The need to be environmentally friendly is becoming a pressing concern these days as evidence of environmental and climate change becomes more apparent. Changing our wasteful and environmentally harmful ways does not have to be difficult or radical. There are various simple ways that you can adapt to make gradual yet effective changes that can reduce our negative impact on the environment. What is important in changing our lifestyle to a more environment-friendly one is how we can sustain it and incorporate it into our daily lives.
To help strengthen your environmental advocacy, some practical pieces of advice on how to be more environmentally friendly will be shared here.
Adopt Alternative Energy Systems
A smart long-term investment you can adopt is to install off-grid or stand-alone renewable energy systems for your home. While home wind turbines, solar panels, or hybrid wind-and-solar energy systems are quite costly to purchase and install, you will gain significant savings in your energy bills. Even better, if your state offers incentives for off-grid living like Oregon, you can avail of these benefits while they are still available. Oregon is one of the best states for off-grid living, which is why various Oregon residential solar panel installers are ready to assist homeowners who wish to install solar panels and transition to a stand-alone energy system. If more communities are no longer dependent on electricity generated from fossil-fuel sources, lesser strain is placed on these non-renewable resources.
Redefine Your Transportation
Another way you can help conserve the limited fossil fuel and lessen air pollution and greenhouse gases is to use your car less. If your destination is under 5 miles away from your home, you can opt to use a bike or walk if you’re not in a hurry. Taking public transportation or carpooling with coworkers can help you save gas and reduce the number of cars on the road. The fewer the vehicles are on the road, the less the hydrocarbon emissions will be. If your typical driving routes are only within the city, you may also switch to an electric vehicle. For better energy efficiency, use a solar-powered charging station or energy supply for charging your car.
Make Your Home Energy Efficient
If you can’t commit to having a stand-alone or alternative power system just yet, the next best thing you can do is to find ways to conserve energy consumption at home. You can switch your fluorescent bulbs with LED lights, install low-flow faucets, showerheads, or toilets, or build rainwater reservoirs. Using double-paned windows can help trap heat and coldness efficiently and reduces the need for prolonged HVAC system operation.
Avoid Single-Use Plastics
Single-use plastics are significant sources of waste in landfills and oceans. Millions of tons of single-use plastics end up in the oceans and contaminate seafood and endanger the lives of marine animals. To help minimize our impact on the environment, we can help by bringing our own bags to all stores, using refill soaps, shampoos, and other household products, and choosing plastic-free produce and food. Investing in water filters also helps eliminate the need to buy bottled water.
There are plenty of innovative and simple ways that you can get started with adopting a more environment-friendly lifestyle. If you have not found the motivation to start yet, think about the future generation and your grandchildren. Wouldn’t it be nice to leave a clean, green, and habitable planet for them in the future? Do something about your impact on the environment now, and they will thank you for it someday.