Sustainable Consumers

               In the first video, the man’s points about needing to have a radical increase in resource efficiency, a closed loop instead of our current linear way of using resources, and a solar economy instead of a fossil fuel economy are very true. A radical increase in resource efficiency and a closed loop way of using resources would save us money, which could hopefully provide our citizens with money to spend elsewhere and fuel our economy. The more efficient we are at using the resources that we have will increase what we get out of these resources because we can either find a way to make them last longer and possibly find a way to even use them for cheaper prices. A closed loop way of using resources will benefit us because then waste is eliminated since it is put back into making either the original product or a new product as seen in the real example of the cardboard from restaurants that was used in a closed loop to make caviar. Solar energy has the potential to be more expensive especially at the start of building what will store the solar energy, whether it is solar panels or something else. However, since the sun comes out most days and produces 10,000 times more energy, it will last longer than our other energy resources that are dwindling.

               In the second video, I like Steffen’s point that the United States is using the sustainability amount of five planets. That is a mind-blowing statement and raises the questions – How are we surviving now? And how much longer can we survive like this? Steffen says that we do not know how to save ourselves or change the way we are living, so we need to figure it out soon. One of these ways can be not driving as much or at all as Vancouver suggests, which I believe would be a great idea because not only will it be better for the environment, but people will get more exercise through walking or biking.

               The connection between consumerism and sustainability is this: if we are so concerned about protecting the consumer from harmful products, then we should be concerned about the products that are harming the environment. When the products are harmful to the environment, it becomes harmful to the people or consumers. Therefore, by protecting the planet by eliminating certain products that are harmful to the environment (making the planet more sustainable), we are protecting consumers from harmful products (succeeding in consumerism).

               My invention to help sustainability is a spray that kills bacteria, brightens clothes, and removes stains without washing and drying the clothes. Through this, washing and drying machines will not be used and waste water. Also, it will reduce waste water getting into the fresh water or sea water.