Have you ever asked yourself the question, "How can I become more eco-friendly?" If so, congratulations. You've taken the first step in the challenge to keep our environment habitable for humans and every other living being. The more people who make the conscious decision to pitch in to help, the better off every living thing will be.
One of the simplest definitions of eco-friendly is "not harmful to the environment." There's nothing complicated about that, is there? One of the greatest things about becoming eco-friendly is that it normally doesn't require drastic lifestyle changes. You can even start out small.
The following information includes several suggestions for making yourself more environmentally conscious and giving Mother Nature a helping hand. There's no reason to panic; it's probably easier than you think.
Try to avoid driving solo
It's really unfortunate that the vast majority of vehicles on the roads today are transporting a single passenger. If everyone took the initiative to carpool with one person, even once or twice a week, it would immediately reduce traffic on those days by 50%. This represents a HUGE difference! Not only does carpooling save participants' money on fuel and car repairs, it also reduces air pollution.
Alternatively public transport, walking and cycling are also great ways to around!
Buy less new stuff
Whilst we all need many things to live our everyday lives, we sometimes don’t consider how much our consumerism is putting a strain on the natural resources that are taken from our planet. By thinking twice before making purchases and if possible trying to buy second hand items such as clothing and furniture. Use apps such as Depop and Vinted for fashion and apps such as Wallapop and Freecycle help you buy and sell second hand furniture.
Recycle, recycle, recycle
If you’re not aware of local recycling programs, there's no better time to find out. Better yet, it's probably not as much of the hassle as you think. The first thing you need to do is make yourself aware of any specific requirements you may need to abide by. Recycling is sometimes different from one area to the next.
A few of the most common things to recycle are aluminium (cans, specifically), paper, glass, plastic, drinks cartons, outdated electronics and batteries.
Buy local
When you buy locally and seasonally, not only are you helping local merchants and farmers, you're also reducing your carbon footprint by helping to reduce the demand of shipping from point A to point B. Less long-distance shipments means lower air pollution levels and fresher food on the table. and a reduced chance of fuel shortages.
Conserve energy
These are just a few examples on how to save energy, while sticking to your daily routine:
* Place weather-stripping around doors and windows
* Turn off lights when leaving a room
* Turn off water whilst brushing your teeth
* Use cold water for laundry purposes
* Unplug appliances when not in use
* Replace furnace and air conditioner filters on a regular basis
* Install skylights for more natural lighting
Take a few minutes to think about all of the things you do during an average day. Chances are, you'll think of several more eco-friendly changes you can make to improve the state of the environment. Mother Nature will love you for it!
Plant trees
Trees are important, in so many ways. They clean the air, provide homes for wildlife, produce oxygen and prevent the erosion of soil... just to name a few. Taking the initiative to plant trees in your garden, not only helps support all of these things, it also provides you with a shady spot to relax after a long day. Websites such as ecologi.com and woodlandtrust.org.uk also offer options for you to contribute to toward tree planting projects in the UK and across the globe.
We've just talked about some of things you can do to be more eco-friendly. Obviously, you don't have to do everything in one day. Taking it slow makes it easier to get acclimated to a slightly different routine.
The changes you make won't help the environment overnight. But, with a little due diligence, chances are high that your perseverance will make the world a better place for your family, for generations to come.
