Source: pexels.com/@shvets-production
With the recent climate changes, living a sustainable lifestyle is the way to go. Every effort is made to make the world a better place to live. If you’re not sure where to start, here are five tips to be more environmentally conscious. These ideas will help with making positive changes in various aspects of your life.
- Save Water
It’s critical to save water whenever possible. To do so, limit your showers to max 2-3 times every day. Secondly, reduce the amount of water consumed in showers by installing a low-flow showerhead and don’t let the water run while you’re shampooing. Turn on the water only when rinsing.
In addition, place a bucket under the showerhead while you wait for the water to warm up. This water can be used for different purposes, including flushing your toilet, washing your car, or watering your plants. If you have a little garden, watering it by hand will only use 33% less water than hose pipes. Roof water collected from downspouts can be used to water the garden as well.
- Reduce Your Energy Consumption
The next tips for living an eco-friendly lifestyle are to minimize your resource consumption. Consider upgrading your home appliances such as washing machine and dishwashers with water and energy-saving models. The Energy Star rating system is a great place to start and once they are in place, you won’t have to think twice about the savings. If you’re not buying anything new, another regular practice that will save you a lot of energy is turning off appliances and electronics when they’re not in use.
Power strips are also useful for distributing energy to your appliances when they are in use. When it comes to using the energy needed to light your home, consider converting to solar energy. It may be costly at the beginning, but you will save a lot of money in the long run because solar energy is almost free and environmentally good.
- Make the 3Rs a Habit
“Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” is a habit that must be instilled in children from an early age. A bin system is a great way to manage common waste and promote recycling. Choose a simple plastic tub or invest in an automatic touchless motion sensor bin if you have the budget. Make sure to put your waste in a plastic bag and separate them into the right bins.
If you have electronic waste, dispose of it and recycle accordingly. Seek the help of electrical stores that provide recycling bins for outdated electronic appliances. All of this will help to reduce waste and the pressure on landfills.
To limit the use of plastic cups, we can also adjust our everyday routines, such as ordering coffee-to-go in a tumbler or a coffee mug. Prepare your healthy lunch and store it in reusable containers rather than disposable containers.
- Diversify Your Mode of Transportation
Transport is a major source of pollution that contributes to global warming. While it depends on where you live and work, try carpooling whenever possible. Start small by running a few errands on weekends, then gradually increase your car-free time. Walking and biking are other viable options because they produce little to no harmful emissions while also improving your health.
If you are unable to do both, public mass transit vehicles such as buses and trains can save you more on money and fuel consumption. When more people choose to take the bus or train, there will be fewer emissions which will help to reduce air pollution. On another note, have your car inspected regularly to reduce carbon emissions and extend the life of your vehicle.
- Travel Sustainably
Aside from all the cars on the road, air travel also contributes to climate change. If you enjoy flying, book a fuel-efficient airline to reduce your carbon footprint. Fly economy whenever possible rather than business or first class. The price difference will benefit the environment in the long run. When visiting foreign cities, stay at hotels that are environmentally friendly and use sustainable energy.
Support the cause of designing these hotels, which is to promote sustainable tourism with a low environmental impact. Furthermore, avoid taxis and rentals in favour of local public transportation. Of course, the journey would be incomplete without indulging in local cuisine. However, be wary of what you’re paying for. It’s preferable not to eat food produced by endangered animals.
To conclude, going green is a never-ending effort that requires everyone’s contribution. Continue to promote and educate people about environmental conservation for the benefit of future generations. If each of you takes full use of all the options available, you will not only save money, but you will also save the environment.
