1. Eliminate the use of paper plates and plastic utensils:
Paper plates are made from virgin wood, contributing to deforestation, and are manufactured by paper mills that use toxic chemicals that can contaminate waterways. Speaking of water, did you know that it takes half a gallon of water to produce ONE 10-inch, medium-weight dinner plate and plastic utensils are no better. Plastic cutlery requires petroleum and chemicals to produce, fossil fuels to transport, and is typically made from non-recyclable plastic.
2. Drive Smart:
Choose a car with a three-way catalytic converter – it will reduce nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions by 90%. Limit the amount of time your car engine is running (idling) when you’re not driving – turn it off if you stop for more than 10 seconds (except in traffic).
On cold days, limit warm-up idling to 30 seconds or less (the best way to warm up your vehicle is to drive it). Accelerate gradually, obey speed limits, combine several errands in one trip, keep your car well tuned, replace its air filter regularly, keep tires properly inflated. Take fewer trips, and combine with alternative modes of transportation (car sharing, walking, cycling, public transport)
3. Choose reusable over disposable:
As mentioned, paper and plastic both have a significantly negative impact on the environment. Instead, bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store, use cloth napkins instead of paper, replace paper towels with microfiber cloths, and choose cloth diapers for baby.
4. Repair leaky faucets and toilets:
Leaky toilets can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day — or the equivalent usage of an entire family of four — and leaking faucets can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water per year. Repairing these leaks will help save our world’s most precious resource, and will also lower your water bill.
5. Collect rainwater for use in gardens:
Collecting rainwater is easy with a rain barrel, which catches storm water runoff from rooftops. This collected water can be used later to water lawns, gardens, and flower beds. Rain barrels come in a variety of styles and colors, and can make a beautiful addition to your landscaping while helping to protect the environment.
6. Turn off and unplug all electronics when not in use:
Computers, cell phones, printers, video gaming consoles, tablets, wearable fitness trackers — these all depend on electricity, and are often left plugged in and running, even when not in use. Completely shutting down and unplugging these devices when not in use will help to reduce your carbon footprint — and your electric bill.
7. Buy only fair-trade, sustainable coffee:
Traditionally grown coffee is an environmental nightmare: it is one of the largest contributors to the decimation of our world’s rain-forests, is the second-most pesticide laden food crop (second only to tobacco), and is often dependent on unfair labor practices. By choosing fair trade, Eco-certified coffee, you are assuring that the coffee you are drinking is both environmentally friendly and humane. Bring a reusable mug when visiting your local coffee shop.
8. Green up your lawn:
No, not with fertilizer — with ground cover! Ground cover does not require supplemental watering, remains green even during times of moderate drought, and helps prevent soil compaction. In the northeast, white clover is a pretty and popular choice.
9. Start a compost pile:
Composting our vegetable and lawn scraps helps the environment in many ways. Organic waste in landfills is typically covered by trash and is therefore forced to decay in an airless state. This anaerobic decay produces methane gas, which is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Therefore, composting our vegetable and lawn scraps helps to minimize the effect that landfills have on climate change while also reducing the speed at which landfills are, well…filled. Also, compost helps to feed and improve the soil, minimizing the need for chemical fertilizers.
10. Switch to Eco-friendly cleaning products:
Traditional cleaning products rely heavily on synthetic chemicals, which are now understood to be dangerous to both the environment and our health.
These are just a few ways in which we can do our part to green up the environment and to reduce our carbon footprint.
Thanks for sharing sound inputs, but before every steps we need willingess to go with.
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Thanks for the appreciated words and Yes, you are absolutely right
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