11 Ways you can Help protect the environment

11 Ways you can Help protect the environment

At the forefront of some of the problems facing the world today is global warming. The effect of this is visible in the flooding, heat waves, melting of the polar ice caps amongst other climatic issues associated with global warming. Although the major contributors are the heavy machine industries emitting co2 that is not to say that the average person living on earth does not contribute significantly to global warming.

Of course, there have been calls by world leaders to cut back on these emissions in search of an alternative greener process of production. It also behoves us as individuals to be aware of our environment and begin to take practical steps to protect it. Have humans been good stewards of the Earth over the years? Your guess is as good as mine. We have not been protective of the environment enough. If we are going to preserve the planet for our children and future generations, the need to take proactive steps toward cleaner living habits cannot be over-emphasised.

The number one cause of most damages to our environment results from consumption and production: from small nylon to a gigantic cargo ship. Since it’s impossible for man to stop consuming and producing, the key is to be mindful of our consumption habits: what we consume, how much we consume, and how often we consume. A great sense of awareness will often lead us to think of how each purchase and production process affects the ecosystem.

To become more environmentally friendly is not boring neither is it difficult. In this article are 11 fun ways to take up a challenge aimed at achieving environmental friendliness. If everyone adopts even a few of the following behavioural modifications, it will go a long way in conversing with the earth.

1. Consume Less

Don’t purchase or accept non-essential items that seem to make your life better out of impulse. Would it truly improve your life? If not, simply say, “No, thanks! Most times these items end up cluttering the environment.

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Apart from helping to reduce the effect of the excessive use/consumption of the environmental resources in the production process, refusing to allow unneeded items into your life can save you money and reduce the amount of clutters in your home.

2. Compost

How we manage our waste at achieving a cleaner earth matters. Composting is one of the best practices of waste management. Composting is letting your food and yard waste rot naturally in the soil instead of sending it to the landfill. Your food scraps and yard waste can reward you in two ways: it keeps an incredible amount of trash out of the waste stream, and it produces free, rich soil to use in your garden.

3. Choose Reusable Over Single-use

In today’s world of disposable cups, disposable bottles, disposable straws, disposable grocery bags, disposable plates, containers and disposable utensils. Have you ever had to think about where all that single-use plastic goes to? They end up having devastating effects on our soil, oceans and marine life.

Start using reusable items and make a consistent effort to use them as often as possible. You will be helping to protect the environment in a major way and also reduce the trash at your house.

4. Upcycle More

Upcycling is turning trash into treasure basically. Creatively creating original items from your trash is both satisfying and makes a good way of protecting the environment.

It helps to keep items out of the trash and can help save money on new items. Remember that every item manufactured, requires a lot of resources to produce. Check out your recycle bin first for materials to create new Crafts and run with your imaginations instead of purchasing new ones from a store.

5. Recycle Properly

Get educated on what can and cannot be recycled in your bins at home. Throwing the wrong items in the recycle bin can create more mess in a counterproductive manner.

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Make findings on how to recycle special items such as electronics, batteries and appliances. Check out places in your locality for drop-off sites, and make an effort to get your items to the proper disposal sites.

6. Shop Secondhand

Before buying new clothes at the mall, look first in a thrift store or vintage shop, or better still try trading clothes with friends. When you shop secondhand, you are helping to protect the precious resources needed to produce new clothing while revamping your wardrobe.

You can also apply this for many other categories of consumer goods: children’s games and toys, shoes, appliances, furniture, cars, and more.

7. Use Fewer Chemicals

Avoid the use of harmful chemicals and you’ll be on the right track in the quest to protect the earth. the long-term negative effects chemicals have, both on our bodies and on the planet cannot be over-emphasised, avoid them if possible. Settle for chemical-free lawn and garden care; all-natural beauty and hygiene items; natural household cleaners; and organic food. The Earth will be grateful.

8. Walk, Bike or Carpool

Any amount of carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles we can cut back on will help. Suggestions are, that for short trips, try walking or biking.

Carpooling in an advent to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is sharing car journeys with friends, neighbours, or coworkers to a mutual destination. If eventually all else fails and you need to drive your car, line up errands in the most efficient route to save time and miles driven.

9. Use Less Water

Awareness of water usage at home is one of the simplest ways to protect the environment. For all the times you consume water, both inside and outside your home, make a conscious and informed effort to make adjustments as you can. For example:

  • Leaving the tap running while you brush your teeth is not good.
  • Allowing leaky faucets to run-off unfixed is bad
  • Reserving and using rainwater for watering plants is a good practice.
  • Long baths under running shower is water wastage.
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Before you run your dishwasher or washing machine be sure you are only doing it at maximum capacity to conserve water. There are more examples to get really creative with when it comes to conserving water.

10. Use Your Purchasing Power For Good

As consumers, we have the power to choose where we spend our hard-earned money. Your money can serve as your voice and your vote for a cleaner planet. You can advocate for the earth when you spend on goods, services, and experiences that leave a smaller carbon footprint.

Businesses will either have to comply or be left behind when people begin to use their purchasing power for the good of the Earth. This is one way to create a demand for sustainable practices.

11. Conserve Electricity

Conserving electricity has been one of the old tricks in the books. But how many people really do take cognizant of this. Anytime you can use less electricity, please do. It’s a win for the planet. Here are quick ways to conserve energy around your home:

  • Replace incandescent bulbs for more energy-efficient CFLs or LEDs.
  • Get smart power strips, which turn off the power to electronics when they’re not being used. Better still, you can remove plugs from the wall socket when not in use.
  • Install a programmable or smart thermostat.
  • Only buy appliances of Energy Star-certified model.
  • You can also protect the environment by using clean energy forms. E.g. solar.

Bottom Line

Be aware that everything you do affects the earth. Nothing is negligible in the process of production and consumption. Protecting the earth is not a one-man business but everybody. Encourage and persuade others while creating awareness every day till everyone imbibes the culture.

Protect the earth every little way you can at every chance you get for a healthier earth and for future generations.

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