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Transition: Self Reliance/Sufficiency
Last updated:  2008-02-08 by Frank  via:  fleeding AT hotmail DOT com

See also:  -[The Transition Fort Worth Forum/Network]- (on ning.com)

See also:  -[Good Neighbors]- (brit comedy: The Good Life)
               --> a prototype for urban self-sufficiency!


Self Reliance/Sufficiency
On this page
   {Intro} (a penny saved, is...)   
   {Recycle} Recycle, reuse, ...
   {Batteries} Recharge and save
   {}
   {}
   {}
   {Links}



See also: Multiplicities
(ways of approaching transition)
  -[Self Reliance]- 
   (simple things that pay off now)
  -[Appropriate Technology]-
  -[Decentralisation]-
  -[Localisation]-
  -[Post Carbon]-
  -[Post Petroleum]-
  -[Beyond Oil]-
        -["Communitas"]-
        -[EDU: Teaching, Learning, Exploring]-
        -[Recycling]-
        -[]-
  -[]-



Intro
 
(A penny saved, is a penny earned)

Ben Franklin had that right. Now more than ever
we are aware that when we buy something it costs
us more than just it's price. We have to drive to
the store, stalk up and down the isles looking for
the thing and then trying to figure out if what
that particular store has is what we *really* want.
More often than not, we end up buying something that
we're not really happy with and a few years down
the road it's in our garage/yard sale....

So, a lot of this is just common sense, and
being a savy consumer. Note that a *lot* of
ads on tv are designed to make us go out and
buy, buy, buy NOW NOW NOW!!!! Let's face it,
those kinds of things are soooo 20th century; sheesh.
              

Recycle
 Recycle, reuse, ...


               

Batteries
(Recharge and save)


It finally got to the point, where i decided
to bite the bullet and buy a recharger and
several sets of rechargeable batteries. I have
a basket into which we put the used ones so
that i can recharge them. The recharged batteries
are in a separate box. So, far we haven't bought
any batteries (except see below) for over a year
now.

The metal-hydride are best for cameras, ipods, etc.

The problem is with flash lights. If we don't use
the battery for a long time (say 3 or 4 months)
the batteries *do* discharge. So, we've got some
of the plug-in-the-wall flash lights that go on
if the power goes off and they continually re-charge.
The onese we have also have a night-light feature
but it doesn't turn off during the day --- hmmm.

The manufacturers are sure to respond with new
products. 

In the mean time, for your old batteries you can 
take them to your local radio shack store and
they will see that they are recycled. Needless
to say, the chemicals in the batteries aren't
good for the environment and (like aluminum cans)
it's hundreds of times more efficient to take
the batteries and melt them down rather than 
having to go out and dig up/process/transport
fresh ore.




  

Links