So, you’ve heard all the hype about ‘going green’ lately and have developed an understanding of how human actions are having a damaging effect on the world around us.
Naturally, you want to help – but ‘going green’ is so much effort, isn’t it? Well, it doesn’t have to be!
While there are many people out there holding protests, re-planting forests and volunteering all over the world, there are several ways you can go green with barely any effect on your current lifestyle. Here are just a few to get you started!
1. Change your light bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs).
Compact fluorescent bulbs are more environmentally friendly than traditional incandescents due to the fact they convert most of their energy into light instead of heat.
They use up to 75 percent less electricity than other bulbs and will last around 10,000 hours – meaning you won’t have to switch them out as frequently.
2. Use your devices to take notes and store information.
Chances are, you already have a smartphone, tablet or computer. If so, use it as much as you can instead of paper, whether it’s your notes from school or work or even just your shopping list. That way, you’re reducing waste and cutting down the need for deforestation. You’ll also save money on notebooks too!
3. Take a Bbag with you to the grocery store.
Instead of using a new, plastic bag from the store when you purchase your groceries, cut down on the need for un-recyclable bags by taking your own, reusable one instead. You’ll be preventing more plastic from ending up in a landfill and will also save money when visiting stores that charge per bag.
4. Recycle wherever possible.
Recycling doesn’t have to be a chore; sometimes it’s as simple as throwing your trash in one bin rather than another. Easy! Paper, plastic bottles, glass and plenty more can all be recycled with no extra effort, so try to do it whenever you can.
5. Turn off the lights when you’re not in the room.
Will you miss the lights being on if you’re not even in that room? Probably not. Get into the habit of flicking off the light switch as you leave a room to save energy as well as lowering your energy bills.
6. Walk when you can.
If walking to work or school is an option for you, factoring in an extra few minutes on to your commute time is worth it. Not only will it make you a healthier person, it will always reduce emissions, leading to less pollution in your neighbourhood.
After a quick read through the options above, you’ll soon realise that going green doesn’t have to mean being an eco-warrior. There are lots of ways to live a greener lifestyle without it having much of an impact on the way you already live your life.
Let us know if you decide to give any of these a try; we’d love to hear about the steps you’ve taken to go green! Or, to learn more about what we do to promote a greener Earth, check out our work over at Project Nelda.
