A common saying is “a little bit can go a long way”. This holds true to helping the environment. If everyone just did a little bit then all those pieces could add up to something big. If everyone changed just one little act in their day then a difference could be made. It can be a bit overwhelming if you talk about big picture environmental strategies. So the best tips for people are the little ones that can make a big difference.
Eliminate Waste
One problem the environment has is that too many people are throwing away too much! All of the garbage we throw away has to go somewhere. We aren’t faced with seeing it every day but do you know who is, our wildlife and nature. By cutting down what you throw away you will conserve natural resources and landfill space. You can cut down your waste by the 3 Rs. The 3Rs are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Reduce means to lessen or eliminate. By reducing what you use then you create less waste. Reuse means to use things again. If you are used to using things that are disposable like plates, bottles and bags, try to use reusable items instead. Use glass plates or stainless steel cups instead of plastic. Use reusable straws instead of individual disposable straws. Use reusable cotton rounds instead of disposable cotton. Plastic bags in stores can be a thing of the past if you bring your own reusable bags. Tired of worrying about the sewage dumping into our oceans, use bamboo toilet paper to save trees. All of these things help with waste.
Do Something
Don’t just worry, do something about it! Obviously by partaking in resourceful behavior is key, but you can also help out by volunteering. There are many opportunities to help in the environmental sector. You can volunteer for cleanups in your community or church. You can even coordinate one! You can also volunteer to set up things around your community like planting trees or protecting your watershed. Planting a tree can provide food and oxygen. The more we have the more we can help save energy, clean the air and help climate change. Volunteering can also involve education. Take the time to teach others about helping the environment. You need to help others understand the importance and value of our natural resources. This has become such an important topic in our modern day world that people go to school for it. Environmental Science can now be a course of study.
Water
Water conservation is a huge topic when it comes to our deteriorating plant. We need to work on using less water. The less water we use means that there is less runoff and then less waste emptied into our oceans. You can save water a number of ways. Don’t flush the toilet every time you use the bathroom, don’t run the water when you are brushing your teeth, don’t take baths, or don’t run the hose. All of these are easy solutions to help with the over usage of water in your household. It is just something you need to make a conscious effort to do.
Energy
Along similar lines of saving water, we need to be conscious of using too much energy. There are many ways to do that when shopping for your own home. There are many energy-efficient products like refrigerators, windows, dishwashers, air conditioners, washers and dryers. These products are made to work efficiently and use less energy, they do not waste energy. Use energy-efficient light bulbs to save energy as well. You can also help the environment by making sure to turn off the light when leaving or not using a room.
Even though the environment is a touchy subject and can often be the center of a debate, it can not be debated that everyone should do their part. It is a given that we should take care of the earth because there is no replacement. As I previously stated, every little bit can add up. Even if today all you can handle is to choose not to use a plastic bag and use a reusable one. You still saved that one plastic bag from use. Do what you can to help our environment.
