This is something that I learned from my computer science teacher back in high school (wow, that seems like forever ago especially since I am graduating in about 12 days..feel old). He used this term as a way of changing our learning habits. That it takes practice and “a-ha” moment to completely understand. I believe this goes for anything that we try to learn and master, but this is absolutely crucial when it comes to being sustainable/green/environmentally friendly/whatever you want to call it.
Being in this class has really changed my outlook and sometimes my behavior. I might not have changed my everyday lifestyle or my eating/showering habits, but I am definitely more aware of my impact. For example, having read the “This Guy can Get 59 mpg in plain accord” article, really makes me think about what I do when I drive. How hard am I braking, am I accelerating to quickly, what speed should I be going and still be on time…Previously, I would drive just to get places on time. Now I drive to get places on time and also observe my carbon footprint. I constantly critique myself on how I am driving and now one of those criteria is green driving.
I think this is where sustainability needs look to. Education is essential. It is our generation that will create and research technologies that will define the green playing field. It is also our duty to educate and bewilder and expose learning minds to the need for cleaner technologies, so that when it comes time for them to take ownership of their future, their world, it is obvious that they need to design not only to solve the problems they are targeting but to also do it in a way that is efficient and clean.
