7 January 2009 - 16:21Want Not, Waste Not: Teachings from your Elders

I spent a few days with my grandparents over the holidays, and had a great time sharing stories, meals and laughs. My grandmother just turned 86 and my grandfather will be 90 in five months. They are both healthy and active, real examples of vitality and longevity.

Henry and Lydia celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary

I’ll admit there was a downside to the visit, and it involved an old uncomfortable sofa bed that really should have been retired thirty years ago. But laying awake at night on the springless springs got me thinking. How many things in this house had been salvaged, reused or passed along? The sofabed was acquired from a friend of theirs, my grandma still uses her first-ever hair dryer, and when there was a 1/4 cup of coffee left in the pot, my grandfather made me drink it because “we shouldn’t waste it.”

It would seem my grandparents have a conservation ethic. They do not replace their appliances when a new one comes along, nor do they approve of wasting any food. BUT, is it practicing conservation when your appliances are so outdated that they are actually consuming more energy to operate?

Some folks will never warm to the idea of spending money on brand new items even if it means conserving energy, water, or fuel. But next time you make a consumer choice, try asking yourself the following questions:

Do I need this new product?
What will I do with the one I am replacing? Can someone make use of it? Can it be recycled? Can it become something else, maybe a craft project?
Could I get the same product second-hand?
Will this new product help me save more electricity/power or water?
What are the environmental standards (and business ethics) of the company who produced the product?

Finally, if you are ever unsure about whether or not you should hop on a plane to visit your grandparents (or your grandchildren), always go with yes.