Have a Sustainability Question?
What do you need to know to go from good intentions to effective action?
I know what I want you to know about being sustainable, but what do you actually need to know?
Imagine you want to help save the planet. How would you do it?
If you have a sustainability question that you’ve never had answered well, I’d like to help you out. My goal is to write the planet’s all-time most-useful handbook for sustainability. Can’t do it without you.
What are the topics that the world’s best sustainability handbook must include? Please leave a comment to let me know.
While you’re thinking about your “I gotta know” or “they ought to know” questions, what do you think about this list of questions from friends of mine?
What’s it like driving an electric vehicle (an “EV”), e.g. how well does it work for local driving? How do you charge it?
How long of a trip can you take in an EV? What’s it like to go on a long trip in different kinds of EVs (like a Nissan Leaf versus a Tesla Model 3)?
How do you do a long distance drive with an EV? What kind of planning and mindset does it require? When do you need to rent a gas car?
Is it better to go full EV or get a plug in hybrid? What’s the difference between a “regular” hybrid and a “plug-in” hybrid?
What are the home heating options for old houses, especially for people with limited savings on fixed incomes?
When do mini-split heat pumps make sense and when don’t they? What other kinds of heat pumps are there?
What if I have a hydronic system (i.e., a baseboard heating or radiant floor)? Are there drop-in replacements for oil boilers?
What are the most sustainable options for heating a home? Are they different for new construction versus existing homes?
How does “net metering” work for people with solar panels on their property? Is there a way to participate in net metering without installing solar on your own property? How can I buy a share in a solar farm?
I just got a huge electricity bill! What’s going on? How do I read my utility bill?
How can I use the data that my utility says I can get? What should I be looking for if I download my data?
How can we can back to being thrifty and creative?
If I want to tighten up my house and reduce drafts, how can go about doing that? Who should I hire if I need help caulking and insulating my home?
If I have a limited budget, which should I do first: replace windows or insulate my attic?
Are window inserts worth the price? How can I connect with programs like Window Dressers to reduce the cost of installing interior storm windows?
How can I use less plastic?
How can I avoid PFAS?
What can I do to prevent microplastic from getting into the ocean?
Help, I’m addicted to shopping! How can I be better about reduce, reuse and recycle?
Which type of rechargeable battery is the most sustainable? Should I buy NiMH or Lithium batteries? Are all lithium batteries rechargeable? Why is it a bad idea to mix different types of battery in a device?
I talked to a solar company about putting panels on my roof but they said it wouldn’t be worth it. Can I go in with my neighbors to put solar on their property and share the output among all of us?
Have a good answer for any of these questions? Let’s compare!
What’s missing from this list?
Here’s a final question for you. Imagine your favorite “save the world” public policy suddenly got passed into law. Let’s say, a carbon tax. Now what? What would people (yourself included) do differently as a result of this new law that would actually save the planet?