According to Miller and Spoolman the three principles of sustainability are solar energy, biodiversity, and chemical cycling (2010, p.5). Solar energy is the perfect energy because the sun always shines. Everyday we rely on solar energy so why not make solar energy work to our advantage. I can apply solar energy to my lifestyle by having items like solar panels installed on my home. With solar panels I will be able to generate my own clean energy therefore decreasing my reliance on the fossil fuels that currently supply my house. Giant advancements in solar technology have been made in the last few years and now several countries are jumping on the solar bandwagon. “China is on track to become the world’s largest solar market as they …show more content…
During the day I tend to keep all of my window blinds closed so I’m wasting energy my running my lights when I should just open my blinds and let the sun do the natural job of lighting my home for me. I can apply biodiversity to my lifestyle to make it more environmentally sustainable by becoming more aware of my environment and surroundings. According to Miller and Spoolman “Biodiversity is the variety of the earth’s species, the genes they contain, the ecosystems in which they live, and the ecosystem processes of energy flow and nutrient cycling that sustain all life” (2010, p. 60). I can make my lifestyle more environmentally sustainable by making better decisions in regards to purchasing products. If I concentrate on purchasing items that have been recycled I will help lessen the impact on the environment by reducing the amount of natural resources that would have been …show more content…
One example of chemical cycling is that “energy enters the biological system as light energy, or photons, is transformed into chemical energy in organic molecules by cellular processes including photosynthesis and respiration, and ultimately is converted to heat energy” (Global Change, 2008). This example relates to a hobby I have because I enjoy gardening, which is a form of chemical cycling. My garden receives energy from the sun, which my plants use to grow, and then I they transfer the energy on to my family and I when we eat the fruits and vegetables that they produced. This type of cycle continues countless times every day with plants receiving energy from the sun and ultimately passing that energy on to other species. I hate to say this but chemical cycling does not stop at death because tiny microbes feed on decomposing species. As decomposition continues gases are also expelled back into the environment and the process begins
The following case study critiques Upton’s vision to establish a sustainable community through implementing comprehensive sustainable strategy. The urban periphery development is thought to demonstrate superior execution of sustainable principles in development (Jackson 2007). As a parallel, the report focuses on the development of Upton’s design code and demonstrates how large -scale mix-use developments can incorporate sustainable practice and principles of urban growth.
The sun has been a major aspect of life since the beginning of time. People used many other forms of energy before electricity was discovered. There has been a debate over energy resources for years. Many people are worried about what current energy resources may be doing to the environment. Oil spills and nuclear power plant mishaps have only been a few accidents that have had a big impact on the environment and the people who inhabit it. There are plenty of energy sources that do not harm the environment and are still able to get the job done. Solar energy is one energy alternative that will insure the betterment of the country and, at the same time, protect the natural environment.
Before the 1970’s, people thought that all life on earth derived from energy provided by the sun. As human beings, yes, it is essential for our bodies. We absorb sunlight through our skin and produce essential vitamins and minerals that our bodies need. The sun also warms our planet making living conditions tolerable. Without the sun our planet would be extremely cold and impossible to live on. Plants and animals also need the sun for existence. In fact, humans, animals and plants need the sunlight, for it is the main source for the creation of our food. Imagine living in temperatures as high as 200°F or as low as 100° below zero. Or consider jumping into a pool of bleach or gasoline. These conditions would be fatal to the average
The old Native American proverb that states, “We do not inherit the land from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children” really makes me think about my lifestyle and how it is benefiting the Earth. Being sustainable not only means to take care of the planet for my generation but also for future generations. It is my job to care for the planet as best as I can and to help pass on these good habits to my children. The best ways that I can help my environment are composting uneaten food and old vegetables, donating or reusing old clothes, and recycling plastic and paper products.
...ough people caught on, it may not save the earth but it may sustain it, at least for a little while:
Sustainability is an issue that everyone should be concerned about. If the planet Earth is going to exist, as we know it, everyone should wake up and do their part to help achieve a greater level of sustainability. In my English 101 class we learned about the issue of sustainability. Many different topics were discussed and researched throughout the course of the semester. Overall, I think that the sustainability project has been a learning and enlightening experience for everyone in this class. Many more things can be done next semester, since the groundwork has been laid to continue this project for time to come.
There is no doubt that human activity is having a significant impact on our environment. These environmental impacts include depleting our natural resources, air and water pollution, climate change, destruction of habitats, and loss of biodiversity. Because of these growing concerns, we need to learn how to live sustainably. Living sustainably will allow us to conserve our limited resources more wisely so they will be available for future generations (Withgott & Brennan, 2011, Chapter 1).
Preview: Today I will discuss the potential that solar power has to become this country’s main supply of energy and the latest research that can make solar power more efficient and cost effective. I will also present the environmental benefits that come with using solar power over other and more harmful forms of energy.
Sustainability is a concept with a diverse array of meanings and definitions – a widely used glamorous, ambiguous, ambivalent and vague concept that is used by different stakeholder groups in various ways. Presumably to avoid noodling over a terminology or to avoid the confrontation with a definition, most widely the concept is broken down a planning process (c.f. e.g. Döring & Muraca, 2010). That is why most common sustainability is understood as sustainable development.1
We as a society should take care of our environment. We can recycle more, stop using harmful gases to produce the luxury that we take for granted, shelter the trees, get rid of cigarettes, use solar energy to power our houses, and clean up the garbage on the streets. Going green is the right thing to do, because it not only makes our environment look healthy, but helps us as a human race survive and live longer. Without photosynthesis there is no earth, we have take care of our environment not because it is the right thing to do, but just as we depend on photosynthesis for life, photosynthesis depend on us to survive!
Many of the issues of biodiversity loss can be traced back to human interaction to the environment. One of the issues is alteration and loss of habitats. A lot of this issue is based on the destruction of habitats and for the land to be used for human consumption. The land is either used up for agricultural use or for neighborhoods. Destroying habitats and building them for our own use can have a positive impact on our way of living but a negative impact on the environment. We would gain land for building land for crops and communities to be built. The habitat for the animals would be destroyed and the species local to the land would either relocate or die. There are restrictions to deforesting land and there are organizations to help protect the land.
In class we discussed what sustainable development meant to us; each group had its own definition. Our group’s definition was that sustainable development is for the long term for future generations, for the basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and job. The basic will increase over time and our resources will diminish, which why sustainable development is important. Sustainable development is important for future generations so that they end up with a world better than ours. Sustainable development is achievable if society works together to meet everyone’s basic needs and create a better world.
Environmental sustainability is making decisions and taking actions in the interest of protecting the natural world, preserving the capability of the environment to support human life and ensuring that humans use the environment in a way that does not harm the environment. It also questions how economic development affects our environment vice versa.
After going through the details on this topic I started realizing the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem. It would not be wrong to say that it has also bought upon a sense of responsibility and maturity in me towards the sensitive issues surrounding us which generally are ignored or are not given much importance by the students of my age group. I do now believe that even our small contribution can make a difference in preserving this great natural gift of God.
The degradation of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity is increasing at an alarming rate every year. Humans are certainly not the only reason for this, but they are the main contributors. The well-being of ecosystems affects our everyday lives - consumption and consumerism depend on natural resources. Everything humans use is derived from them, in seemingly indirect and direct ways. Yet despite the fact that humans are destroying the environment, many continue to and neglect to take important measures to protect it.