NEW fight, new life! To begin again? Making up for lost time? These are some of the random thoughts that come to mind when one starts out on a new year. They help us look back and see what we have accomplished and failed to do as we continue to struggle and improve hoping to do better in the next 12 months.

On another front, one might also say that these thoughts apply equally to the environment and how we have treated Mother Earth.

Are we better off now in energy sufficiency? Despite government support, has the business sector taken serious initiatives to build energy-efficient projects? Or are they making false claims for marketing gimmicks to get more business?

Have we made any progress in reducing our mounting waste problem? Or are we running out of municipalities that are willing to be dumpsites for all the trash that big cities produce?

What about water? Have we started valuing water? Or do we continue to waste and pollute this very vital resource? Can we claim that marine life is back in many of our waterways? Are they safe for swimming or drinking?

Is Manila still listed as one of the most polluted cities in the world? Our New Year?s Eve fireworks didn?t help at all in this area, despite perennial attempts by the government to ban fireworks.

Let?s stop for a while and give a really honest evaluation. Should we get a passing or a failing grade? What should we have done better? Or is the situation helpless? What do you think?

Craving for many things

In today?s world, we crave for many things that are supposed to make our life more comfortable. We think we should have multiple cars, appliances and television sets in our houses. We claim that these are basic necessities. What we do not realize is the extent of energy wasted and its effect on the environment.

People have been bombarded with a lot of hype about green buildings and green technologies. They often read about solar panels, wind turbines, energy-saving lamps, green materials, etc. What many people do not realize is that being green is not merely attaching technical gadgets into their buildings while continuing with their wasteful lifestyles.

Being green is more about adopting a green lifestyle than using green technologies.

Let me cite a few examples. What is the point of using energy-efficient lamps in our homes if we turn them on even if no one is in the room? This is comparable to using a fuel-efficient car with poor driving and maintenance habits.

Even Al Gore, the former American Vice President, who won an Oscar award for his documentary on climate change ?The Inconvenient Truth,? was highly criticized for his 20-room mansion which consumes more energy in a month than the average American household in an entire year. Talk about lifestyle.

Another example would be to put a green building in the middle of nowhere hundreds of kilometers away from the nearest public transportation. No matter how the place is designed, this is still wasteful. Some people call this urban sprawl.

Solar panels now are getting more popular, although the price is still very steep for most people; it has generated a lot of interest. Again, most people tend to think that it is the cure-all for energy needs. Many projects aim to install these devices without considering the efficient design of the homes where they will be installed. Result? More solar panels are installed because more energy is necessary to handle excessive requirements.

Adopting green lifestyle

A very good example of adopting a green lifestyle is best shown in the heating and cooling needs of building occupants. For temperate countries, people are putting on extra warm clothing to minimize raising the thermostats thus, saving energy and for warm countries, wearing light, airy clothes help to cool building occupants without lowering the thermostats also, to cut down on energy use.

There are other examples that all have to do with changing our ways to a greener lifestyle. For example, using shower stalls instead of bathtubs and eliminating the use of expensive and water-intensive grass for our gardens and lawns can greatly reduce water use.

Using task lighting like table lamps instead of illuminating the whole room can be a practical way to save electricity.

The best way to be green starts with the design of one?s home. Considering that buildings and homes consume about 70 percent of the world?s energy, it makes sense to do it right as early as possible during the design stages of the project.

The true test for a green building is its energy consumption. This is easily measured in your electricity bill. For those planning to build their homes and buildings this year, try to find an architect who can really evaluate your needs based on green architecture principles. A green architect will help you reduce costs through substantial energy savings.

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