Giving back as much as you take - Essay Example

Critical Reflection Essay "Based on the concept of ‘giving back as much as you take’ from the environment, what commitments can you make personally in your lifestyle to contribute towards sustainability?" The concept of ‘giving back as much as you take’ from the environment has enjoined various organizations to become increasingly aware of the need to protect and sustain the environment’s natural wealth. As averred by Taylor – Cassan, (2007, par. 1), “recently, more and more companies have been becoming green.

They have been volunteering time and donating money to green causes, using green technology, and encouraging their employees to think green”. Environmental sustainability is defined as “maintaining the factors and practices that contribute to the quality of environment on a long-term basis” (Business Dictionary, 2011, par. 1). For a student, one can actively be committed in a transformation in one’s personal lifestyle through focusing on ways that would protect, preserve and sustain the environment.

One of the most common and simple way that would help contribute to environmental sustainability is to conserving electricity. People have the tendency to be indifferent in turning off lights or even water, when not in use. Turning off electrical appliances such as the television, computers, and other electrical gadgets from the plug would help minimize electrical consumption. Another simple and effective way to support sustainability is to observe the ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ slogan in terms of becoming responsible and aware the amount and quality of garbage that one throws away.

By enjoining friends and classmates to observe classification of things that can be recycled and reused, one is on the way to support sustaining the environment’s natural resources. The number of paper used should likewise be minimized. One can advocate using the back side of a clean paper for scratch to draft notes and correspondences. Printing should be monitored and observed to use the least number of pages to conserve trees in the environment. There is also value in conserving gas in transportation to and from the campus either by taking a bicycle, walking or take a ride to school with friends.

By conserving gas, pollution would be minimized from lessening gas emission. One can always join organizations that are actively promoting becoming green: planting trees, finding more about advanced recycling programs, developing think tanks for environmental protection to minimize the effects of global warming and climate change. Various universities have invited each and every student to make a personal commitment to undertake lifestyle changes by doing simple tasks such as: “recycle a can, decline a bag at a store, bring up sustainability in class to provoke discussion, join an organization, switch a light bulb, turn off the lights, take a shorter shower” (Drury University, n.d., 1), among others.

The time to make that personal commitment is now. References Business Dictionary. (2011). Environmental Sustainability. Retrieved 02 April 2011. Drury University. (n.d.). 10 Simple Ways to Support Sustainability on the DU Campus. Retrieved 02 April 2011. Taylor-Cassan, J. (2007). Everyday Companies Who Give Back To The Environment. Retrieved 02 April 2011.