I have learned many things about sustainability in Iceland. New statistics about greenhouse gas emissions and electricity use have shown me that America, my home, has left a huge dirty footprint on Earth. I now know that electricity produces 29% of greenhouse gases in America, which is the largest percentage of the total greenhouse gas emissions produced in the country. The average American home consumes much more energy than the average Icelandic home. America is the king of consumption and I am part of that consumption.
All this new knowledge inspires me to look at my own lifestyle and see what I can do to live more sustainably. I want to represent America in a positive light. I already practice many sustainable ways of life, such as eating on a low trophic level, growing my own food, shopping waste-free at the market, and buying clothing second-hand. These things have made me feel great, but I want to challenge myself to do more. So, I have been self-reflecting and have noticed some things in my daily life that I can let go of to create a more positive ecological footprint. The first thing I have started to do differently is to go through my morning routine without any lights on. This cuts down my electricity consumption and is no harder than doing it in the light. It has been fun, allows me to pay more attention to my movements, and notice the light gradually getting stronger. The simple act of getting ready in the dark has allowed me to connect more to myself and the rising sun. Another thing I have been working on is eating only what I need. With so much food readily available, it is easy for me to overeat. I have been trying to eat only when I am hungry. This has been a challenge and I know more about how much my cultural overconsumption has become a norm for me. I will break this societal habit and gain full respect for my resources. By eating mindfully I can begin to feed not only my stomach, but my soul as well. One more thing that I want to do is to take shorter showers. Here in Iceland, I have taken advantage of the geothermal energy and have been taking long showers, averaging at approximately 8 minutes. I want to challenge myself to shower in under 3 minutes in order to save energy and water. I aim to keep all these practices in my daily life and bring them home to America, where I hope to spread my seeds of sustainability.
I am realizing that in every daily action there are opportunities for sustainability. Every little thing counts and after some passing of time, those small daily actions suddenly become a mountain of positive change! It is exciting to be challenging myself on this Icelandic adventure. The more that I learn, the more I want to learn!
-Casey Robison