Climate change is very real and in just 6 months of 2021, we have seen quite a lot of proof of that. There have been prolonged winters with snow in America while life-threatening heat in Asia. Wildfires have become a common occurrence all over the world, devastating floods struck Europe as well. Africa is going through severe drought and food crisis. In short, the earth is in danger because of how we have been treating it. It is about time that we take responsibility to reverse the damage as much as possible. There are hundreds of ways you can pitch in to fix the climate. Following are just a few simple practices for a more eco-friendly lifestyle and to reduce your carbon footprint.
Do not keep your appliances on stand-by
Switching off electric appliances is literally the first step towards an eco-friendly lifestyle. Energy conservation is extremely important for the environment. It will also reduce your carbon footprint. Moreover, it’s directly beneficial to you as well in terms of the bills. The more vigilant you are in conserving energy, the more it will be saved, decreasing your bill.
Use eco-friendly cleaning products
Some cleaning products available in the market have harmful ingredients in them which are not good for the environment. Always read the labels on the back of the contai9ners/bottles to make sure you are not purchasing anything that could harm the environment. We need to consciously stop buying things that are harmful to the planet, to minimize its sales and hence the production.
Invest in renewable energy
Producing electricity produces a lot of harmful emissions. Moreover, it increases the carbon footprint as well. Now there are many other options available for more eco-friendly energy resources. Solar panels and windmills are two common ones. However, for these energy resources to work efficiently, you must see their suitability according to your area. For eg solar panels need a lot of direct sunlight to effectively produce electricity. Windmills require fast winds. There are other options as well for flowing water if you live adjacent to a stream or river.
Cut out on plastic
Plastic has done more damage to the planet than we can imagine. It is now our responsibility to cut down on the use of plastic as much as we can. Plastic contains harmful substances which are actively affecting marine life and the ozone layer. Moreover, it takes hundreds of years for plastic to break down and decomposes. So the plastic you used a decade and a half ago must still be lying out there somewhere.
Don’t waste food
Just like energy conservation of food is important as well. Save food and finish everything there’s on the plate. It will effectively reduce your carbon footprint and make your lifestyle more eco-friendly. Tons of fumes are released into the air to produce edibles, so it is just the right way to consume them.
Use LED lights in your homes
LED bulbs and tube lights are much better than conventional lights. These last longer so you don’t have to fix ad change anything all the time. Moreover, since these work more efficiently there is much less carbon footprint. Lastly, LED consumes a lot less electricity than conventional lights so it’s saving up electricity as well.
Recycle and compost
Responsible trashing is a thing believe it or not. Make sure you are p[properly separating your trash according to the type. It will allow the authorities to recycle and discard it appropriately without cause landfills to overflow. All the organic trash must be treated as compost. If you have a garden or kitchen garden, just put all the peels and eggshells type of things in the soil. It will convert into fertilizers. As for the paper and cardboard stuff, throw it in the recycle trash so it is properly recycled and can be used again in whatever shape it’s been recycled.
Reuse old clothes
Do not wear your dresses once or twice only. Wear them as much as you can until they are worn out. There is always styling possible to make an old dress look new. Look up those ideas. The textile industry releases a major part of the emissions into the air. It is because manufacturing a clothing piece consumes a lot of energy and releases carbon emissions. Reusing old clothes will minimize the purchase of new ones, hence limiting the manufacturing.
Buy pre-loved stuff
People have now become a lot more environmentally conscious than a few years ago. If you have to buy a new dress, look up pre-loved options. Usually, these clothes are good as new and just being sold because the owner is either decluttering or not into the style anymore. When you buy a pre-loved item whether it is a top, pair of shoes, sunglasses, or a bag, you reduce your carbon footprint on the planet.
Earth needs our attention more than ever and eco-friendly practices are the only things that could fix the damage. Try to include the above-mentioned practices in your lifestyle for your future generations to have the luxury of living peacefully.
