One of the hottest trends today is ‘going green’ - doing your part to protect and repair our environment. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon, from celebrities to major corporations, and we can only hope that they are in it for the long haul. As the state of our environment is deteriorating every day, as evidenced by global warming and the extinction of many animal and plant species, the ‘green’ trend needs to become a way of life for everyone.
So how can you go green in your own home? You just need to change the way you do certain things to create less waste that can be harmful to the planet. Here are a few examples:
Eat your veggies. You may wonder how listening to Mum’s advice and eating your veggies can do anything to improve the planet. Sure, it might improve your health, but the benefits of replacing processed foods and meats with vegetables reaches beyond the personal. As these other food sources take additional resources and energy to sustain, eating meats and processed foods is often more harmful to the environment. You don’t have to go completely vegetarian to make a difference, just cut out a portion or two a week.
Buy from local producers. Whether you are shopping for food or other items, try to buy things that were produced as close to your home as possible. By keeping your business local, you are boosting the economy for your region, plus benefiting the environment as shipping and hauling pollution is reduced significantly.
Cut out convenience packaging. Though foods and other items that are individually wrapped might make life a little easier, all of the waste that is produced from these products can wreak havoc on the planet. Rather than purchasing single sized versions of your favourite items, buy loose or in bulk and package them out yourself in reusable containers. Not only is this good for the environment, but you can also cut down on your spending, as the price per unit of individually packaged items is significantly higher.
Park your car. Sure, driving around town will get you there a little faster, but with the cost of petrol and the damage caused to the environment from the emissions from a vehicle, are those few moments really worth it? Whenever possible, leave the car at home and walk or ride a bike. Even using public transportation is a better option for the environment than driving a personal vehicle. Leaving your car home when you can will help to create better air quality and save you money at the same time.
Buy a water filter. If you drink bottled water on a regular basis, you may think that you are doing yourself a favour; however this practice can be detrimental to the planet. All of those water bottles will fill up landfills and take years to break down, and many are created from products whose production is dangerous to the planet. By purchasing a water filter and carrying along a reusable water bottle, you can protect the environment while also looking out for your own health.
Change your light bulbs. Incandescent light bulbs create great light, but use a huge amount of energy. Purchasing fluorescent bulbs for the lighting fixtures in your home can save a substantial amount of energy, creating less pollution and also reducing your electric bill in the process. As these bulbs can last many times longer than a standard light bulb, less landfill waste is created. Though the initial cost of these bulbs seems quite high by comparison, the long-term benefits will save you big bucks in the long run.
Watch the temperature. One of the biggest energy wasters in any home is the heating and cooling system. The first step to ensuring that you are conserving energy in your home is to make sure that the house is properly insulated and that all cracks and leaks around doors and windows are properly sealed. Keep air conditioning and heating units set at temperatures that are at your minimum comfort level and find natural methods of personal heating and cooling, whenever possible.
Recycle. Although it can seem like an effort at first, recycling can become an easy habit to adopt. Most local authorities collect recycling from your door - just separate your recyclables as you go. Having separate bins in your kitchen can help. Just a few seconds of extra thought each day can have long term beneficial consequences.
These are just a few ways that you can contribute to the health of our planet by ‘going green’. Take a look around your own home and use these tips for inspiration to find other ways that you can do your part. There is only one Earth, so we need to do what we can to prevent any further damage and begin repairing the damage already done.
Recommended Reading
For more information and advice on going green, take a look at the following books:
Living Green: A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability
Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life
Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth and Get Rich Trying
Go Green Get Lean: Trim Your Waistline with the Ultimate Low-Carbon Footprint Diet
The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time
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