Almost everyone has heard about ‘sustainable development’, but few really know the meaning of this fashionable term, widely used by governments, companies, environmental and social organisations, and even the media.
Several definitions have been coined, the following one is closest to reality:
"Sustainable development meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own"
The key issue for our present and future is in fact how to live on this planet with more than 6 billion human beings without destroying the natural systems from which we seek the resources to live, in a dignified and equitable way for all, without exceeding their ability to support debris and waste caused by our production activities.
Implementing the concepts of Sustainable Development in everyday life to provide a daily contribution to the preservation of the environment for generations to come is simple, not at all laborious, and saves us a lot of money.
How? It is very simple, one should stop being lazy and perform the following few simple actions:
- Unplug phone, computer and tablet chargers when they have finished charging, they consume electricity even when not they are not in use.
- Make sure you connect equipment in standby to a power strip and that the latter is switched off at least at night. Stand-by appliances consume electricity to... remain switched off!
- Use washers and dishwashers correctly, i.e. full load and medium to low temperatures.
- Try to use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
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Avoid the elevator and use the stairs, you will not only save energy but also benefit your health!
- Turn on electric lights only when necessary. And always turn off the lights when you do not use them!
- Use low power bulbs.
- Remember to turn off the light every time you leave a room.
- Enable automatic lockouts on after a 2-5 minute idle period. The screen resumes in a fraction of a second by moving the mouse or any keyboard key. The screensaver screen consumes more than the inactive computer. Replace the screensaver with automatic lockouts.
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Turn off all computers when you go to lunch or a meeting that lasts more than 30 minutes.
- At the end of the working day, before you leave, check that computers, monitors, printers, copiers and air conditioners are turned off.
- Install a flow reducer on water taps.
- Do not let too much water run uselessly when you shower, wash your teeth, etc.
