grateful that you have been graced with a heart and mind that makes you care about the future of the planet and our species. You had a certain set of experiences that educated you in a very different way from most, and made you more open-hearted and willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Not everyone is so fortunate, and that doesn’t make them terrible people, even if they do tell you to “shut the f*** up”. You might be so rude too if you had just been hit in the face with a frying pan.
You keep living your life and know you're doing the right thing. "BE the change."
@@AE-10 Always 😊
RE: electric cars: I'm in a research fellowship with someone who's doing research on this topic. And granted, this is US-based data. But the gist of his findings are that electric cars (especially if you buy used) are not much or even any more expensive than buying an internal combustion (IC) car, and the maintenance and fueling costs are significantly lower (electricity in America anyway being far cheaper than gas for the same distance driving, especially with newer more efficient models of electric cars). Also, because there are far fewer moving parts, electric cars tend to be far more reliable and cheaper to run over time if properly operated and maintained, have far fewer toxic chemicals to leak out, don't release gasoline fumes into the air every time they're fueled and (obviously) don't produce exhaust outside of what is produced to make the electricity (which, if you're getting yours through an ethical, green source, will be virtually negligible). And a lot of the things people fear most about them (getting stranded, not having good distance per charge) have mostly been worked out technologically so that for commuters they're comparable to IC cars.
Of course, they do have their issues. The lithium issue is a biggie, as is the reliance of our current grid on fossil fuels and the proper disposal/recycling of their batteries. And yes, if you have to drive long distances you do have to make sure you know ahead of time where you can plug in. But they are a better option for the planet in the long run (especially with renewable energy on the uptick). So I personally feel it's better to go electric and use that consumer influence to increase pressure on corporations to solve those challenges than sticking with even more problematic IC vehicles and prolonging the influence of the gas and oil industries until the electric models are perfect.
Thanks so much for taking the time to write that out and educate us - it’s much appreciated xx
That is great! Unfortunately, my city has bumped up the tax for owning one to $250/month, making it more difficult to afford to own one, which is extremely sucky and horrible for them to do in fear of losing money on fossil fuels. It is extremely frustrating.
CJ Sweets Ugh that’s disgusting. May I ask which city? Also thank you to OP for all this great info! My next car once my current one finally gives out will definitely be an electric or at least a hybrid.
I love your comment, very interesting read.
Here's my take on the electric car, not a research but my own thoughts on the matter relating to my lifestyle.
I live in rural Ireland and need the car to move about. Electric car is a no go due to the cost and lack of charging points. We have one 15 minutes drive away and another two an hour's drive in a totally opposite direction so charging the car would be an issue. I would love a hybrid but even second hand they are really expensive. My own car is 21 years old. She's my first car, bought 5 years ago for less than €600 and I still can't afford to replace her if she broke down as I don't work due to disability. My boyfriend has a diesel van for work. He does a lot of driving between jobs (he's in construction) so again, charging would be a problem, especially since he wouldn't be able to sit around waiting for it to charge. Van is second hand as well. He couldn't afford new one either. I'm all for ditching fossil fuels but simply switching to electric or even hybrid is not that straightforward.
@@AdrianaOrtiz-ff7mx It's Chicago. This city is really bad at providing sustainable options. There's hardly any bulk stores around where I live, and it's super hard to own an electric car because of the taxes that come with it (not to mention there aren't that many locations to plug one in). We can't even live off the grid, they made it illegal to do so (I'm unsure if it is like that in other cities? Please correct me if I'm wrong). Our city is already so polluted, and it's so cold of them to avoid any hope at fixing that issue under the fear of losing that $. It just really frustrates me, as I'd really like to live more sustainably and contribute more to the low waste lifestyle but they're making it harder than it should be
In terms of water usage, it makes a lot of sense to focus on what foods you are consuming. Some foods need a Lot more water in production than others, and learning/being mindful of that can make a big impact in terms of how much water is being used
Clothing, too. Cotton is so water-intensive that growing it is basically an environmental catastrophe wherever it is done. Look up the disappearance of the Aral Sea: Formerly the world's 4 largest lake - it is almost entirely gone due largely to cotton irrigation (not to mention the fact that the growers still use slave labor to harvest it). See also: fashion in general, as the industry basically uses a tenth of all water used for industrial purposes, and very wastefully so since most of the clothes produced end up in a landfill within a year.
www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/sustainable-fashion-blog/2014/oct/01/cotton-production-linked-to-images-of-the-dried-up-aral-sea-basin
Our kitchen tap drips for a while after it's been used, so my parents have always kept a bowl under it to catch the water. That bowl of water is used for removing etiquettes from wine bottles and stamps from envelopes (my dad collects etiquettes and stamps) or watering plants (My mom grows plants).
I really love the direction you have been going in with your videos lately!
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your feedback. I've been trying super hard lately xx
what they said ^
Me too!
I really like the nuanced way in which you try and approach these topics. For example when you speak about electric cars and you make sure to mention that being able to buy that kind of car is a major privilige. It shows how important intersectionality is within activism!
Car clubs could be an option to consider for those who don't need a car all the time but could do with one occasionally. In the UK there is one that offers electric cars (& a van!) - E-Car Club. Seems to be quite local unfortunately... London, Bath/Bristol, Oxford area, Manchester, Cambridge and a few areas in Scotland. I'm guessing there might be more but not had a chance research further. Obviously walking/cycling is better, but sometimes not viable.
Co-wheels is another (available in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Perth, Huntly and Dunbar as well as in various areas all over England; nothing in Wales or Northern Ireland I am afraid). I haven't used them but I have heard from others that it is really good. They have mainly electric cars from what I can tell, and are testing hydrogen ones in Aberdeen www.co-wheels.org.uk/locations
I think investing in a compost bin or a wormery is great to reduce our impact on the earth. You can cut up non-glossy paper and cardboard to use as bedding, and put all garden waste in for bedding too. Then all your fruit and vegetable waste can go in, along with anything natural (any hair, nails etc are fair game). We love ours. I even empty all my tea leaves and coffee grounds in there too. Then I use the digested contents to grow potatoes for my family the following year. Then all the “soil” left is used to top the following years wormery waste to stop any smells.
Thanks so much for watching! Here are the links to some of the videos mentioned:
How to stop funding climate change: ruclips.net/video/RskF6y3xn34/видео.html
New Scientist Article: www.newscientist.com/article/dn20304-contrails-warm-the-world-more-than-aviation-emissions/
Tiff Ferg's Video: ruclips.net/video/Q21-efJs7yE/видео.html
College students on climate change and activism: ruclips.net/video/EVW1rjyMx9U/видео.html
Love this! Supper helpful without being judgmental or pushy!
Always the aim!!
Lovely video and so pleasing to watch. Makes me really happy that I don't own a car, use public transport and do staycations frequently 😊 Also a great way to lower your impact is going vegan, or at least limiting your animal product consumption. Thanks for sharing!
You can reuse pasta water in sauces to make them smoother or use it in soups or for making stock with vegetable scraps or you can use it to steam vegetables or dumplings
I'm surprised to see that I already do most of these things. A lot of the time I feel like I'm not doing anything or not enough. I'm definitely working on the food waste part, which I find quite hard. I didn't fly at all this year but am planning on doing some trips next year. 2 of those will probably be by plane, because no train will go to NYC :D We are getting rid of our car end of the year and only use public transport or car sharing. That works really well in our city.
That’s awesome! Then you are doing loads 💛💛💛
As usual a wonderful video. Something I have been doing for quite some time at home and work is filling up the kettle with the amount of water I actually need and checking if anyone else at home or work wants a hot drink. If the kettle at work already has water in it and more then I need,I leave it and still boil it because tipping the excess water down the sink seems pointless. Sometimes I touch the kettle at work to see if it has been boiled so I don't have to boil it, if it's hot to touch.
Great tips. I underestimated the social aspect for some time. But by now so many people have adopted things that I started in my circle of friends (and vice versa obs 😅).
I'd like to add two things: get a low flow shower head. They are cheap and save a lot of energy because you need to heat less water. And mine paid for itself in less than one year. So especially do it if on a budget.
And find out the standby power usage of your appliances and devices that are always plugged in. I did that with a 10 bucks energy monitor thingy you plug between power outlet and device. Lowered my electricity bill by 150 kWh (or 40 bucks).
Thanks for always inspiring me! I came from Finland to Austria for an exchange semester by ferry and train, took me three days but it was a fun adventure for sure! And with an interrail ticket is was about the same price as the flight would have been. I’m definitely flying home on Christmas because I don’t have the time to take the train again, but at least I was flying one less time I guess. And when I’m travelling during this semester I’m only going by train. Love u
That’s amazing - what an awesome trip. And pretty great it was almost the same price as a flight!
Next year I'm planning to go live in a Van, and the talk about electrical car is in my head lately. There are companis start producing electrical vans. But there is that about the bateries and everything that goes in the building of this kind of Van, the price it is really high and is not produce in Brazil, so would need to be shipped here, and that is a lot of miles of transportation. So the only way I could have one is to get a partnership with the company.
Just the thinking of traveling with no emission is awesome, but then I don't know how long I would need to travel to compensate for the impact of production and transportation of tha vehicle.
Another possibility is a second hand van using some less impact motor like natural gas or alcohol.
In any case there are impacts! It is really a puzzle!
Thanks for the video always inspiring!!
How is the biodiesel industry in Brazil? You would get the high-power, high-life-mileage and high-gas-mileage benefits of diesel, but using a renewable fuel source (with a properly-designed system, you could even just operate on straight filtered used oil from restaurants, which they often have to pay to get rid of).
Thank you for these tips! Regarding purchasing new cars: when I sought a car to replace my ailing one, I wanted a pre-owned vehicle but the car dealership offered a financing option that beat all other financial institutions. My plan is to save so that I can pay cash for my next vehicle, which will give me more options. I am in the United States.
Such a good video! I’m so over seeing the videos that list ways to live more sustainably but they all list the same things: reusable bags, bulk shop, shampoo bars, reusable water bottle, bring your own coffee cup... things that most low-waste RUclipsr talk about over and over. But this video provided great new ideas to consider! Thank you!
Great video as always
1. make your home more efficient ( electrically) with a smart device
2. switch your lightbulbs to more efficient ones
3. switch your energy provider ( to a more green one/ hybrid one)
4. switch to a bank who invests into ethical causes
5. reduce food waste
6. use public transport
7. share a ride ( car share )/ or buy an electric car ( if you can afford it) ( second hand is best)
8. fly less ( if you can) ( maybe one less time)
9. get engaged politically and in your group /family/ friends
10. save water/ recycle water
Hi Immy, great vlog x I have learnt so much from you. I want to start replacing my bed and bedding as both are on their last legs. Would you be able to do a vlog on how/where to buy ethical/vegan beds and bedding please or can you point me in the direction of any information on this subject? I know second hand is always the first option but I'm looking for products that are sustainable and are going to last for a long time. Thank you x
I drive a Ford Fiesta 1.0L ecoboost, it has stop start which I always use wherever I’m going and I’m constantly dropping/picking people up I work with as well as friends and family. I make sure I don’t have stuff in my car and in my boot that doesn’t need to be in there so I save on fuel that way. It’s not the best car/way to be but it’s better than nothing 😊
Thanks for the video, I always search for your content to calm me after a crazy day. Keep up the good content and lovely voice, regards from Brasil 🇧🇷
Good video. I think you highlighted the issues around cars very well because it is an genuinely difficult area and one I've struggled with. One major issue is the embodied emissions when a new car is made so pointing up the benefits of buying second hand is very good advice. Another issue, related to that, is how many miles in a new electric car would you have to do before the embodied emissions were cancelled out. There is also the separate but related issue of air quality and older diesel cars are an issue here. Mike Berners Lee advocates getting rid if you have an older diesel and do a lot of urban miles, otherwise if you have a small petrol car, make it last and consider an EV when it's time to change. Difficult to do the right thing here!
Thank you as always for the awesome video. Just wanted to let you know that thanks to your inspiration, i will talk to my principal about environmental improvements in our school. So thank you for all the work you do! 💗
Ah that’s so awesome to hear xxx
Aircrafts are sustainable bc they are the epitome of the safest mode of mass public transportation- Contrails are short for Condensation Trails, its dumped water from the exhaust system. Water is the biggest threat to an aircraft engine therefore it must be dumped overboard. At those high altitudes they become Ice crystals so that creates the look of a trail or cloud. The only thing that I've found in aviation that is not safe are the chemicals such as Skydrol which is a hydraulic fluid produced by Monsanto. It's a bit of a catch 22 bc the use of these chemicals has allowed us to make these strides in technological advancements. An aircraft cannot be flown solely on electricity. So yes you can say take one less flight, but the airlines fly whether every seat is booked or not vs ride sharing, etc. makes an immediate impact.
Major Canadian cities all have decent public transport. I live in Ottawa and use the bus system all the time. My partner and I dont even own a car. Thinking of buying one on the next 5 or so years and will likely go for a used hybrid cause gas is so pricey.
I love your videos so much! You really inspire me
I'm actually switching banks right now! I love how this list is so doable but the actions can have a huge effect. Those are the types of things that appeal more to me than (some!) zero waste-esque "micro-actions" that just end up feeling like they're policing your life and making you feel inadequate and not even having as broad an effect as other things would for the same or less amount of energy. The electric car situation is interesting. Ever since that book you recommended, "How Bad Are Bananas?" (I borrowed it from my library!) mentioned embedded emissions in products I've been really appreciating secondhand shopping even more - especially for resource- and emission-intensive things like cars). I always like these kinds of videos.
Thanks so much for your feedback! It’s always good to hear when something or an idea is working ! Yeah cars are an interesting one and I still have so much to read up on and learn - probs another video coming on that!
@@SustainablyVegan Lookin' forward to it :)
Your videos are such a lovely way to start my day
Hi!
You mentioned how lithium ion batteries hurt Native American communities. I am actually interested in this. Would you mind elaborating on that more or sending some links so I can read more about it. Loved the video!!
Thank you!!
www.wired.co.uk/article/lithium-batteries-environment-impact here is a good article explaining what she meant about the lithium batteries. I believe she meant the harm that it causes native communities in several countries, not just America.
Emma Walshe thank you!!!
Catherine Dianne National Geographic also has a great article online: „www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/02/lithium-is-fueling-technology-today-at-what-cost/„
I don't know how effective this is, but I've gotten into the habit of turning the faucet handle about half as far as it'll go. This makes the water come out in a smaller force, which hopefully helps conserve it if I just need to wash my hands. The water in my building gets super hot if you use it for even a short while, so my primary motivation was to not burn my hands as I wash them, but hopefully it conserves a bit of water too. If you're filling up a container with a specific amount of water then I don't think this applies, but if you're cleaning or rinsing something it might be useful... I think.
You mentioned you didn't know how much smart devices were but I just wanted to mention that part of a (uk) government initiative means that you can get a smart meter for free (from any energy provider) to monitor your energy use
I use my car to carry cargo for work, and I am eagerly awaiting the day they come out with an electric van, or even a hybrid one.
Buying a used car that runs on diesel and just switching to biodiesel might be a good option if you can’t afford an electric car
If biodiesel is made of plants that can be used as food too, I see that a bit problematic. Biodiesel can also be made of palm oil. Luckily I live in a place where biodiesel is made from industrial sidestreams:)
@@meeerka biodiesel in the us is made from corn byproducts not fit for consumption by with livestock or people
Thanks for the wonderful advice 😀
Yeihhhhhh!!! Another Immy video!! Thanks for the tips. Will be reviewing these at home...
In terms of food waste: if you have outdoor space, you can buy a wormery for cooked food (if you can't escape producing waste for whatever reason) that you can't compost. Lil' worms nibble your cooked food and turn it into compost. Then, at least, it is not completely going to waste. Here's a link: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=726 😄
Very informative video, as usual! Keep up the good work :) I don't know if you take requests, but it would be great if you could make a video about good things that are going on in terms of climate change, whether that be local initiatives or policies. I very rarely come across videos like this, and some good news are always inspiring and uplifting!
I think that’s a wonderful idea!
Great points mentioned. This past
weekend here in Switzerland, the
Green Political Party had great results so lets hope for more green
issues being implemented here.
Luckily we have a very dense and
reliable public transport system
All the best.
I appreciate the realistic suggestions that acknowledge that not everyone is set up to buy a Tesla or stop flying altogether. I think flying and visiting other countries is important on a human level so that we learn about others' points of view. I know I've learned to think beyond myself when I travel. And I saw a video somewhere that buying a Tesla (or similar) is better than buying a gas powered car even with its environmental impact as long as you don't discard your perfectly good car just to get an electric car. And getting involved in politics may magnify your impact since politicians make the laws that promote or hinder measures to relieve climate change.
Great inspo just what I need. It can feel v overwhelming however it is so important. I do find if I had money I could b better. For example choosing environment friendly products for home DIY -Eco paints, AAA nu appliances in the kitchen, hybrid car, clothes. So we just have to keep going and do our best. Get educated and political. We need government on board to make the big decisions -switching to electric cars, banning wasteful plastic products, fast fashion. Thanks to the young generation I believe this will happen. Be kind and inclusive with this journey✨
Loved this video Immy! Can't believe how early I am haha Thank you for educating people! xx
So informative thank you also I love those overalls!
Thank you for sharing 😃 I appreciate you and all you do 🌻
Loved it, your videos has made me more intentional
I only have one energy provider in my region. But I’m fortunate that they are committed to phasing out natural gas in favor of less environmentally taxing energy sources. And for flying, we only take a trip to see family once every three years. That’s the trouble with family living on the other side of the world. If we go visit family across the country, we actually take the train vs driving.
I'm very fortunate to have a husband who is a master mechanic so we can have multiple secondhand vehicles to fit all of our driving needs. We live in very rural Texas, and if I'm going to the grocery store by myself I don't need to take the big vehicle that fits all five of us. Instead I can take the itty bitty compact car. I'm trying to get the town to improve the roads by adding sidewalks so that one day I can bike to the store instead.
Great tips! All so accessible and simple
New Subscriber here. Love your channel and information. Thank you for sharing with the world!
Thank youuu
In my country Finland, cities collect a lot of bio waste from citizens and farms, and it's used to create bio gass for power. Bio gass cars and some big buildings are using it. It costs 2000€ to convert a benzin car into a benzin-gass hybrid, that starts with benzin and runs with gass. Then you get a 1000€ refund from the authorities, so the end cost is only 1000€. You can fuel them with bio gass in the Southern half of the country and use benzin in Lapland or emergencies. Bio gass cars' greenhouse gass emissions are on equal level to electric cars. It's a no-brainer.
We should move from benzin and diesel cars to benzin-gass and diesel-electric hybrids. Together with improving railway, buss and tram connections, and providing public bicycles, I'm sure cutting the traffic emissions in half in the next ten years is possible.
It is the same in Estonia. Also the bio gas and CNG in general are a lot cheaper than petrol which is always a bonus :)
in Estonia they are building more and more bio gas and CNG stations all over the country. So it is actually very convinient as well.
I drive a secondhand petrol and CNG/bio gas hybrid car and would highly recommend :)
@@trynx127 That's very cool! I wish bio gass hybrids were more talked about in Finland. There is a supply and it's very convenient for many but people aren't very aware of it.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention the importance of composting whatever food waste we do create
Ah that’s only because I wanted to focus much more on reducing food waste before composting as a last resort. Of course composting is still great but if we can lower the amount we have to compost first then that’s a really great place to start!
I'm somewhat skeptical of claims about the amount of food waste individuals generate. I grow a lot of my own food and compost everything I don't eat, but I still generate food waste. You can't really eat banana peels, onion skins, the ends of carrots, celery, or heads of lettuce, squash skins, fruit and vegetable stems, apple cores, etc. I freeze a lot of scraps and use them to make my own vegetable stock, but even then they're still headed for the compost. Yes, of course people do throw away leftovers, let food go bad, etc., and we should be more mindful of that. But I'm guessing a large portion of waste people are being made to feel guilty about is fairly unavoidable.
Sustainably Vegan thank you for replying, I appreciate what your doing but most people are unaware just how incredibly harmful the methane created by putting food waste in landfill is. I believe it contributes as much as air travel to the average persons CO2 omissions. Not mentioning it is akin to talking to a group who have never heard about recycling or don’t understand why it’s an improvement on throwing things on the street but simply telling them to reduce their consumption. Food waste is also a huge area of concern upstream as well.
Personally I believe it should be illegal for companies to put food waste in landfill but for this to happen we need people to support such a campaign which they’re not going to do without understanding the importance of composting for the health of our atmosphere and soil.
Another tip for flying less is making one flight trip for more than one purpose. Make that flight count for more than one visit especially if it’s in the same country or nearby countries because you can always opt for non flying transport such as trains, coaches, ride sharing with other people (think old fashioned horse drawn coaches where you had to share coaches with other people!). Obviously opt for trains over planes when you can afford it! Do a pit stop in the middle of the train journey for a day trip in a new place, if you have the time for it. :D
My husband has always aged for our cars and we drive them forever. I don't drive often and try to combine my tasks like a Dr appointment with shopping and other apartments and plan my route so not to waste gas.we own a Prius and it gets 50 miles to a gallon. I try and offer neighbors rides or offer to pick up items while I'm out shopping to save them trips out.
Not aged but saved.
if anyone could give me some insight on this that’d be great. my family NEVER flies. i mean never. i think i’ve only taken 3 or 4 trips on an airplane in my entire life (i’m 18). so, when my family decides to go on trips we always drive (since we can’t afford to fly five people). but i know that driving is also bad for the environment. so does driving from washington state all the way to southern california actually have a smaller impact than flying that distance? i don’t know the science behind it..
Hi Chloe, using this calculator (www.carbonfootprint.com) and an example journey from Seattle, Washington to San Diego, California: one-way flight = 0.23 tonnes of CO2, versus a one-way drive in average petrol car = 0.36 tonnes of CO2.
It’s hard to prevent people from flying nowadays with all the cheap airlines that offer flights for like 10-50 euros to go to the other side of Europe. Whereas traveling by train could take days and it’s so expensive, especially here in Germany. The bus travel is also cheaper but it’s so uncomfortable.
This is such a great video! Where talking about electric cars...the problem is that so much more complicated considering at least the cost and waste of replacing the entire electrical network in the city. I live in a second world country in east Europe, so I am not sure that the network is an issue in first world countries.
Secondarily, I know that where I live, the electricity is sooo mixed that there is no real way of knowing if any provider gives you green energy. So how it works here is: every producers poors energy into a hub and any distributor takes from than hub. Here the EU makes us to have 20% of the electricity in the hub to be green.
Maybe in the UK stuff are different!
Your videos are so inspiring!
Awesome video!
Hello! I love your videos for many years now, and I'm sad about the Tesla batteries, I was so excited to see more of them out there! About water recycling, how do you implement that living in a flat? Thank you!!
@@EmOrganizer wowwww thank you so much!!! I appreciate your answer a lot❤
Yesssssss so wise!
Does anyone know if there is research showing the best options for flying (i.e. what airline, time to fly, direct vs. multi-leg flights, plane size, etc)? I know there are orgs you can book through to offset emissions, but I'm wondering if there is more around planning.
I have a bad feeling about still banking with Chase. Do they invest in fossil fuels? Should I switch over to a credit union? It does feel a little inconvenient to transfer my funds over to a whole other bank, and I have credit cards open with them as well.
Nowadays it's quite often a matter of "balance" if i may say. Electric cars are a good alternative, but mainly due the battery making procedure it sheds a stain on it from being a really valuable option. Nonetheless, as you said if having a car is really a must for you, then electric cars could be the best option if you can afford it.
I would love a video about resources to read and all pleaseeee I want to learn moere🍃✨
Could you make a video about Van life and if/how that can be eco friendly. It seems like a really simple low impact way of living, but at the same time you are driving and using fuel?
Such a good video!
i live in germany and i went to visit a friend in madrid in august. my original plan was to take the train but the ticket was so expensive that i could not have afforded to go see her. i took a flight in the end and it was about a fifth of the price. i was so frustrated.
I have a motability car - they do new ones only. I have a hoist in it for a motorised wheelchair. I really want an ethical car when I have to change mine next year (2021). I don't fly anywhere though
If you use the Skyscanner app for flights they now tell you the greener flight options for your destinations
I will share this video with others!!
Philadelphia! ;) better transit than most US cities.
I've seen others mention this, but if you buy a used electric car (my science proffessor says it's because the technology changes so quickly that these cars depreciate quickly) is just as much if not cheaper than gas. He got a 2-year-old electric car with only 10,000 miles on it for just $15,000 (usd)
Only problem is and this is the dirty secret is they are much more expensive to fix and for people on a budget thats a problem
I would not advice to buy a hybrid car, as they usually aren't very fuel efficient and can spend more gas than a gas-only car because of the battery weight. I think getting a small car that uses less fuel per km is better than a hybrid.
I also wanted to ask if anyone knows in which way airlines offset their emissions when we choose to pay extra to make our flight carbon neutral.
I am sorry but I have to disagree. We have now had two hybrids and they have both been far more fuel efficient than our previous cars.
My hybrid car uses hardly any gas. You are wrong.
In regards to the eco-friendly cars; i have been telling people about SOLAR CARS!!! they are currently being made in Europe, India and Japan. Not many people are talking about them and i think they may be the best options for climate change, carbon and environment issues. I would love to know if you can maybe find the positive and negative things with them. Thank you and i appreciate you.
What blender do you use? I’m looking for a good one and I know you use yours a lot x
I agree on electric cars. They are very expensive however I would love an electric scooter instead. I’d never drive to work if I could use one of those. Roll on the law change!!!
Love ur vids and message. You have a spelling mistake in your web site at the end of the van videos..its missing a p in impact.
Electric cars being expensive -- if they're used, it is definitely cheaper! I bought a used 2015 Nissan Leaf for $11,000 USD and the batteries on those are supposed to last 8 years. Plus, Nissan offers battery replacements for free at least on my model. So I think electric cars can still be managed to bought much cheaper than the average price :)
I lovely Lucy and yak! Just seen your dungarees in your thumb nail!
I have the exact same ones!
So LED lightbulbs are actually worse for the environment in certain regions! They have chemicals (like mercury) that are so dangerous for the environment, and they are NOT recyclable, or very hard to, so they go to waste. And although they save lots of energy, in my province in Canada (BC) we have such clean energy, almost all of it created by dams or wind turbines. So using extra energy clean lightbulbs is not bad for the environment, compared to using LEDs that use less energy, but disperses chemicals and non-recyclable products into the environment :/ I love your videos and you’ve inspired me on this topic tons! But this one thing I think needs more information before it’s preached out! Cuz in some regions with clean power, LEDs are NOT more environmental. Love ya!
Thanks for your info - please could you let me know your sources and where you got this information from so I can take a look? Thanks ❤️
Thank you for mentioning flying
I just used this and I was shocked too!
Love your videos :)
I’m happy to hear you talking about electric cars batteries, thank you! Thats my biggest fear from getting an electric car, the ethics of the supply chain and the issue with disposing of the battery at the end of its life. I ended up choosing the car with a low gas milage
Do a video about electric cars and the fact that they are not as green as the brands say 🙏 Kiss from Portugal!
I happened to be drinking out of exactly the same mug as you are while watching! Spode Italian blue haha
This is a really great video, thank you for sharing your tips! I think if everyone followed at least a couple of these tips, we'd see a big shift already. I wish there were more night trains across Europe and that trains were cheaper in general because I'd be able to stop flying almost completely. Last time I wrote to the transport secretary about this, he gave me a load of hogwash about capitalism is great blablabla and the people actually want expensive trains! As if!
In Italy we are lucky because if you renew your house to make it more energy efficient you get tax discounts. We also have car sharing companies, so if you do not have a car you can rent one of those only for few minutes. So we can afford to have only one car that we just use in weekends (not always). I am working on reducing food waste, I need to plan better. Thank you for your motivating videos
I'd say.... transition to a plant based diet and work towards ending animal exploitation. I wish there was more info about that.
I am driving an electric car and I love it. However, the lithium argument is quite flawed. Everybody criticizes the amount of lithium used in batteries that are needed for electric cars, yet people don't seem to get that these are the exact same lithium ion batteries that are used in your phone, tablet, laptop etc. Plus, the batteries of electric cars can be recycled up to 98% and many car manufacturers are using the old batteries of their electric car models to power their production plants. Lithium ion batteries will be a thing of the past soon. It was a transitional solution, but in the next ten years there will be different kinds of batteries that don't require any lithium. Right now it's all about not being reliant on fossil fuels anymore (that cause just as much, if not more environmental damage than lithium mining), eventually there's going to be different batteries produced in a climate neutral way etc., this is just the beginning :)
I ride a commuter bus daily to work .. wish more would take advantage of it..
Electric cars aren’t really the best for the environment because the amount of carbon is created just building the electric battery it takes around 7 years for them to beat gasoline cars of the same size in total lifespan emissions but the average person replaces there car every 5 years. Not to mention if you live somewhere that you’re electric comes from coal (the Midwest). You’re better off getting a 4 or 6 cylinder car with a turbo or supercharger. Turbos or superchargers push more in oxygen to speed up meaning you use less fuel.
I don't understand why you're saying that only the one percent can afford to fly... Yes only they can afford to fly with a private jet frequently, but there are companies for the common people like us where you can buy plane tickets for a reasonable price
buying used cars is a good way to reduce your impact!
Electric cars are on the expensive side but not so much that only 1% of the population can buy them!! Also don't forget you don't have to pay for petrol and they're cheaper to maintain.