ECO-RACING BEGINS ITS QUEST
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Eco-Racing was originally founded to bring a more environmentally-friendly approach to the racing community. The intent was to bring sustainability and alternative ways of doing things within racing apart from the racing activities themselves. During the economic times of the last few years there have been many roadblocks within racing that have prevented the implementation of many sustainable practices.
Slow global economics have reduced the amount of money available to race teams and series. Thus it has become very difficult for some to survive. With the cuts in racing the last thing that is thought about is sustainability. It is our opinion that sustainability is what the race teams and series should put first. Are they not concerned about sustaining their teams and/or series? Granted, there are two different definitions of sustainability at play here, but by becoming environmentally sustainable will help the racing become more financially sustainable.
Eco-Racing.Org has developed education modules and sustainable certifications and consulting programs to help not only race teams but any kind of business or homeowner move towards a more sustainable lifestyle. What lies before us globally are problems that need to be addressed before they cannot be undone. At the forefront of these issues is the amount of carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels has started a chain reaction of negative influences that will take generations to repair. Other environmental issues at hand include the amount of waste going to landfills every day and increasing demands on our most precious resource...water. We must conserve, recycle, and look for alternative ways to do things before it's too late. We hope you will join us in our quest!
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It's Time For Change
Sustainability is defined as capable of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage. Therefore, we all have changes to make. The worlds population continues to grow and place higher demands on our natural resources. Resources that will run out and can never be replenished.
How does one becomes sustainable? Sustainability is a process that is ongoing and takes time. For most of us it has to start with the basics. What are the basics? The basics to become sustainable start at level one. Turn off lights when leaving the room. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth. Take shorter showers. Drive less. These are the very start of becoming sustainable. The next step is to begin eliminating your waste and consumption.
The best example of eliminating waste to become more sustainable is to address the topic of water or sports drink bottles. The average person in the U.S. uses about 150 to 170 plastic bottles per year. The amount of oil used to make these bottles and get them to market is about 6-1/2 gallons. Doesn't seem like much until you multiply it by the 311 million U.S citizens. More startling it the amount of water used to generate a 20 oz bottle. A 20 oz bottle of water takes approximately 1.85 gallons of water to manufacture. Make sense? We use nearly 2 gallons of water to make a bottle to hold 20 oz of water. Disturbing when we have water from our faucet or refrigerator that is nearly free. The next step towards sustainability is to use a reusable water bottle out of something such as stainless steel. Use the water that costs next to nothing and keep refilling it. Over the year you will has saved not only the oil and water but landfill space or the power it takes to recycle. The first step towards sustainability.
We only have one planet. We must begin to act now to slow the effects of the waste and consumption that has taken hold over the past several decades. We've become spoiled with life's little conveniences but that doesn't mean we cannot make changes in other ares that have far reaching consequences. The next time your child wants that kids meal with the toy opt, for something else. Maybe take the food to the park and play. They'll never remember they didn't get the toy and you will have made a decision for sustainability and the reduction of waste.
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