As we become more conscious about the world around us and strive to be more socially responsible, more people are looking to find ways to do their part to help the environment. This includes helping out in both big ways and small to minimize your environmental footprint and take care of our earth. There are several small things you can do to get started with being more environmentally conscious that won’t take much time or money.
Reduce Plastic Use
Plastic items are one of the biggest offenders taking up space in our landfills and filling up our oceans. The amount of excess plastic waste is causing harm to our environment and animals. You can help do your part to reduce plastic waste by swapping out everyday items such as water bottles, cutlery, and even straws to something more sustainable. Even reducing something as small as the number of plastic straws you use can have a big impact on the environment over time.
Go Paperless
Despite the increase in technology use over the past few decades, paper waste is still an issue in our landfills and cities. If you think about the number of bills you receive in the mail that go straight into the garbage, you can get an idea of how much paper is being wasted on a mass scale each day. Simply changing your bills over to be electronic can eliminate massive amounts of paper waste each year. If you have magazine or newspaper subscriptions, you may want to consider switching those over to be electronic as well to save trees and our environment.
Change Your Commuting Routine
If you work close to where you live, chances are you could probably change up your morning commute to be more eco-friendly. Invest in a bicycle or opt to take the transit system if you have one in your town or city to cut back on the amount of emissions you put out. If you live a further distance away, see if any of your coworkers live close to you and would be willing to take turns carpooling. Not only would it cut back on your gas and repair expenses, but you would also be doing the environment a huge favor by putting off fewer emissions into the air.
Consume Less Water
After a hard day, everyone loves a long, hot shower. But did you know those showers could be costing you and the environment? Showers take a lot of water, which not only increases your water bill but can also be harmful to the environment. Make it a point to use consume less water. That means shorter showers, turning off the water while you’re brushing your teeth, and running the dishwasher less often. Water waste is such an issue that there have even been companies, such as the Cadiz Water Project, who made it their sole mission to reduce water waste by lessening the loss of groundwater. If you can do your part to consume less water, you’re already on your way to helping the environment.
Nix Vampire Appliances
Vampire appliances are appliances that consume massive amounts of energy, even while they’re not being used. Simply by being plugged in, these appliances, such as washers and dryers, refrigerators, televisions, computers, and small kitchen appliances take up energy, which is not only harmful to the environment but your pocket as well. When you’re not using these appliances, unplug them or plug them into a power strip that has an off switch, so all you have to do is flip it before you leave. It may seem like a bit of work to go around your home and unplug appliances, but it’s worth it in environmental and economic savings. You should also consider investing in appliances that are energy efficient, which will take up less of an environmental footprint.
Helping the environment doesn’t have to be expensive. These simple moves can help you do your part to make the world a better place.
