Transition Asheville www.transitionasheville.org
Family/Personal Energy Descent Plan:
How to Change Your Habits & Save the Earth
Sample Energy Descent Guidelines:
· Fix or don’t replace; or if needed, buy smart (quality, longevity, ease of repair, efficiency); if possible, plan how to phase out.
· Use less, buy less; develop sharing & barter strategies
· Move to low maintenance & wherever possible, to no maintenance.
Stages of Energy Descent:
· Immediate (first steps)
· Intermediate (projects or changes that require some learning)
· Energy Descent (commitments to change designs & behaviors)
Some Areas to Rethink:
· Food (growing, finding/gathering, preserving, cooking, sharing)
· Energy Management (increasing efficiency, preventing waste, developing new strategies for usage)
· Water (multiple use strategies, preventing waste, collecting rain water)
· Transportation (changing driving habits, planning for ride-sharing, alternatives to the auto)
· Property Maintenance (redesign yards according to permaculture principles, develop cooperative arrangements with neighbors such as tool-sharing)
· Acquisitions/Consumer behaviors (reduce-reuse-recycle, buy from/support local suppliers & businesses, develop ways to share items when possible)
· Investing (investigate the ideas of the Slow Money movement, learn about socially responsible investing, explore agencies that primarily support local &/or regional enterprises)
An Example of Energy Descent Planning:
AREA IMMEDIATE INTERMEDIATE LONG TERM
Water for Garden Use drip irrigation build rainwater use non-motorized
collectors pump(s)
Food-growing Create garden beds learn about growing grow 50%
winter vegetables of food
Food preserving learn how to can build a solar dryer preserve 40%
& dry foods of food
Lawn mowing leave some areas electric or hand mower all areas in
unmowed study permaculture garden or natural
Home heating install programmable increase insulation, replace
thermostat seal heating system
with solar system
(Print out and Fill-in below to create your own individual energy descent plan.)
Area | Immediate | Intermediate | Long-term goal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|