365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge

3 years ago, I started my sustainability journey. Today, I'm often asked as expert to support other projects, conferences etc for example with the United Nations. Although it is sometimes a challenge to keep sharing content with you daily, I will continue with 1 post a day.

As I quit my job to dedicate myself full-time to sustainability, I don't have an employer to travel to. But a friend told me that she has made arrangements with her employer to work at home several days a week, so that she doesn't have to travel to work. Saves a lot of fuel!

I learned that there is a difference between #wastewater and wasted water. The way we currently use the word wastewater suits wasted water better: we get rid of water we have used. But wastewater has in contrast to wasted water a lot of value: https://medium.com/the-environment/3-reasons-why-wastewater-is-a-valuable-resource-and-shouldnt-be-wasted-9f57de2a1fc8 Wastewater should be recycled so that this valuable resource can be used (credit:  Hekla  on  Shutterstock )

It is impossible to make a razor that is blunt sharp again, as it is only possible to sharpen one side of the blade. However, by cleaning the blade on a jeans after using it, it is possible to keep the razor sharp for longer.

This looks very impressive. This solar station in the desert in Israel consists of many mirrors that reflect the sun to the top of the tower. The mirrors turn with the sun, so that electricity can be produced throughout the day. A great example of using #renewableenergy Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: See new Tweets Conversation MOT @nachal_giyus86 This solar filed is located in south Ashalim in Negev desert and it’s called “Negev energy power station”. It provides green electricity to the environment in high quantities! #Israel #Innovation

Shortly after writing an article about hemp-based products ( https://medium.com/climate-conscious/6-ways-hemp-can-be-used-as-great-alternative-to-conventional-materials-ed1279a5d528 ), I noticed hemp-based t-shirts in a a clothes shop. Apart from buying second-hand t-shirts, I also bought two of them, as hemp is more environmentally friendly than cotton. I love the color and material! 

This feels other-worldly: certain fungi can hijack ants' brains! After they have entered an ant's brain, they can manipulate it in such a way that the ant is likely to die in a position that benefits the fungus. Here it can grow, produce spores and spread itself. Incredible!

Close to where I live, there is a bush. I was really curious what is inside this bush to walked over there. However, I decided not to get too close to be able to leave the wildlife alone and prevent me from disturbing it.

This week, I learned that agave syrup is a great vegan and natural substitute for traditional sweeteners such as table sugar and honey. Funny enough, I already had some syrup in my fridge, which I bought for making bread. Now I know I can use it for my muesli as well.

On a walk, I passed a building that specializes in weddings. Just before the entrance, I saw these pallets. A very creative way to make a welcome sign!

Air transportation is an integral part of our society but harmful for the environment. That's why it's important to fly as little as possible, for example by going on holiday by train or bike instead, and make this sector more environmentally friendly: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-air-transportation-can-become-more-environmentally-friendly-2a6fccca09e1 With more airplanes in the air, it is important to make the aviation sector more environmentally friendly (credit:  Jag_cz  at  Shutterstock )

Did you know that whales' poop is vital for oceans? Whales eat fish in the deep sea and bring nutrients such as iron and nitrogen up to the surface by pooping. This helps certain types of plankton to bloom which are eaten by other marine animals. eventually closing the loop.

In 2020, I noticed a little tree in my herb garden. It is great to see how it has grown a lot since then. However, having at some point a full grown tree on that spot is not going to work. Instead of pulling it out and throwing it away, I have carefully looked for a different place. Now I hope it enjoys its new home.

This picture is by the German government. It thanks for and invites everyone to save energy. Apart from serving the environment, it is urgent as reserves can't currently be replenished and a shortage in winter is expected.  ➡️100 ways to save energy: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-to-reduce-the-impact-of-increasing-energy-prices-79ef853f4c5

When buying clothes, it is more environmentally friendly to buy clothes that last longer, as fewer clothes need to be produced. Fewer materials have to be used, fewer packaging, fewer shipping, less energy is needed for disposal, etc. Here you can see cycling shirt I still have! More about clothes recycling: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-old-clothes-can-be-recycled-and-put-to-good-use-again-baf752b4323d

Did you know that buildings can be turned into air-pollution-eaters? By adding certain microscopically small particles to the coating of buildings' walls, walls are able to decompose for example nitrogen pollutants and some chemicals. And already a thin layer makes this work! Picture adapted from  dymaxfoto  on Shutterstock

When it gets really hot during summer, it is sometimes too hot to go out or feel good. To solve that problem, I put my t-shirt under the tap, make it completely wet and put it on again. The first few seconds are a bit cold but after that, it is lovely. It saves me a lot of energy for cooling down and I can use this trick both inside and outside.

"That's funny!" I normally don't think of the word funny in the context of environmental issues. And yet, #humor can be used to communicate serious topics such as #climateChange. As it can also distract, I explain here how to use it effectively: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/thats-not-funny-how-to-use-humor-to-raise-climate-change-awareness-fbca0e8cb414 Humor can be effective when communicating environmental issues (credit: image by  Infinity Eight Productions ; published with permission)

What a great idea: I came across a recipe to make pesto from radish leaves. These are normally leftovers for me, so I'm glad I can use them from now on. Recipe: https://medium.com/@rethink2gether/easy-tasty-zero-waste-recipe-cherry-tomato-and-radish-salad-with-burrata-and-radish-top-pesto-50f4102f83d Credit: @rethink2gether

The main airport in The Netherlands is 4 m (13 ft) below sea level! But with #climateChange, not only saltwater needs to be kept out, also freshwater kept in. And while policies made sure that the ground water level is kept low, these now needs to be changed due to drought. Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: One-third of the Netherlands is below sea level, and two-thirds is vulnerable to flooding.Have a look at the Policy of the Dutch Government to have an insight on how the country manages with flooding and high waters by developing innovative water management techniques. #dutch

I got a letter from my city to ask me to fill in a questionnaire about all kind of initiatives they plan to do, in order to make the city’s future more sustainable. I of course support such initiatives so filled in the questionnaire right away.

Do you know how cashew nuts grow? I for a long time didn't know and only recently learned that they grow with some kind of apple. Attached to this apple is a shell, and in this shell is the cashew nut. As nature makes a huge effort, I appreciate these nuts even more!

Invasive species can affect ecosystems and harm the environment. That is why it is important not to bring any seeds when traveling abroad. This sign at the airport points this out, and I obliged happily. 

To me this World Climate Declaration sounds like the magnified minority fallacy and bulk fake expert fallacies, two forms of  misinformation : ***Magnified minority fallacy*** The article says that over 1,100 experts signed a declaration that there is no climate emergency. But how many scientists and professionals have NOT signed it because they disagree? If for example 110.000 experts did NOT sign it because they disagree, 1.100 sounds like a lot, but it is only 1%. Unfortunately, the number of experts asked is not mentioned (if you saw it, please let me know). ***Bulk fake expert fallacies*** The article says that 1,100 scientists and professionals have signed the declaration. But are they scientists and professionals in the field of climate change? Due to time limitation, I didn't check the whole list, but chose two random names. This is what I found: - Benoît Rittaud is a mathematician, who hasn't recently published about climate change related topics (his publication list...

A few years ago, I learned how to fold such paper flowers. I used to use square pieces of paper that I bought in a shop. But this time, I preferred to make them from paper that I reused. That’s why I chose an old book and cut squares out of the pages.

As pollution is becoming more common, it is important to know the impact on ecosystems. This can be analyzed using so-called biomarkers. For example, pollution can be indirectly assessed by measuring how animals change due to pollutants. Learn more: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-animals-can-tell-us-whether-and-how-badly-we-polluted-the-environment-21755bd5e599 A marker test can be done to measure the amount of pollution (credit:  Aleksandra Gigowska  on  Shutterstock )

On my journey back from Thailand, I had to wait at the airport for a while. As I had to drink all my water before the security check, I used the remaining time to look for a fountain to refill my bottle, instead of buying a plastic bottle.

Nature is often an inspiration. Maybe flies and #octopuses for sure: https://medium.com/the-environment/3-eye-popping-characteristics-of-octopuses-that-inspire-modern-technology-19931a9e42ef . This is one reason #nature is our friend, buddy, teacher, lover, ally, you name it. Do you care well for your friend, lover, etc? If yes, does it makes sense to care for nature too? Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: It's not stained glass. It's a dragonfly's wing close-up

When I rescued the frame from being disposed (#303), I didn’t like it that much after all. Therefore, I decided to use it for a new piece of art. For that, I first painted it white.

Before I share my experience on this, I would love to hear from you: Why is it so easy to live environmentally friendly? I'm looking forward to hear your point of view in the comments. Thank you!

I noticed this in a hotel that they used a washable cloths on the tray, instead of a single-use paper cloth. This is great, as I guess they use many of these cloths each day.

I believe that we have all the technology and knowledge needed to move forward faster towards a healthier planet, and that only our psychology slows down our progress. For example, we are even able to 3D print a fake steak to reduce the negative environmental impact of the livestock sector! They can be made from cells grown in the lab meat byproducts plant based materials or insect based materials. If we can do that, we can believe in ourselves that we are able to sort out the rest as well. Making a positive difference every single day by taking action is a good start. Learn more about 3D printed meat and how you and I can take action: https://medium.com/a-microbiome-scientist-at-large/fake-steak-how-meat-can-be-3d-printed-and-whether-it-is-sustainable-66b122d89918 A 3D printed fake steak (credit:  Rimma Bondarenko  on  Shutterstock )

I love how @environment_go puts it, which is similar to my motto "a better world starts with yourself". And what a tweet like this shows me: even when we put it in different words, our goal is the same and we are in this together! #savetheplanet #climateactionnow Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: "Time waits for no man, and so does the Earth." Why do we wait for others when we can effect a change through our own little actions for the climate? Let the change start in your little space and spread through it. #Climateaaction #humanity #climatebrawl #EnvironmentalJustice

Sometimes, I’m a bit lazy and bring the food waste to the compost bin (#156) a bit late. In that case, the bin has become dirty and I need to clean it. By now bringing the food out earlier, the bin remains cleaner, which saves water and soap for cleaning.

When I noticed that the head of my dish brush needed replacement urgently, I remembered that I bought this brush because I can replace the head. And indeed, I found a new head, which means I reduce waste.

On my way to Thailand for the Water and Waste management conference 2 months ago, I saw this video at the airport. As Germany does a lot of recycling, which is not always easy straight away, I love it that they help travelers find the right bin.

Whenever I have to clean the staircase, I make sure that I do so during the day, so that there is still daylight. This prevents me from having to use the lights.

Some climate change messages give me a feeling that something isn't quite right. This happens when the message contains misinformation based on for example logical fallacies, fake experts, conspiracy theories, and impossible expectations. As misinformation is harmful for how we see the current environmental crisis and whether we take action, it is important to recognize and counter this misinformation. Learn more about how to recognize and counter misinformation: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/shocked-by-climate-change-denial-how-to-deal-with-misinformation-4aefff91c232 Misinformation can be very damaging (credit:  Yeti studio  on  Shutterstock )

A while ago, I learned about a campaign to inspire each and everyone of us to bring outdated or unused pills back to the pharmacy. By doing so, they can be disposed of properly. Otherwise they can for example pollute water. 

I love this! There are so many different ways in which we can make a positive difference, for #nature and each other! And what we do doesn't really matter, most important is that we do it. Thank you @StefanMBuettner for all you do! Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: Glad having been able to help save someone's life to whom I appear to be a perfect donor match, I am now back to help creating #resilience against #gas & #ClimateCrisis. Stay tuned for new interviews, talks, data, briefings & publications over the next couple of weeks. #EEIndex

I received a box that had paper in it to prevent the contents from being damaged and found out that I can use it to wrap presents. And as tape, I used some pieces that were left from crafting.

To protect my credit card from bending, I needed a case. Instead of going to the bank to get a plastic one, I created one from the bottoms of two mild cartons. With tape I connected these parts and made the case even stronger. I think the result is great (I'm aware that that is probably because I made it myself, not because it looks so great :) ).

I often hear “why isn’t anyone doing anything?” and "we must start to act now". Apart from being incorrect (I'm already taking action every day) I prefer to ask "what is stopping me from doing more?" and “how can I act now?” as I believe "a better world starts with yourself"

Coral reefs are at risk due to climate change, so we often think about the importance of coral. But did you know that sponges on these reefs are doing an awesome job too? They for example recycle carbon and nitrogen, and remove pollution. Learn more:  https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/coral-reef-stars-why-sponges-on-coral-reefs-are-doing-an-awesome-job-2908681d71e1 (credit:  John A. Anderson  on  Shutterstock )

When I go shopping, I bring my own bag instead of buying a new one. I’ve been using the trolley for example already for years, which has saved me a huge pile of bags.

In a Dutch city, the urban forest is walking, being driven around to different places in the city. A great way for citizens to experience #nature more! And now the trees have come to them, many don't want to let them go. See, we just sometimes forget how wonderful nature is! Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: A “walking forest” of 1,000 trees was never going to move at speed. Since May, volunteers have been transporting the native trees planted in wooden containers along a 3.5km stretch through the Leeuwarden, giving people an opportunity to experience an alternative greener future

Old glass can be used for many more purposes than creating new glass (Learn more:  https://medium.com/the-environment/7-alternative-ways-to-recycle-glass-waste-7b308b3eb117 ). One of the ways is to create mosaic in for example a pavement stone.

Yesterday, I saw this tree with bags around it. If found out that they are watering bags. They water the tree for 6-9 hours through tiny holes, to prevent it from dying due to climate change. And watering like this is more effective than using a watering can. Great idea!

I have learned that doing the dishes by hand requires – with the right habits – less energy and water. That’s why I’ve done it by hand.

Did you know plastic can be like a boomerang? When you throw it away, it can eventually come back to you. But if it does, it probably returns without you knowing. This is because it for example ended up in the beef or fish on your plate. Learn more: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-plastic-that-ends-up-or-is-dumped-in-the-ocean-affects-aquatic-organisms-a7452d60f55 Plastic dumped in the ocean is often eaten by aquatic organisms (credit:  Pogorelova Olga  on  Shutterstock )

Although a vegan or vegetarian meal is even more environmentally friendly, eating insect based products is also better than eating livestock meat. One of the products made from insects if flour, which can be used to bake bread. More on eating insects: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/6-reasons-why-we-should-be-eating-farmed-insects-d512e658ad09

Good news: In July Switzerland opened a facility to generate and store #renewableEnergy. It is based on two lakes, one higher than the other. How this technology works is explained in: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/how-energy-from-renewable-sources-can-be-stored-696b425c302 It can for example charge 400.000 electrical vehicles in parallel! Loading... Twitter Embed Code Zwei Seen, eine riesige Staumauer und sechs Hochleistungsturbinen: In der Schweiz steht ein gigantisches Pumpspeicherwerk. Die neue Anlage kann genug Strom speichern, um 400.000 E-Autos aufzuladen. Gleichzeitig.

By removing a lot of old emails, I save storage capacity. But also, when I make a backup from my hard drive, it saves time and energy as all these old emails don’t need to be transferred.