In our world, it seems impossible to go anywhere without being met by the sight of smog-ridden highways, polluted greenery, and streets filled with garbage.
Amid urbanization, mass production, and technological advancements, we’ve forgotten to ask ourselves how much the planet can take before it starts becoming unlivable.
The long-term effects of taking the environment for granted have resulted in the contamination of our livestock and agricultural lands, and pollution of the air we breathe and our waters. Consequently, various health issues such as respiratory illnesses have become more widespread. As you can see, the environment around us is a crucial part of human survival.
It’s our responsibility as human beings to make sure that despite our differences, we all take care of the planet we call our home. If we all make an effort to become more environmentally conscious, we can make the world a better place.
So, where should you start? Below, we will go over some easy tips you can put into practice to better take care of the environment.
1. Save Electricity
Always switch off the air conditioning, fan, or lights when you don’t need them or you walk out of a room. Avoid using artificial lights during the daytime and try to make better use of sunlight.
When you’re not using electronic appliances, make sure that you unplug them. Not only will you be helping your environment, but your electricity bills will be lower as well.
2. Plant More Trees
You can contribute to a healthier Earth by planting more trees. During photosynthesis, trees produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.
A mature tree will absorb more than 48 pounds (approximately 22 kilograms) of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in one year. Trees provide homes, protection, and food for many birds and mammals. Trees moderate the effects of wind and sun, and they clean the air by trapping pollen, dust, and other pollutants.
3. Avoid Single-Use Plastic
Think of how many people you see every day using disposable utensils and containers, drinking from disposable bottles or cups, and carrying disposable grocery bags.
All of that plastic has a horrifying effect on our marine life, oceans, and soil. Replace single-use plastics with reusable ones and commit to using them as often as you can.
4. Eat Less Meat
By cutting down the amount of meat you eat during the day you will help cut greenhouse gas emissions. The livestock sector – raising chickens, pigs, and cows – creates as much greenhouse gas emissions as all automobiles, trucks, and cars combined.
You can try incorporating a vegan or vegetarian diet if you feel ready to take this big step to help the environment. If not, you can include a few days every week where you don’t consume any meat.
Shifting to a more plant-based diet is essential to combat ocean dead zones, water, soil, and air pollution, climate change, and many other problems that are a result of industrial livestock production.
5. Use Your Car Less Frequently
You probably won’t be surprised by the fact that cars aren’t really good when it comes to taking care of our environment. Cars are one of the biggest contributors to air pollution, producing notable amounts of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides.
You should try to take public transportation more often if that’s a possibility for you. If you want to add some exercise to your daily routine, as well as save money, you can consider riding your bike or walking to your destination. Another option you should consider is carpooling with friends instead of driving alone.
6. Save Water
One of the easiest ways to protect the environment is to conserve water at home. The supply of water is finite and we need to minimize the effect of drought and preserve our environment. Following are a few tips for saving water:
- Only run your washing machine or dishwasher when they’re full
- Collect rainwater and use it for watering plants
- Check pipes and faucets for leaks
- Turn off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth or shaving
- Don’t take unnecessarily long showers
Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, humans have not treated the Earth fairly over the years. We need to take proactive steps toward better living habits to preserve the planet and protect the environment for our children and future generations.
Luckily, it’s often not inconvenient, expensive, or too difficult to become more environmentally friendly. You might think that it’s trivial to make small changes at the individual level. However, think of just how much could be done if everyone implemented at least a few of these modifications to their behavior towards the environment.
Do you want to know the quality of the air you breathe? Download AirCare – our free mobile app that tracks air pollution from your pocket, and check out the AirCare blog!
