Going Green – How You Can Contribute To Save The Planet

Concern for the environment is not new. The past has seen thousands of advocates of sustainable development issuing warnings about how the Earth’s finite resources were being utilized in damaging ways. It would be safe to surmise that the efforts of these people have indeed paid off because recent years have seen more and more people getting more environmentally aware. In fact, former Vice-President Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for his advocacy on global warming and climate change. The documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth”, which was presented by Vice-President Gore, helped to open the eyes of many on the importance of taking care of the environment and the detrimental effects of not doing so.

With all the media and information mileage that environmental awareness has been getting, it is not surprising to see many people “Going Green” and carrying out eco-friendly practices for Mother Earth – practices that include conservation and recycling. How does an average concerned citizen join the Green Movement? One does not need to possess special equipment, skill or knowledge to go green. To live an eco-friendly lifestyle, one only needs to adapt a few changes in his daily routine and tasks. The following paragraphs cite some examples of these changes.

Educating Oneself

The first step in Going Green is knowing what the problem is and what one can do to solve it. The internet is full of information resources regarding the environment which can be availed of for free. There are materials to read, videos to watch and audio files to listen to. By being familiar with these, one can determine what individual and specific action he has to take or avoid in order to benefit the environment. The more one knows, the better decisions he will be able to make. Further, learning about the efforts of other persons and groups doing their part in the green movement is a great source of encouragement. In this way, the individual would not feel that his efforts are insignificant, how small they may be.

Electricity

Coal and Gas are burned to generate electricity and this burning process emits fumes and substances which are harmful to the environment. Cutting back in electricity consumption is one of the most immediate steps that one can take in Going Green. In addition to being environmentally-friendly, money can be saved because the electric bill is less.

There are several ways to cut back on the number of kilowatt hours that can be consumed each month. One of these is using household appliances that are energy-efficient. If possible, those that are more than 10 years old should be replaced by new ones. It would also be useful to check the energy efficiency ratings of the appliances. Secondly, one can choose to use compact fluorescent bulbs that last long and utilize only one-fourth of the energy that incandescent bulbs use. Lights should be turned off when not in use. This also goes for electronic devices such as television sets and DVD’s, which continue to consume power when plugged in. A third alternative is to consider using renewable energy. Energy providers sometimes offer to sell energy plans that utilize wind, solar and geothermal powers if available in a specific area. This is more expensive but certainly efficient.

Heating

Approximately sixty-six percent of the monthly energy consumption in a household is for heating water and living areas in the house. In winter, tons of greenhouse gases are emitted by the homes into the atmosphere. Thus, reducing the amount of heating would benefit both the environment and one’s pocket. One way of doing this is using a programmable thermostat. This device allows the user to adjust the temperature during the different times of the day. Another method to achieve heat efficiency is to stop heat leaks, which are areas where heat might escape. There are numerous ways to do this, such as insulating walls, modernizing windows and drawing drapes at night. In terms of hot water use, energy consumption can be reduced by simply using less hot water and installing low-flow aerators on faucets and shower heads. This results in saving as much as fifty percent on water usage.

Cleaning

Greening the cleaning process means doing away with toxic chemicals when one tries to keep the home and surroundings spic and span. This might not be the common way of carrying out this out because the most commercially-available cleaning products contain chemicals that are not beneficial to the environment and affect a person’s health negatively. The better alternative is to use green and natural cleaning products such as baking soda and vinegar. Fortunately, there are available eco-friendly products in the market today that are biodegradable, toxin-free and petroleum-free. Ordinary household items that are used in everyday chores are suitable for cleaning. A website dedicated to environment-friendly practices cites a few of these items. Among there are baking soda for deodorizing; vinegar and water for all-purpose cleaning; a mixture of lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda for soap scum and water stains; vinegar, water and borax for disinfecting; and vegetable-based liquid soap,water and baking soda for oven cleaning.

Garbage

Statistics have shown that the average American produces approximately 1,600 pounds of garbage annually. Because of this figure, it comes as no surprise that Americans are touted as one of the most, if not the most, wasteful people in the entire planet. Although one cannot avoid producing trash, one can certainly do something about the amount being produced by reusing, recycling, composting and buying products that keep waste to a minimum.

If something can still be reused, the most ecologically sensible thing to do is not throw it away and use it again. One of the most reusable items is the bag. Supermarkets give out plastic bags when they pack groceries for the customers. These bags can be reused by the customer by taking it along the next time he visits the supermarket. Another good option is to use the canvas grocery bag. When this is used by the shopper, there is no need for the supermarket to use the plastic ones they have and this bag can be used over and over. Cardboard boxes can be reused to send other shipments or they can be used to store things in the house. They also come in handy when one tries to kindle a fire. Egg cartons can be utilized to store balls of appropriate sizes or as seedling beds. Glass bottles and jars can be substitutes for vases, candle holders, or containers for homemade food, coins, pins and other articles. Even junk mail can be of use as scratch papers or packaging insulators. The same goes for old newspapers that can be made into kindling or as cushion when wrapping fragile items for storage or shipping. Plastic container, like jars, can store food as well.

A person who recycles can save as much as seventy-five percent of the trash he produces. If everyone practices recycling, this would benefit the environment in a big way. Policies for recycling vary in different areas so it would be prudent to check with the sanitation companies on what materials can be recycled. Commonly these are paper, plastic, glass, aluminum and electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers. The electronic devices are classified as materials which are hard to recycle so a fee is usually required when they are brought for recycling.

Composting is the process of making a nutrient-rich mixture out of organic waste. The resulting mixture is utilized to improve the soil quality used in gardening. Ideal source materials for compost are plants or plant-based food, which are then placed in an outdoor compost bin to decompose over a period of time. For those who are not into gardening and have no use of compost, source materials can be brought to drop-off locations at the local sanitation facility. In this way, the amount of trash is still reduced.

As much as possible, one should shop for and use Earth-friendly products. This means that packaging of products has to be given consideration, with preference towards those that use the least packaging as possible. For instance, instead of buying several small bottles of juice, a big gallon can be bought. One should also opt for recycled products. There are several on the market such as toilet paper, paper towels. These products are labeled as recycled so it is not difficult to spot them in the supermarket shelves. Another wise move would be to buy items with recyclable or reusable packaging. This certainly minimizes the garbage one has to throw out after consuming the products.

Transportation

Considering that cars and other modes of transport that use engines are the leading contributors of carbon dioxide emissions, transportation is one of the most significant factors that affect a person’s eco-friendly activities. The first alternative that comes readily to mind is to use public transport. Aside from contributing to the well-being of the planet, being a commuter saves a person from stress because he doesn’t have to navigate through traffic himself which at times can cause road rage. Further, it is less expensive due to less gas purchases and can prolong the life of a car because it will not be subject to the rigors of everyday use. Car maintenance costs can be minimized as well.

There are alternatives to traveling by public transport which are also very feasible. One can join a carpool or rideshare programs in a locality. Carpooling is being encouraged by some local governments who have designated certain road lanes as high-occupancy vehicle lanes, to make carpooling faster than solo driving. A healthy alternative is walking or biking. Of course, this depends on the distance between a person’s house and workplace but this should be done if possible.

Water

No one can dispute the value of water because it is a precious commodity that everyone uses and nobody can live without. However, it is also a fact that the world’s clean water supply is becoming more polluted and diminished by unsustainable use and the increasing human population. Hence, it is important to practice “greening” the use of water, which entails reducing water waste.

For the average person, what needs to be done is to make simple repairs in the house and make adjustments in chores and activities that involve the use of water. This includes making sure that leaking faucets and running toilets are fixed. Using a dishwasher is more efficient than hand-washing as long as the machine is used when it is fully loaded. Similarly, when washing clothes, it is better to run the machine only when it is full. In watering lawns, a soaker hose that seeps water directly into the soil is a better option than the traditional sprinkler because it does not waste as much water.
Food

Food is an aspect in one’s life that he can decide to “Go Green”. In doing so, he must consider the methods that have been used to produce and transport the food before purchasing it. In terms of eco-friendliness, local foods are better because the energy that has been expended in transporting them is not as much as those coming from more distant areas. Moreover, locally available foodstuff is fresher and less expensive because only minimal transport costs have been added to their prices. In some areas, farmers put up stalls where they sell their products themselves. Generally, local produce can be found in small, independent grocers and cooperatives. A telephone directory can be a great help in locating these centers. Whole Foods stores, with outlets nationwide, have a wide selection of local products. For the more health-conscious, there are also organic foods which are grown and produced without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and growth hormones. The cleaner methods of producing these goods are less detrimental to soil, water and air. Buying these types of food is one way of expressing support for the more environmentally conscious farmers.

The steps mentioned here can be regarded as the tip of the iceberg in being eco-friendly, so to speak. The most essential thing to keep in mind is that every person who calls the earth his home has the responsibility of contributing in making this world a good place to live for now and the generations to come.