Posted on 09/19/2007 9:48:42 AM PDT by traumer
It is mid-afternoon in an airy, lower-Manhattan flat, on the ninth floor of a posh-looking building with a doorman.
It is a bit dark and there are no lights on. There is a strange quiet feel to the flat, perhaps due to the lack of any appliances - no fridge humming, no TV interference, even no air conditioning, though it is hot and humid outside.
Walk into the bathroom, and you will notice that there is no toilet paper, no bottles of shampoo or toiletries.
In the kitchen, berries and cheese are laid out on the counter and there are candles on the dining table.
This is the home of No-Impact Man, aka Colin Beavan, who describes himself on his blog as a "guilty liberal who finally snaps, swears off plastic... turns off his power... and while living in NYC turns into a tree-hugging lunatic who tries to save the polar bears".
While there are a lot of people who think that we're freaks, our friends have been really supportive, and they do come over and play Scrabble with us in the dark Michelle Beavan
He has dragged his wife, Michelle, and young daughter Isabella, along for the ride.
"The concept is that we should have no net environmental impact, which is, of course, technically not feasible," says Colin.
"So the idea is that we would reduce our negative impact and increase our positive impact."
Cutting the trash
The 43-year-old writer says he is not manically trying to offset everything, but he tries to get involved in environmentally friendly or sustainable projects around the city.
The first stage of the one-year experiment was to reduce rubbish. The family buys only second-hand goods and takes a hamper to the market.
Colin uses a glass jar he picked up from the trash as a reusable cup when he orders take-out coffee or juice.
Cleaning products Baking soda, vinegar and borax are used as cleaning products
Food is bought every other day from the nearby farmers' market on Union Square, and put in the hamper without wrapping.
The family then stopped using all carbon-producing transport, so they now walk or cycle.
They then shut down electricity in the flat - no more dishwasher, fridge or washing machine.
Now they are trying to reduce the amount of water they use, from the 80-100 gallons (303-379 litres) a day used by the average American, down to seven.
The more the experiment advances, the more drastic the changes become.
"I was a typical American consumer - I shopped a lot, I ate most of my meals in take-out containers, I took cabs everywhere," said Michelle, a journalist with a weekly business magazine.
Although she still goes to the office every day (on her bike), uses the elevator to get to the 43rd floor, turns on her computer and uses a mobile phone, she has had to redesign her whole life.
"It has been a shock to the system."
Michelle admits there were times when she regretted agreeing to the no-impact experiment, but says it has been one of the best adventures of her adult life.
"In essence, the project has really slowed down time, which is pretty amazing considering how fast time has become, and especially with us living in New York - you come home to a quiet, soothing cocoon."
Worm farm
For news from the outside world, there is the solar-powered crank-up radio, although the family rarely uses it.
A solar panel on the roof provides power for a laptop and one light.
From the kitchen, Colin brings out a wooden box with air holes on the sides. He opens the lid and scoops up a handful of dark brown matter that looks and smells like earth. In fact, it's a combination of fruit and vegetable peels and worms.
"This is the compost box, the worms take the food scraps and they turn it into compost," explains Colin.
There are many places all over the world that don't use toilet paper ... it's a lot more hygienic Colin Beavan
What happens in the toilet, where there's no toilet paper?
"What I'll tell you, is this: There are many places all over the world that don't use toilet paper," is all he will say at first.
He then adds that because people wash, it is a lot more hygienic.
For detergents, laundry, body soap and toothpaste, they use a combination of vegetable oil, baking soda, vinegar and borax.
The Beavans realise that not everybody can afford to embark on a similar radical experiment or live like that long-term.
They also make clear that it is an experiment, and they have had their doubts about what works and what really makes a difference.
They insist they do not want to force their ideas on anyone else, but they feel happy about the difference it has made to their own lives.
Their life is now centred around the kitchen table, as well as activities such as riding bikes together.
"While there are a lot of people who think that we're freaks, our friends have been really supportive, and they do come over and play Scrabble with us in the dark," Michelle says.
Creature comforts
But is it really possible to have no impact on the environment while living in a city where any resident is inevitably part of the system?
"There's no question that this city has an infrastructure and some of the impact of the city itself should get credited to us," said Colin.
"But the fact is that it is actually easier to live an efficient life in this city, and this is well documented. Here in New York, we emit about a third of the carbon per member of the population of the rest of the country, and it's because of the efficiencies of scale of this city."
We're not going to bring the air-conditioner back. We're going to continue to ride our bikes everywhere. The fridge will come back, but will be used minimally Colin Beavan
The Beavans say that when the experiment is over, they will not simply revert to their old way of living.
"We're not going to bring the air-conditioner back. We're going to continue to ride our bikes everywhere. The fridge will come back, but will be used minimally," says Colin.
Michelle cannot wait to turn on the washing machine again. Hand-washing clothes has been the toughest change and a chore that has meant laundry is often not done, though Isabella enjoys stomping the clothes in the bathtub.
Colin is planning to write a book about his year as No-Impact Man - his publishers are looking at sustainable ways of publishing.
It may be a worthwhile experiment in the eyes of some, or a total waste of time by a tree hugger for others. But whatever you think of the Beavans, somehow when you leave their flat it feels like there is only one option - to walk down the nine flights of stairs.
“If every screaming liberal who wanted to “help the environment” would simply commit suicide, then the rest of us could share the world’s resources more easily. It shouldn’t be hard to convince them to off themselves; just tell them it’s “for the children.” “
Ah there is an advocacy group for that !! Not exactly suicide but ... read for yourself — from vhemt org:
“...Grim Reaper to the Rescue?
Will super hero Grim Reaper pull our precious Gaia from the brink of ecological catastrophe in time? Will generous, sweeping strokes of his deadly scythe mow down millions of humans, stopping us before we destroy ourselves and our host?
Grim Reaper’s henchmen, Famine, Disease, and War, joined lately by mutant cousin, Plutonium, are harvesting as fast as ever, and haven’t kept up with our rank growth.
Yet, despite Death’s dismal record for slowing human population growth, some today advocate utilizing more of his services for the benefit of all...
I could not read the article. Started feeling nauseous after a few sentences. Blah!
Other then for the discussed usage? (;-0
Well, they get used in cooking to wrap foods for cooking, for example in tamales.
Liberals believe in evolution and it being the natural cause and reason for species to be here in their numbers. Its just part of nature right? It is fact and irrefutable to them. Correct?
Liberals also believe that man is not part of nature. We are seperate from it. Natures enemy even. Right?
So if evolution is a part of nature, and man is apart from nature, how could man have evolved instead of being created?
Nutwad.
I guess I need to start watching South Park again...(chuckle)
The only thing that bothers me is the part where they say they wash instead of using toliet paper. Wash with what? Wash rags that they then throw in the tub for the kid to stomp on come wash day? It just does’nt seem sanitary to me.
The Amish are also very frugal. Nicest people you ever would want to meet ,until you have to ride 7 floors with them in an elevator. Not good.
That said, 'moss' was choice, years ago. . .
And the experimenter and author will be 'Colin'? Interesting how names mean things. . .
The concluding episode of the show had the lead character's ex-boss convinced by the "success" of the Goods that theirs was such an attractive lifestyle that he embarked on it himself...on a farm he'd just bought.
There is no such thing as zero carbon impact for the breathing. Ol stinky is trying to make a fortune on his book nobody will read. Problem is the book has more paper than 10 yrs of TP.
Pray for W and Our Troops
“Worm Farm”
Very Nice.
Homeless people who pay rent. Now there’s an odd concept.
“Nicest people you ever would want to meet, until you have to ride 7 floors with them in an elevator.”
Wonder how wifey’s co-workers are taking her - ahem - bodily emissions? No soap, no toilet paper, no deoderant, no shampoo, no perfume, no air conditioning. No thanks!
OK folks, let’s do the math, shall we? Each toilet flush is 1.5 gallons. With 3 people, even if they only flush 1 per person, per day, that is 4.5 gallons. If they only use seven gallons per day, that leaves 2.5 gallons for hygeine and cooking. This adds up to a disgusting, filthy family, who should not be allowed in civil society.
He says that other cultures wash-up instead of using toilet paper? How do you wash-up with 2.5 gallons between the three of you and still have anything left to shower with? This is truly revolting.
Let me revise my last math equation concerning 4.5 gallons of water if they flush 3 times per day. This guy composts his poop, so he saves on water that way. I have had a composting toilet at our camp and they are not the most sanitary things I have ever been around. Never again.
It's hard to imagine him roughing it when his dwelling is described as 'posh'. Now, a 4th floor walk-up in a neighborhood bereft of doormen and elevators and 'posh-ness', maybe. Maybe a tent in Central Park...
This is the home of No-Impact Man, aka Colin Beavan, who describes himself on his blog as a "guilty liberal who finally snaps, swears off plastic... turns off his power... and while living in NYC turns into a tree-hugging lunatic who tries to save the polar bears".
When it's 30 degrees outside, his neighbors heat will help keep his dwelling more comfortable, so again, he's only borrowing from them. And no toilet paper? Ugh. That's the way other countries who don't have toilet paper do it - and they do have more diseases we don't have. Need more germ-x....
I would imagine they pose a fire hazard due to all the candles that they are using to play scrabble with their friends at night.
Ok, it's crap like this that makes me want to scream.
He didn't already own a cup or jar that he could have used for this purpose?
Give me a break! It's one thing to want to do what you can to help reduce man's negative impact on the environment, but this kind of nonsense is an attempt to shock people and get them to notice you. It's attention deficient behavior.
It's not about "saving the planet", it's about being acknowledged that you are "saving the planet".
Of course, we could simply stop population growth by ending legal immigration, which would leave more resources for Americans to use.
But that would be too simple.
Hey, maybe I can sell the Beavans some ass-wipe offsets!
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