The Essence of Essentials

Posted on July 30, 2009
Filed Under Uncategorized |

This summer SmartPower’s interns will be offering some fresh views on how to be Energy Smart as they immerse themselves in clean energy and energy efficiency.

by Lauren

Want to be more energy efficient. Here’s a hot tip: Get rid of all your extra stuff!

I stumbled upon this video a couple of days ago and forgot how harrowing it was the first time I saw it: The Story of Stuff

There’s no visual doom and gloom, no Wagnerian leitmotifs to queue any oohs and ahs. Rather, the Story of Stuff is a straight up shot of sobering reality, one we should all consider tossing back IMMEDIATELY.

This 20 minute well-worth-your-time video, narrated by Annie Leonard, takes you into the belly of the manufacturing beast, explaining materials economy and consumer culture in plain English. The stick figure animation and Leonard’s simple delivery make understanding the chain mechanism of production to disposal easy to digest and entertaining to boot. Considering the process behind the product is a thought that rarely came to my mind before watching the video, and now I can’t help but consider that chain.

What really got me was the discussion of planned obsolescence & perceived obsolescence. To break down the jargon, planned obsolescence is a built in gotcha, a “designed for the dump�? strategy. Products are designed to be useless as quick as possible so we buy new ones. (Check out these art pieces fashioned from dumpster technology.)

Perceived obsolescence convinces us to throw away things that are perfectly useful, but are socially undesirable. How many cell phones have you had in the past 5 years? I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve had one from every generation- from an antenna Nokia to a Blackberry- and each one has behaved less and less like a cell phone.

Clearly we’ve been taken for a ride: consumer values → consumer culture → abundant possessions → waste → excess energy.

There are movements away from this vicious cycle, particularly in conservation and recycling channels. Two projects come to mind. Sheena Matheiken launched The Uniform Project- pledging to reuse the same black dress for 365 days as an effort in sustainable fashion. David Michael Bruno is embarking on a 100 Thing Challenge, tapering his possessions down to the essentials for one year.

Want to hop off the stuff chain gang?

1. Be your own critic- take the time to comb through all your possessions and question the legitimacy of your inner pack rat. Then throw away the leftovers.

2. Make conscientious choices- See your home as a way to maximize energy savings, rather than a piggy bank zapper. Do laundry when you have to, use water sparingly, buy the groceries you actually need- it’s all in the details.

3. Make smarter purchases- get off that instant gratification high and consider the longevity of the item. I’m not saying you can’t be impulsive, but the prototypical “impulse buy�? doesn’t (and can’t) jive with our energy saving impetus.

4. Throw a yard sale and get to know your neighborhood. Better yet, throw a yard sale block party.

Believe me, it takes more energy than you might think to warm your home with all that clutter, to refrigerate those extra groceries, to wash the clothes you only wore once. Breaking down what you already have to what you really need is a quick and easy way to be energy smart. It just all comes down to how big your little world is.

* Looking for more info on digital trash and e-waste? Check out this 6-minute documentary from Frontline to learn more. *

Share and Enjoy: