Brittanydee
Registered: April 2009
Posts: 1
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When you live sustainably, your life becomes one big environmental volunteer project. Believe me, I would know. After spending the past 4 years in the rural hills of Hawaii, I have come to obtain priceless knowledge about how to be more ecologically aware, sustainable, and an advocate for the environment.
In 2005, my family relocated to a picturesque, heavily foliaged 2.5 acre property. We were suddenly surrounded by nothing but forest, and our nearest neighbors were at least half of a mile away. My parents, having a strong sense on environmental responsibility chose to build their dream home without relying on traditional means for power or water.
This meant that we were completely self-sustaining, and generated all of our own electricity and stored our water through catchment.
The initial move was difficult, because there was a lot that had to be established in order for us to be independent from all outside utilities. Thankfully, my father, being the brilliant engineer that he is, designed a photovoltaic power system and plumbed a water-catchment storage tank. What was once an undeveloped piece of land slowly transformed into a utopia for my family and I. The five of us put in thousands of hours of hard labor, and it was simply spectacular to see what we had created. We had constructed a beautiful home, a nearly-flawless system, and a bountiful garden. Life was splendid.
However, over time, we came to find that our needs were barely being met with our current system. Recognizing that solar panels can onlyt generate power during the day, under sunny weather conditions, my father designed a wind generator that had the potential to generate double the amount of power that we were currently producing. It was erected in January of 2009, with the help of dear friends and family. Somehow, we remarkably managed to erect the 30-foot pole with out the aid of a crane, solely relying on our trusted Chevrolet truck, and 14 diligent hands. In all candor, I had never felt quite as proud as I did once the wind generator was up and in place.
I can assure you that sustainability is not easily achieved, nor is it easy to live with at times. It takes vast amounts of planning, hard work, and dedication to our benevolent Mother Earth. However, once you see the fruits of your labor, and can fully recognize how sustainable living impacts the planet, it’s worth it. I am truly grateful for being able to be a part of the sustainable experience, not only because of how it has affected my future choices regarding the environment, but also because it has equipped me with invaluable knowledge that I will carry with me and share for the rest of my life.
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