Image Name : The Three R’s of Environment
Image Credit : NorPen
In today’s world, where climate change and other environmental issues are of global importance, the need for environmental sustainability is more relevant than ever. What is often frustrating however is the outlook of modifying one’s lifestyle in a more drastic manner to lessen the carbon footprint. The most important thing is that there is the possibility of achieving sustainability through minor and rather common changes. Here are five easy changes that you can choose to implement in your lifestyle to promote sustainability.
- The Three R’s of Environment
Every one of us has heard the phrase “reduce, reuse and recycle” at least once in our lifetime, and those do not mean just a virtue statement but rather a way to sustain life on this planet.
- Reduce: It does not speak of buying less, but of changing the mindset towards what consumption, or rather spending money, is. It is easy to avoid wasting money on needless purchases.
- Reuse: Instead of discarding things after first usage, let’s try to use them in a different way. For example, one can use glass jars for storage instead of throwing them away or even better, old t-shirts can be cut and used as cleaning cloths.
- Recycle: Learn the recycling rules in your region. Make sure you do not contaminate the stream with non-recyclables. Or sign up for an effective recycling program that aims to minimize waste going to the landfill through various efforts.
- Using Eco-Friendly Means of Transport
Transport contributes a large share of greenhouse gas emissions. True, while travelling, one can lessen the effects of such activities on the environment.
- Walk or Bike: When the distance is relatively short, prefer walking or biking to driving. Not only is this helpful to the environment, but it also promotes good health.
- Public Transport: Where applicable, make a rational use of mass transport systems. Vehicles on the road are greatly reduced due to buses and trains.
- Carpooling: In case of driving is unavoidable, take along friends or colleagues for carpooling. Through this, you divide the trip which helps in reducing the emissions disparately.
Image Name : papaerless office
Image Credit : Oneflow
- Embrace the Buying of Local and Environmental Friendly Goods
Purchasing items has greatly contributed to the environment. Selecting local and organic types of goods reduces travel-associated carbon emissions and encourages fair trade.
- Public Fresh Food Vendors: Attending these public freshly grown food vendors’ markets encourages people to spend money within the community and ensures that food is not made to travel a long way. Most of the time, fruits and vegetables are seasonal hence they are in most cases tastier and healthier, hence everyone wins.
- Sustainable Alternatives: Choose companies that are dedicated to being more sustainable. This can mean using green materials not using slave labor and waste minimization. Investigate the companies, so you know they will not go against your belief.
- Curb Water Footprints
Since it is a finite resource, decreased water consumption can also aid in promoting sustainability. Some minor modifications in your routine can go a long way.
- Less Time to Bathe: Whenever bathing, try and ensure that the time does not exceed ten minutes. A low-flow shower will also help in saving water while still letting the user enjoy the shower.
- Leaks Should Be Repaired: It is easy to ignore a leaking tap, however, after some time, such taps could lead to many useful gallons thrown away. Such leaks should be corrected as soon as they are noticed.
- Rainwater Harvesting: If space allows, rainwater harvesting can be done for use in the garden. This water can then be used for watering plants instead of the constant need to use the city water supply to fill up the plants.
- Paperless Office
In this modern age where almost everything is computerized, the e-paper revolution is not a solution. Reducing the use of paper can help save the forest and create less waste in rubbish dumps.
- Digital Documents: Where possible, go for electronic bills, statements and receipts. This saves costs on paper used and eases the subject of keeping records.
- E-Books and Audio Books: Buying physical books can be substituted by an electric book or an audiobook. This allows someone to read while not using any paper at all.
- Print Wisely: In case of printing, make sure that printing on both sides of the paper is done and only needed items are printed out. Consider using plain paper twice instead of plain paper only when needed.
Conclusion
In fact, it is possible to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle without feeling intimidated. By making these five changes – less waste, sustainable transport, local sourcing to an extent, water conservation, and more importantly, less paper – you can make a difference for the environment without completely changing your way of living. Each of them is so small, and yet they add up for a more sustainable way of life. We can and we will make these changes not incrementally, but systematically, for the good of the environment and generations to come.
