In an ever changing and uncertain environment, people are continuingly hearing that they should be making a stand to protect their environment. However what they are not being told in as much detail is how to do it.
People are always asking the question "what can they alone do to help the environment?" The answer is simple; stop asking the question, find out, and act! In a hectic, fast paced society that people are finding themselves very much a part of; it is becoming more and more difficult to slow down and consider the effects that their acts or omissions have on the environment.
The following points illustrate ways that people can assist in protecting an already damaged environment, and although they are small steps, if everyone follows them, they will have a knock on global effect.
Leave Your Car At Home
The burning of fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and has been a major factor in climate change. However these emissions can be reduced in a number of ways, one of which can be achieved simply by using your car less, or if possible leaving it at home. By doing so, and taking this action, you will be assisting with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as reducing the nation’s dependence on oil.
By leaving your car at home not only will you be protecting the environment, but you will also be promoting your own and others physical health. This will be achieved by doing more walking (if even only to the bus stop), and by preventing others from inhaling more CO2 than they have to.
Use less paper
Before printing off unnecessary sheets of paper at work or at home, contemplate whether you really actually need to do so, and what you are planning to do with it. Rather than print it off, it’s just as easy to email it to any recipients. Alternatively, if it’s for your own records, why not save it in a folder on your PC, or for a more portable solution, save it to disk?
Paper accounts for more than half of all your rubbish, and any possible way you can help to save/ recycle it means a reduction of the amount of rubbish going into landfills (Grinning Planet.com). Furthermore, saving and recycling paper primarily means less trees being cut down, and less energy and resources being used to do so, as well as reducing the energy used to make paper products.
Recycle and Re-use
When conducting your monthly shop, on how many occasions do you find yourself throwing out the multiples of plastic bags, or stuffing them to the backs of your cupboards? This is a problem easily solved by re-using or recycling them. Not only does this create more space in your cupboards for food and other items you may need to stock, it will also help protect the environment.
Due to the fact plastic bags are not biodegradable, when thrown out with other rubbish; they slowly break down into smaller toxic bits that contaminate soil and waterways, producing more pollution. To add to this, making plastic bags requires certain unfriendly chemicals, which also adds to the environment’s dilemma (Earth911.com).
When considering the fact that the environment is becoming more and more endangered, there are a number of simple steps you can take to help combat such issues, not only for yourself, but also for your family and their future. Furthermore, through a slight change in your current routine, not only will you be helping the environment, but you will also be saving money for yourself, your family, and the economy.
