- Resource Consciousness:
It means being aware and alert about resources. Sometimes we are not conscious about our resources, like human resource, which include the talents, skills etc. of the family members and shared resources like pure drinking water, clean and pure air, green cover etc. Being conscious about all the resources directs consciously 'and unconsciously our activities towards their conservation.
- Adequate Supply
Ensuring adequate supply of resources also helps in conservation of resources. This is true specially in the case of larger family with lesser income. Such a family should make adequate efforts to supplement their income in a number of ways. Similar efforts should be made in the cases of other resources, especially shared ones which are in short supply like fuels for cooking & land for housing etc.
- Use More of Abundant Resource to Conserve Scarce Resources
The resources, which are available in abundance, should be used more than the scarce resources. For example a family which has many adult members and thus lot of energy available but has less income, should distribute work among its members by using their human resources instead of hiring domestic paid help to do their household work. Also a family can use solar energy, which is free of cost, available in abundance for cooking rather than spending non renewable and scarce fuels like coal, wood or LPG, and saving money simultaneously.
- Avoiding Wastage
Resources help in reaching goals, therefore, should never be wasted. A homemaker can use her extra time, energy and talents for productive work rather than waste it in idle gossip. Another very important example is avoiding the wastage of drinking water or electricity, which can be done in a number of ways. Close the taps properly when not in use, fill the bucket before bathing rather than using shower water to avoid wastage. Switching off the lights and fans of the rooms where no one is sitting, all the family members spending time together in one room so that the wastage of electricity can be avoided.
- Economical Use of Resources
Whether money or human resources, a family should use all its resources economically. Usually people are careful regarding their money and material resources, which are tangible and more easily recognized but forget the same for human resource. The time and energy of family members, fuels for cooking and transport, portable water, electricity etc. should also be used economically, so that their utility increases.
- Resource Sharing
Resources can also be conserved by sharing them. For example, car pooling or making use of public transport saves lot of petrol. Similarly work can also be shared. In a joint family, where there are more number of people, can share their household work thereby saving a lot of resources.
- Managing Resources Wisely
We have already discussed that resources can be managed and wise management can help in conservation of resources to a large extent. In the present times of resource crisis and shortage, applying managerial process in the use of every resource is very important.
- Development and Use of Technology
Development of such technology, which spares scarce resource by using less of scarce ones, can help in conserving resources. For example, developing technology to enable extensive use of solar energy, biogas and wind energy as domestic fuel or, for heating water or even for running vehicles will enable its use for these purposes possible. At present many of the technical advances are based on resource conservation, and the families should also make efforts towards this goal.
- Recycling and Reuse of Resources
Recycling of waste and reuse of certain resources is possible. Reusing paper can help in conserving forest by reducing the demand of wood for paper. Many of the household wastes like water garbage etc can easily be re-cycled and re-used for purposes like watering garden plants, biogas etc.
- Making Wise Choices
Making choices or taking wise decisions regarding the use of the resources available can also help in conserving them. This factor has been well discussed under the head, maximizing satisfaction in the use of resources.
Participants