Dear readers,

Work towards reducing your footprint....and no, we are not campaigning to revive the near forgotten methods of Chinese foot binding, neither are we catching on to the size zero fad amongst footsizes. We are only suggesting that living simply, enveloped in the heat and dust of our beloved homeland we can create waves of change in similar proportion to the Anna Hazare momentum. Make a beginning, lead by example and then amplify the impact through propagation–three steps to sureshot footprint stardom. In every category of day to day living, from food to goods and services, we can trim the fat for clean lean living.

In cities like Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and more, traffic is a nightmare, pollution is a killer and roads are obstacle races. To suggest that you walk, or take a bike to work, which incidentally may be 20 kms away, just wouldn’t work. But what may however be feasible would be to carpool, take the metro, or opt for the bus atleast twice a week. The saving achieved by such a weekly change may seem like a very small contribution by an individual–but wait–multiply that by the multitudes that inhabit our cities. Does that make your little contribution significant? Also, it would be unkind to expect one to brave India’s sweltering heat, switch off ACs and car engines, and wait till the traffic snarl unwinds amicably. We know that avoiding idling, as it is known, can sizeably reduce our carbon footprint–but practicability is quite another issue. One doable option during traffic holdups however would be to turn off the engine and use the latent cooling in the vehicle till it becomes unbearably hot. Exercise it, and see how far you can stretch your fuel rupee. As far as your personal vehicle is concerned, it just has to be serviced regularly to keep the emission control systems operating at peak efficiency. Also, especially for the cars that call our polluted cities their home, a monthly air filter check up is absolutely imperative. And keeping the tyres adequately inflated will maximise fuel mileage. Just one more thing. Don’t balk at suggestions of short distance travel by bus or train, say from Delhi to Jaipur, instead of an air plane. It will not compromise your stature - just lower your footprint.

It is expensive, but lasts longer. It cuts down on energy requirements, but not on lighting. It is easy to fix and easy to procure. Yes, we are advocating the compact fluorescent bulbs. But remember, compact fluorescents contain mercury, so look for mercury levels and be sure to dispose old bulbs safely. Also check out BEE star ratings on appliances and opt for the highest ratings although it will make an additional little dent in your pocket as higher rated appliances are usually more expensive  - but see it as a service to mankind. Importantly, unplug your electronics when not in use. Even when turned off, items like your television, computer, and cellphone charger still sip power.

Green your homes. Our ancestors’ sense of design arose out of their necessity to brave the odds - thick walls insulating against the heat, small windows protecting against direct sunlight, central courtyards allowing adequate flow of fresh air, watered khus khus curtains over open balconies, and more. In the surge of urbanisation and a newfangled electronic movement we have left behind our own green ideas. For most of us living in pre-created flats, opting for traditional methods of cooling may be close to impossible - but adapt we must! A new breed of architects who retrofit for green tech are coming up. Opt for such options when you refurbish your homes.

And this one is closest to my heart. Eat local and in-season foods. However enticing a juicy orange may look, pause before you buy. Was it transported over long distances to reach your local store? If yes, then buying would mean increasing your footprint by many many sizes. Feel your world - it is a pulsating, growing and living being.

Make every day an Earth Day....