Sign in Form
Your content has been submitted
What to do as a Frugalist
01
Read All the words
We need to understand the case we are making.
02
Promote Frugalism wherever you can. To relatives, friends, Colleagues, etc. We need it to go viral.
03
Take on as many as you can of the Commitments.
04
As you get into it – try to take on more.
THE FRUGAL COMMITMENTS
GENERAL
Frugalism calls on everyone to reduce their consumption by meeting their needs rather than their wants. If you are rich there is lots of scope for doing this. If you are poor you may be barely able to meet your needs and any reduction may be impossible. Further we are all human and it is not unreasonable to allow ourselves some small indulgences – we cannot all be saints, like Gandhi. However we can all be aware and do our best.
The Frugal commitments highlight some of the things to which you can commit.
TRAVEL
Traveling is one of the activities which is most detrimental to the Earth. The various ways we travel have very different loads on the environment:
FLYING
Despite what the aviation industry tells us, is about the worst thing we do. Not least because aircraft emissions at altitude are about twice as damaging as emissions at ground level, but also because they encourage us to travel long distances, ( “Go to nice places and spoil them!”). Fuel consumption per seat/mile, although improving are surprisingly high, at about 67mpg per seat.
Short haul flights are significantly worse about 33mpg per seat.
Fl1. I will not fly at all except in an emergency.
Fl2. I will not take short haul flights.
Fl3 I will limit my flying to 1000 (to choose but make a reduction) miles per year.
CAR TRAVEL
Is also very damaging to the Earth. Car production uses lots of resources. Car traveling uses lots of fuel (, or electricity). One person in a car is worse than lots of people in a car. Typically one person uses 40 mpg per person, and 4 people in the car use 160 mpg/ person.
CA1. I will not use the car, when there are better alternatives (walking, cycling, or using public transport).
CA2 I will attempt to ensure that I share lifts with others.
CA3 I will get an economical car.
CA4 I will drive slower and more economically.
CRUISES
Are a very polluting form of travel. Use dirty fuel and produce lots of noxious emissions and waste. Dump lots of people in beautiful places.
CR1 I will not take cruises.
CR2 I will only take 1 cruise every 2(optional) years.
GOING BY SEA
Often a better option than flying or driving a long way.
GS1 I will go by sea rather than flying.
HOUSES
Our homes cost a lot to buy and maintain, this reflects their strain on the Earth's systems. However, lots of things can be done to reduce the damage to the Earth. Improving insulation will reduce the demand for heating. Installing more efficient heating systems reduces the demand for fuel. (Passivhauses need virtually no heating to keep them warm.) Houses can be equipped with renewable energy heating systems.
H1 I will not live in an extravagant house.
H2 As far as I am able I will make my house more environmentally friendly - improve its insulation – get a more efficient heating system – install solar panels - use low energy lighting.
H3 I will turn my heating system down in winter and wear warmer clothing.
H4 I will not use Air-conditioning in summer (very wasteful).
H5 I will not redecorate my home unnecessarily.
POPULATION
Almost a taboo subject.
But the ever growing Human population is a real problem. The Earth cannot support its present population let alone an increased population. Every new baby is celebrated ; but we do have to think seriously about this. A few people have already committed to having no children. If people want a large family there are lots of children who need to be adopted.
P1 I will commit to having no children.
P2 I will commit to having only one child.
P3 I will commit to having only 2 children.
P4 I will adopt rather than having lots of natural children,
CLOTHING & FASHION
Clothes are surprisingly damaging to the environment. It is estimated that clothing is responsible for 8-10% of GHG emissions. This is because producing, processing and dying fabrics involves lots of harmful chemicals, and their release pollutes the environment. Fabric production also uses a lot of water. A pair of Jeans uses 10,000 litres of water. Further the practice of buying clothes and using them only once or twice and then putting them aside is extremely wastfull. It is estimated that the average wardrobe contains 57 items, which are never worn.
Much can be done to make clothing less damaging.
CL1 Buy clothing made from natural fabrics and avoid harmful dyes.
CL2 I will buy second-hand clothing whenever possible.
CL3 I will have my redundant clothes recycled.
(Ebay, Vinted, Clearout Store, etc.)
FOOD
Food is a genuine necessity, however, it does not need to be exotic and costly. Further foods vary enormously in the impact they have on the Earth's eco-systems. Vegetarian meals have about a third of the impact compared with a meat based diet. A vegan diet is less again.
FO1. I will go vegetarian or vegan.
FO2. I will eat vegetarian meals half the time.
FO3. I will avoid Beef and Lamb. (much worse than Poultry and
Pork)
FO4. I will choose organic food, when possible. (Organic is
better than factory farmed food).
COMMUNICATION
Modern communications can save energy and resources if used intelligently but there is no need to have the latest version.
A new iPhone every year is simply wasteful and unnecessary.
CO1 I will only replace my equipment when there is a good reason to do so.
If you want to comment on any aspect of Frugalism you may communicate via
THANK YOU
I will be interested to receive your comments. But logistically I do not guarantee a quick response or, indeed to respond at all.