Some of us take an active interest in climate change and global warming, whereas others haven’t the foggiest about what they are and what they mean.
Wherever you fall into the mix, brushing up your knowledge on these topics can only benefit you going forward.
The great news is you don’t have to have a wad of cash in the bank to make a difference in this world.
If you’re ready to be more eco-conscious and want to do your bit in lowering your carbon footprint, here are some approaches you can take today that will change how you live for the greater good.
Simplify Your Buying Habits
If you like to splurge and buy too many things, you’re not on your own. In fact, mindless consumerism has been the norm for years and years.
It’s likely your wardrobe and cabinets are full to the brim with clothes you don’t wear or electronics that are just collecting dust. Rather than having this junk taking up space in the home, now is the time to start simplifying your buying habits.
Once you’ve gotten rid of excess clutter, the best approach to take going forward is to purchase less and purchase less often.
Why not go one step further and stop shopping online when you are bored? The next time you go shopping, ensure you buy things that will last.
Eat Less Meat
It’s safe to say we’re a nation of meat eaters. While there are plenty of vegetarians and vegans lurking around, it’s suggested that roughly 86% of the UK population currently eat meat in their diets.
If you’re one of them, have you thought about lowering your meat consumption? There are a string of benefits to taking this approach, especially if you want to be more eco-conscious.
We’re not saying you have to give up meat entirely either. But lowering your consumption can really pay off.
Aside from the health benefits of reducing your meat consumption like decreasing the chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease, taking this approach can help in lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Eating meat certainly has an impact on the environment from polluting landscapes and waterways to fuelling climate change.
Change Your Mode of Transport
How do you normally get from A to B? Are you always behind the wheel?
Maybe you can be found on a bus or train? If you’re serious about becoming eco-friendlier, now may be the time to change your mode of transport.
For instance, rather than driving your current car that could be guzzling up petrol and emitting harmful fumes into the planet, have you thought about making the switch to an electric counterpart?
Electric vehicles are certainly growing in popularity.
One of the reasons for this is simple – they’re better for the planet. You can find out the ins and outs of electric cars at LV ElectriX.
They also give the rough time to charge an electric car too. Should you make the switch to an electric car, you’ll be happy to know they reduce harmful vehicle emissions and can help you save mo0ney on fuel too.
Compost, Compost, Compost
Up and down the country you’ll find homeowners composting food. There are numerous good reasons for it too.
Firstly, composting reduces waste. This makes you less dependent on landfills, as well as lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Secondly, compost strengthens soil, while promoting healthy plant growth in the process.
Other benefits of composting include reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
You don’t have to be a composting pro to get results either. Simply grab a container, fill the bottom with a layer of soil.
Next, grab some shredded newspaper to put on top. Finally, add your kitchen scraps, and there you go! Just make sure to keep the container tightly sealed with the lid so it can work its magic.
Get Into the Habit of Recycling
If you’re not doing so already, now is the time to get into recycling. There are powerful benefits attached to recycling too.
For example, recycling helps in lowering the amount of waste that otherwise ends up in landfills.
Also, this approach can help you conserve energy. There is no doubting that recycling helps in conserving natural resources and reducing the strain on the environment.
When materials like plastic, paper, metal, and glass are recycled, they can be used to create brand-new products. This reduces the need to extract and process raw materials from the earth.
Getting into recycling is simple too. After all, we all have recycling bins! For those who want to make some cash from recycling, you can!
For example, you can make money from your old cans. Simply visit a local recycling centre to get started.
Consider Solar Panels
If you’re a homeowner, it’s understandable you take great pride in your abode.
Whether you’ve just moved into your property or you’ve been there for decades, there are many green home improvement projects you can undertake that can help you do your bit for the planet.
One of the most popular of these are installing solar panels.
In a nutshell, solar panels capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity, which homeowners can use in their property. Taking this approach could save you thousands of pounds each year.
While the initial cost of installing solar panels may fill you with dread, you need to think about the long-term benefits.
Conserve Water
How much water are you using on a daily basis? We understand if you don’t know the answer.
Whether you’re brushing your teeth, taking a shower, running a relaxing bath, or watering your plants, you may just not be aware of how much water you’re actually wasting.
One of the best practices you can follow today is to conserve water.
When you take this step, you can save tons of energy. This is because energy is needed to filter, heat and pump water into your property. Therefore, reducing your water usage also lowers your carbon footprint.
Using less water also helps in keeping wetland habitats topped up for animals like water voles, otters, and fish. Finally, conserving water can save you cash! If you’ve got a water meter, then the less water you use, the less you’ll have to pay out each month – perfect!
Save Energy
This one may be a no-brainer, but it’s still important to emphasise.
Monitoring your energy consumption and looking at ways to cut down is one of the best ways to be more eco-conscious and support the environment.
Energy-saving actions you can start doing today include switching off appliances, turning off lights, spending less time in the shower, and draught-proofing your windows and doors.
You can install a smart meter too that allows you to monitor how much energy you’re consuming in real-time. All the actions above may not sound like a lot on their own.
However, if you and others adopt these habits, we can make real groundwork into protecting the planet and caring for the environment.
From getting into the swing of recycling to making substantial home upgrades like installing solar panels, there are plenty of approaches you can take regardless of budget that can help you live eco-friendlier.