5 ways you can help the environment
Today is Blog Action Day, a day encouraging bloggers to unite about the environment. Thousands of bloggers are taking up the challenge, including Lifehacker and Treehugger, writing about the environment in a way that suits their blogs. I've been torn between a couple of topics, so I thought I'd cheat a bit and do a couple of posts, one today and another tomorrow to follow up. This first one is about some simple ways we all can help the environment. I'm not going to claim I do all of these all of the time, but I try to be mindful of them, and they might give you some ideas on how you can help too. ;)
5) In your homeYou'd be surprised by the amount of power appliances consume even in standby mode; just having half a dozen appliances on standby is the equivalent of a 60 watt bulb. If you turn appliances off at the power point and unplug them, it can save a lot of power. Turning off lights when you're not in the room can also save a lot of power, as can washing clothes in warm or cold water instead of hot. Using the half-flush cycle on toilets, installing a low-flow showerhead and washing dishes when there's a full load can save a lot of water as well.
4) While shoppingMaking sure your tyres are well-inflated can make a big difference in preserving the life of your tyres and saving petrol, and bringing your own shopping bags for groceries is a simple way to cut down on plastics. Buying items in bulk also reduces the need for packaging and costs less. If you drink a lot of water, using a bottle and refilling it will help to stop wasting water and buying more bottles; likewise, buying rechargeable batteries saves you money and stops metals in batteries from leaking into the soil.
3) Changing your habitsIt's probably one of the hardest things to do but changing your habits can have a big impact on the amount of waste you produce. Showering for a minute less each day can save a lot of water, as can making sure the water doesn't run while you're cleaning your teeth. Walking, bicycling or carpooling to work also cuts down on the amount of cars on the roads and pollution. Many people still prefer CDs over MP3s, but downloading music from somewhere like iTunes is a very simple way to help the environment; manufacturing CDs uses oil and CDs are not biodegradable, whereas MP3s only use hard-drive space.
2) Being more responsibleBeing aware of the impact we have on the environment makes a big difference. Understanding that our actions and habits have a consequence means we're more aware of the ways we can avoid them as well. Doing something as simple as recycling is a great place to start and get children involved in the process. You can actively seek out materials which are recyclable or have a lesser impact on the environment; refill printer ink cartridges or take used ones to businesses to dispose of; use recycled wood chips in your garden; put leaves in a compost heap. You can be proactive and try to make sure your taps don't leak and make sure you keep the oven door closed so the heat doesn't escape. Using fluorescent lighting rather than incandescent bulbs will save you money and use 1/4 the amount of energy. They're all simple things but being aware of them, being more responsible and taking notice, makes a huge difference.
1) Sending a messageThe final and perhaps most important thing you can do is to let people know how you feel. The Australian electoral campaign has just started and there'll be elections soon overseas; don't underestimate the power of writing to your politicians and newspapers - every letter they receive speaks for more than just your voice and while they know it's an issue, they'll continue to support it. Ask what your school and workplace are doing to be more environmentally friendly, or make small changes yourself to set an example. If you feel especially passionate, join a local community organisation; volunteer some of your time to help clean up beaches and parks or to talk to other people about the environment. Join WWF Passport and join with people to speak about issues and conservation. There are so many things people can do; what matters is raising environmental consciousness. And that's what Blog Action Day is all about.