Author Archives: oalqarn

Tips for a Sustainable Summer

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The summer is about to begin, and that means more sustainable tips from the Enviro Junkies. Like any season, the summer has positives and negatives when it comes to sustainability. We will show you the advantages and find solutions for the challenges.  

1- Stay hydrated with a reusable water bottle 

During the summer, the temperature rises, and people consume more water. Having a sustainable water bottle is only suitable for the environment and saves money in the long run. In addition, there are water bottles that can keep the water cold no matter the temperature outside, such as a thermos which is what we believe that everybody needs in the summer, especially if you live in Texas. 

2- Do outdoor activities

 Try to take advantage of the summer by doing your favorite activities during the day wherever you are. Sometimes, it could be hard to walk, hike, and run around noon if you live in Texas. However, you could do them in the early morning, evening, or at night. Also, don’t forget to try swimming and kayaking because they are fantastic activities during the summer. Fortunately, we have a river and lake in Austin -Texas.

3- Eat locally

Choose to eat seasonal food products in your hometown. When we eat locally, we reduce the carbon footprint in enormous amounts because we don’t require food to be shipped from different states or countries. Many cities and towns offer things such as  Sunday farmers’ market events, so this is a great way to take advantage and support your local farmers and remain sustainable. 

4- Open your windows. 

During the day in summer, the temperature is high, and surely you will use the AC to cool down the heat inside your house. However, the weather tends to get cooler at night, so turn the AC off and open the window for fresh cool air and then go ahead and close them in the morning. This way, you save money and have more sustainable energy, which is what we want. 

5- Plant a garden

The summer is a perfect opportunity to plant a garden in your back or front yard. There are so many plants that grow in the summer. It only takes you minutes to google and learns what is best for you and your garden. Growing plants are fun and help you to reduce carbon dioxide and reduce the heat in your area. 

Enviro Junkies hope you all have a great, sustainable summer!

 

Famous Youtuber, Sukkari Gives Tips and Tricks on How to Live a Waste-Free Lifestyle

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Meet Sukkari! Sukkari is an environmentalist and advocate for sustainable living in Riyadh. In her home, she has NO trash! Yes, I said what I said, she has no garbage, and she doesn’t even use a recycling bin. Sukkari lives her life by promoting ways that you can live a more sustainable life at home, and she does this by limiting the amount of plastic usage and composting. 

Sukkari’s home

Compost is essential in Sukkari’s home Sukarri has compost in her bedroom for plant leaves. She has a second compost in the kitchen and the third compost in her garden. Sukkari relies heavily on having composts around her house as an alternative to typical trash bins.  Sukkari strongly believes in living a waste-free life, and throughout her youtube video, she illustrates ways she can do it. 

Clothing 

 When it comes to clothing, she buys used “clothes.” she believes that clothing companies that prioritize ethics are environmentally friendly. She always makes sure there is nothing wasted, and recycling plays a significant role in her life. Her shoes are made of plastic recycled bottles, and when she doesn’t need a piece of cloth, she makes it as wiping instead of paper. Her socks would be reused to clean plants. Even when she cleans the clothes, she uses Indian natural products to clean naturally. The products can be used 5 to 7 times and then, she put them in the compost to be decomposable.  

Food without plastic  

To keep up promoting environmentally friendly living, Sukkari makes her food at home too. And all the spices and other food necessities she buys are in wholescale so she can put them in her own glass jars. She even goes further to make her species and food, if possible. For example, she makes her own yeast and milk.  As for having water, she uses and refills a water filter is essential so that she doesn’t have to go out and buy/use plastic bottles. She has two water filters, one for the fridge and one for regular use. Go Sukkari on limiting plastic usage!

Sukkari outside home

Furthering the idea of limiting plastic usage, every time Sukkari goes out, she brings whatever she may need, so she doesn’t use plastic. Sukkari has a wooden fork, a wooden spoon, and a reusable bottle of water. She also carries around a wooden straw that is made of bamboo and a basket that she uses if she is going to a bakery for bread. Sukkari always makes sure to inform workers in the stores she visits to not give her a plastic bag or copy of her receipt that way, she does not contribute to plastic or paper waste.  

Sukkari does not find her life difficult as many people around her think. She strongly believes that everyone is responsible for the environment, and the more we care about it, the more human we become. So check out Sukkari on youtube and learn about ways you can live a waste-free life too! The link below to Sukkari’s short documentary.

To watch Sukkari’s short documentary.  

Also, talk to us on Twitter! We would love to hear from all our Envirojunkies!

Austin’s zero-waste Goal

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The city of Austin is aiming to achieve zero-waste in 2040 by expanding and diversifying the landfills. Austin is also having other programs for factories and facilities. However, the goal can not be achieved without the action of the residents of Austin. Here are a few ways to help as an individual. 

1- Buy a recycling bin 

Get a recycling trash bin, which will help you become addicted to contributing to the zero-waste mission. Also, it raises awareness of the importance of having a recycling bin within your own community. For example, a friend of mine has bought his own recycling bin after he visited me and had a conversation about what an individual’s role can be in their city.  

2- Goodwill.

Goodwill is a well-known store for all kinds of donations. Donations such as clothes, technology, furniture, and appliances can give your old stuff a new life. Goodwill accepts any donation you can think of. By donating stuff you do not need, you are not only helping Austin’s zero-waste goal, but helping the people who are in need. For example, I have space in my place where I put everything I don’t need or got broken, so I donated a broken microwave, heater, and clothes. Another benefit is that Goodwill will give you a Tax break receipt based on donations. 

3- Buy Coffee Thermos.

If you drink coffee on a daily basis, then you should be careful not to waste single-use cups. You should either recycle/compost these single-use cups if possible, or alternatively, a coffee thermos will help you to contribute to the city mission. It will be more convenient for you to carry around and they keep you coffee warm throughout the day. Perhaps, it may be cheaper for you; some coffee shops in Austin do not charge you for a coffee cup if you bring in a coffee thermos.

4- own permit recyclable bags for shopping 

Shopping in grocery stores, malls, and others is an exercise that you do weekly. Plastic bags are what stores offer you to carry your stuff, and when you accept them, you will end up with many wasted bags every time you shop. Having a permit for recyclable bags for shopping will help Austin achieve the zero-waste goal and save you money. If you ever shopped in H-E-B, which you mostly have done, then you would know that they charge for bags. Having a permit recycling bag will help the city and save you money in the long term

Citation 

https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Trash_and_Recycling/Zero_Waste_Plan_-_full_version_-_Council_Adopted_w-resolution.pdf

https://www.recycling.com/recycling-bins/why-need-recycling-bin/#:~:text=Having%20a%20recycling%20trash%20can,by%20saving%20valuable%20natural%20resources.

 

What You Can do to Reduce Your Austin Carbon Footprint

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 Reduce your Austin carbon footprint.  

The impact of climate change is enormous worldwide, and nothing can be done unless a big Institution such as the UN does something about it. The Paris agreement is a good example. However, there are ways to reduce your carbon footprint in Austin as an individual.   

Drive less and ride a bike more.  

Giving up using a car for transportation can save 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Also, using the public transportation system such as trains and buses is very efficient. However, riding a bike is the best way to commute. Luckily, Austin is among the top bike-friendly cities in the USA. Besides, walking is not just exercise; it reduces 75% of carbon emission then driving for the same distance. Biking and walking do not only reduce carbon emission but its open space and encourage others to do the same.   

Be a fan of local products and shops.   

The more we support our communities is, the more we reduce our carbon footprint. For example, eating locally grown food can save 1,000 miles worth of carbon emissions per year. When we shop from local stores and drink local coffee, we do not require our needs to be shipped from hundreds of miles away. For instance, we should buy our coffee from a local coffee shop instead of Starbucks. Fortunately, Austin has so many local stores.   

What about our homes? 

Every day we have habits that would reduce our carbon footprint. To know these habits, we should know what we spend energy on in our homes. The average American spends 25% of energy on heating spaces, 13% on heat water, 11% on cooling, and the rest on appliances. To reduce the carbon footprint, we should consider the following:

1- Replace lights: LED lights use 85% less power and last up to 25 times longer

2- Turn down the heat  

3- Turn down the water heater  

4- Turn off lights and appliances when we do not use them

Reducing our carbon footprint is our responsibility as individuals, and it only needs our awareness.   

Citation  

Reducing Your Transportation Footprint

https://www.nytimes.com/guides/year-of-living-better/how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint