We are living a drastic history as climate change becomes irreversible and the future of our home is at risk. But we have the choice to make a difference so we can help sustain this wonderful green earth we’ve been gifted. We simply have to be proactive in our daily choices. Making small, purposeful changes in what we eat, wear, and how we navigate our lives can have a significant impact on our environment and our planet. And amazingly these changes can appear effortless but have such a big impact. We may wonder, “Why didn’t I do this earlier?” Hindsight is a great thing but it can’t change our past, only our future. And positive changes require action, sustainable action. Here are just a few ways to get you thinking about ways to help protect our earth.
1 – Choose Sustainable Food
Our food choices are wonderfully vast these days. We can eat out of season fruits and vegetables, use crops harvested on the other side of the world, and delicacies from countries we may never get to visit. But choosing these foods can have a negative impact on our planet. Recognising where our food comes from, how far it has to travel to get to our plate, how it’s grown, and how it’s preserved, can tell us a lot about our environmental footprint.
In order to choose sustainable food, purchase and eat products that are in season, consider organic foods, reduce your food packaging, and avoid highly processed foods. To add to a sustainable food lifestyle limit your shopping trips to avoid over-purchasing unnecessary food products, and why not look into growing your own foods! There is something special about a sandwich with tomatoes direct from your own garden.
2 – Conserve Water
Little things can make a huge difference and conserving water is one of those simple acts. Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth, opt for a shower instead of a bath, avoid using the power washer, and check for leaks in your property. When it comes to conserving water switch to drinking filtered tap water instead of bottled water which will also save on plastic waste. In essence, the less water we use the better. Be conscious of the chemicals you use in your home also which may inadvertently end up in our wastewater which can end up in our oceans.
3 – Bike More and Drive Less
Our cars play an integral part in our lives these days as we taxi our kids from one event to another. The more we drive, the more toxic emissions are pumped into our atmosphere. Try to ditch the car for at least two days a week. Combine your errands on one trip to avoid constantly hopping into the car. And if you can, use your bike for those smaller, more convenient trips. Good exercise and protecting the planet at the same time, what’s not to like!
4 – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
By simply recycling appropriately we can help to significantly reduce greenhouse gases. There are so many options open to us these days when it comes to the resources we use. It’s up to us to actively make the right choices. Use a bag for life when shopping, avoid plastic bags and unnecessary packaging, reduce the amount of waste we have, recycle what we can, choose recycled materials, and avoid one-use items.
5 – Plant More Trees
Trees are our natural provider of food and oxygen. Amazingly they help to save energy and combat climate change. If you have the space in your garden, consider planting a tree or two. Even one tree has a huge effect on its environment as it actively cleans the air of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and small particles which can be damaging.
6 – Switch Out Those Lightbulbs
Did you know that poor energy-efficient light bulbs add to greenhouse gas emissions? There really is no excuse not to use energy-efficient light bulbs with a vast range on the market these days. And aside from changing those lightbulbs, one of the simplest things we can do to save energy is to switch off the lights when we leave a room!
7 – Live More Energy Efficient
We all like to live as comfortably as possible, especially on cold nights, when we are at home. Our homes are our haven and making them more energy-efficient not only benefits us personally but also our environment. 25% of our heat is lost through poor windows and doors. If you have old windows, consider replacing them, and don’t forget to check your insulation which may need topping up if you are losing heat through your roof. And of course, a product such as the Hub Controller can actively save you money and avoid wasting energy.
8 – Avoid Plastics
Plastics are the biggest killer of our world as we are consumed by so many products made entirely of harmful plastics. Plastic is not just a danger to our planet but also to us, our sea life, and animals due to toxic pollutants. Our landfills are overflowing, and our seas are being destroyed by discarded plastic materials. It can take hundreds of years for plastics to break down, if not thousands, causing long lasting environmental damage. Avoid plastics at all costs if you can and be conscious of any plastics you do choose as not all plastics are recyclable.
9 – Buy Second Hand
We are most certainly a throwaway society but that attitude of buying and discarding for something newer is ever so slowly changing. Choose to buy second-hand and extend the lifecycle of something which ordinarily would end up landfill and you will probably nab a bargain at the same time! From clothes to books, to buggies and prams, buying second-hand encourages the reuse of quality items that still have a few years of life in them yet.
10 – Go Paperless
The option of receiving e-bills and e-statements should seem like second nature these days, but many of us forget to click the little box requesting to go paperless. Next time you see a paper bill pop through your letterbox, remember to click the little box and save on our paper waste. Remember, when making decisions about how you can actively make changes in your daily life that can have an impact on our environment, think green!
