Sunday 10 June 2012

"Time" The Most Finite of Non Renewable Resources

In the midst of all the global concern about and emphasis on decreasing our dependence on non-renewable resources involving everything from materials we choose to purchase and sources of energy generation we choose to advocate through to the foods we choose to buy/eat and modes of transportation we choose to take, we have lost sight of a very important non-renewable resource ...

TIME

I intentional repeat "we choose" to draw attention to the fact that the choice has been left up to us and that often choosing wisely in support of non-dependence on non-renewables and seeking a sustainable way of life takes time; it takes time to research the materials, products, and the service providers/companies.  It takes time to ask the questions that need to be asked.  It sometimes actually takes time to conduct research in support of figuring out how to do the right thing e.g., how do I dispose of construction waste, empty paint cans, electronic equipment, etc.  And, quite often, 

"it seems to cost more to make the 'right' choice".

Why is it that "time is money" unless it's your time?  

How much time are we collectively forced to waste?  I list the following as possible time wasters:
  • Commuting
o    we can't afford to live in the city wherein the company has chosen to locate
o    the company insists on standard hours
o    the company hasn't figured out resource management which would allow for telecommuting

I am convinced that if costs associated with commuting to work i.e., transportation + time were pushed back onto the employer through legislation, they would rather give us a raise than bear the costs.  I am also quite sure that the corporations' salary -structure take advantage of the fact that we don't live in Toronto.  This justifies paying us less based on the living expense where we live.  There was a time during which my commute time (based on % of work time*salary rate) + the associated transportation costs actually amounted to almost 10% of my salary.
  •  Waiting:
o    in traffic, due to poorly planned infrastructure and economic development initiatives
o    in doctors' offices – can't offer a logical reason for this one
o    in line at stores who are experimenting with self-checkout systems
  • Recycling:
o    sorting the unnecessary packaging, we never wanted to begin with, into the right bins
o    figuring out how to dispose of things the system won't accept
  •  Job Seeking / Working
o    I can't even imagine how many hours worth of valuable human resources are wasted seeking jobs during this era of key word resume scanning, social media overload, and job scarcity.
 o    Worse yet, I wonder how many people are 'under employed' just to pay the bills.  Surely, we can devise a better system than this?  Waste of human capital should be seen as a bigger problem than waste of $'s.
  • Bureaucracy:
o    Financial: co-op banks vs. public, mortgage companies vs. brokers, insurance, personal banking, investment / savings, taxes, pension plans, etc.
o    Public Services: public vs. private utilities and their services for electricity, gas, water, landline, cell phone, PDA, internet, TV.
o    Political: it seems as though every few months we are being asked to care about yet again another municipal bi-election, mayoral race, provincial or federal election.  In the grand scheme of things, I've never found the out outcome of any of these events to really make that much of a difference to my life.  While the time I think I should spend investigating individuals & party platforms is enormous.

All we really need is financial security, light, climate control (heating/cooling), electricity for our gadgets (AC & DC), and access to communication, interaction, and entertainment (voice communication, internet, messaging/emails, and movies).  If I were to approach you and say, "I will take care of all of this for you and monitor your habits to fine tune the service accordingly", I think that you would say, "Great".  The daily pestering from the myriad of individual service providers is just too much.

In support of a sustainable future, I suggest that much of this should really be offered as a service vs. a commodity.  As a commodity, think about $/min, $/GB, $/kWh, $/m3, etc. there is no incentive on the part of the provider to encourage you to become more efficient, no incentive for providers of products or ancillary services to improve, unless mandated (as it currently is through the Ministry of Energy for electrical appliances in terms of kWh consumption).  If we were to talk "lighting service", with all costs going back to the service provider, I bet you would quickly see motion detection based lighting with dimmer capabilities, LEDs, solar tubes, and houses designed to take advantage of natural lighting, etc. being mandated through the building codes and electrical standards.  But, I digress ...

Where any of us find TIME for family, hobbies & interests, and/or community involvement on top of our jobs and/or studies completely astounds me.

I really encourage us all to collectively / individually start pushing back on many of these fronts.

TIME is our PERSONAL non-renewable resource!

Why are we allowing others to mine it in so many unscrupulous and wasteful ways?

Take Your Stand

Demand the ability to telecommute at least 1 day a week.  You wouldn't believe how great you'll feel and how much more productive you'll probably be.  Or discuss shifting your hours so that you are commuting outside of the "hwy parking hour" window.  Even consider, if appropriate, offering to set up a branch office.  Expect/demand more from your employer.  At this day and age all companies are saying, "Our strength is our people."  Well, PEOPLE, speak up to improve your work environment; too many hours are spent there to ignore.  I recently read that OPower has days during which employees can bring their dogs to work!  How cool is that!

Choose to buy products with less packaging; comment, as appropriate, about packaging when it seems unavoidable.

Mention to those that make you wait that you're time costs X$/hr i.e. doctors, suggest to store managers that we need jobs and that auto-tellers are making the situation worse and wasting your time, etc.

I would advocate contacting your local MP, but it really depends on so many things. It's up to you on this one.

Stop buying in to the telemarketers offering you better rates for pretty much any utility/service; they are all about the same in the long run unless $20/mn is going to bankrupt you in the short term.  Request more inclusive, simpler bundlings.  Request services i.e., lighting vs. kWh of electron delivery :) Where there is a demand there will eventually be a service provider!  Maybe it will even be you & your company that head down this path.  I will happily be your first customer!

I propose that we try to live in a locally-focused, sustainable, supportive manner with our neighbours, neighbourhood businesses, and local farmers (markets).  Self-sufficiency at a community level is the key.  If we have all we need in terms of social engagement, food, clothing and shelter and the services required to sustain and maintain these amenities within our own community, we are invincible!! 

If you are overwhelmed by the call for activism, focus on your community or city and the aspects of it you would like to improve.

Focus on sustainable, local community / regional self-sufficiency

To engage with likeminded people in your area check out the local/global Transition Movement to support the efforts underway in your community.


It's YOUR TIME!
Don't let anyone else mine it.  Use it wisely!

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