As global warming continues to make more headlines every year and the impact of our fuel-heavy lifestyles begins to damage the planet even more, many people are beginning to think about small changes that they can make to reduce their environmental footprints. Helping the environment does not need to be difficult. In fact, there are some very simple steps that you can start taking today that can make a positive impact. Here are five to get you started.
1. Grow Your Own Vegetables
Starting up a vegetable patch in your back garden is an excellent way to help the environment. Much of the produce that we buy in supermarkets has been imported from all over the world, and eating locally is a simple way to reduce the carbon miles of your dinner.
Growing your own vegetables is even better, and it can be a lot of fun, especially if you have children who can help you out in the garden. There is nothing quite like harvesting your own vegetables and cooking them up on the same day – after you have tried them, it will be very difficult to go back to buying them again.
2. Recycle Your Old Gadgets
We all have lots of gadgets these days, from tablets to laptops to mobile phones. However, when we want to upgrade them to the latest devices, many of us simply throw our old devices away and they end up in landfill.
If you want to get a new gadget, consider recycling your old one first. It could be easy to recycle online. Even better, you can sell old devices and other gadgets through various websites to ensure they go on to be used again or recycled, rather than throwing them away.
3. Use Less Water
We can all make a conscious effort to use less water in our homes. Try making little changes like turning the tap off when you are brushing your teeth or washing the dishes, and consider putting a one-liter bottle of water into your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water it uses in each flush if you have a suitable model. You could also consider getting a water metre so that you can see how much you are using and reduce your usage accordingly.
4. Start a Compost Heap
A compost heap is a great way to dispose of all of your organic waste rather than throwing it in the bin. Organic waste that ends up in landfill sites can produce methane, but when you put it on a compost heap it will decompose safely and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. You can also use the composted waste on your vegetable patch.
5. Switch Unnecessary thing Off
Try to get into the habit of switching off the lights when you leave the room, turning off your computer when it is not in use, turning the TV off properly overnight rather than leaving it on standby, and turning off all of the other gadgets and devices in your home. They can all use up energy when not in use, so do your bit and cut down on wasted energy to help the environment.
All of these simple steps are easy to take and anyone can do them. If you want to help the environment and do your bit, start by making simple lifestyle changes. They may seem like small steps on their own, but by making the effort you can really help to do your part and make a difference.
