by: Jessica Sheridan Assoc. AIA LEED AP
Finally there’s someone trying to practice what’s been preached at us. I’ve been following the blog of Colin Beavan, aka No Impact Man, over the last couple of months, and while I continue to be inundated with new rules for a more sustainable life, his proactive approach touches on what the many government initiatives, Powerpoint presentations, guidelines, and new incentives lack: solutions put into action.
Beaven, along with his wife, 2-year-old daughter, and dog are attempting to live without making a net impact on the environment for one year. According to his website, “When we’re done, we can reenter the world of normal consumerdom equipped to decide which parts of our no impact lifestyle we’re willing to keep and which ones we’re not.” As he attempts to phase out all impactful aspects of his life — he consumes only locally-grown food, bikes or walks everywhere, and now borrows solar power from SolarOne to power his laptop as he eliminates the use of electricity — he approaches his experiment without pretense. He is simply searching for a better way of living and, through his blog, he shares his findings. The blog also serves as a means for readers to respond and write in with their own ideas about living a greener life.
At this point Beaven is half way through his year. While I become more aware of my daily impact, I am also becoming aware of how easy and rewarding it can be to make simple lifestyle changes. As Beaven’s wife, Michelle, wrote on the blog, “No Impact is a great ritual imploder. It’s about a lifestyle redesign, giving up what I think I can’t to see if something different, something better, emerges.”
Beaven seems to be making an impact beyond his blog as well. He has been on television several times, from “The Colbert Report” to “Good Morning America”; he makes guest appearances at environmental events (he moderated a mediabistro course and appeared at the LVHRD Bi-Fold Green celebration); he is on the radio (the “Brian Lehrer Show” and “Talk of the Nation” have featured his experiment). Ultimately, a book will be published and a movie will be produced. By providing suggestions and solutions, Beaven enables everyone with the knowledge of how they personally can make a difference. I look forward to the next six months and beyond.