April 22, 2024
By Sena Fidan
Staff Writer
This article is part of an in-depth reporting project for Earth Day.
At a time when environmental consciousness is more crucial than ever, adopting sustainable habits can make a significant difference in reducing your ecological footprint. With some simple lifestyle changes, you can help preserve the planet for future generations. Here are 10 easy and practical ways to lessen your ecological footprint daily:
Turn off all electronics when not in use.
Electronics can use up a lot of energy even when they’re not in use. Switching off the lights or unplugging appliances like phone chargers is a great way to reduce energy use and save money.
Carpool or use public transportation.
Did you know that approximately 85% of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector are related to the surface transportation system? By using public transportation and carpooling instead of driving, you can reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 20 pounds per day.
Recycle.
Recycling is a great way to save energy and prevent emissions of greenhouse gases and water pollutants. Using recycled material to create new products reduces the need for raw sources, avoiding greenhouse gas emissions that would result from extracting or mining unused materials.
Limit single-use plastics.
Single-use plastic materials like bags, cups and water bottles create unnecessary waste. By using reusable items like cloth bags, storage containers and metal water bottles, one can limit the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills or oceans.
Reduce unnecessary water use.
Reducing your ecological footprint can be as easy as turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth. By using water more efficiently, you can reduce energy consumption required for water treatment and distribution, while preserving freshwater ecosystems.
Start composting.
Composting excess food is a perfect way to naturally enrich soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions all while limiting the amount of food waste that ends up in landfills.
Pick up eco-friendly hobbies like gardening.
To put composting to good use, engage in eco-friendly hobbies like gardening, which are not only relaxing but also provide the opportunity to create a healthy environment by elevating air quality.
Shop at your local farmers market.
Purchasing food from local farmers markets can reduce food miles, which is the distance that food travels from the location where it is grown to the location where it is consumed. Less distance traveled means fewer greenhouse gasses and fresher food. Plus, shopping at farmers markets is a good way to save money.
Repurpose old items.
Instead of throwing away old items because they do not seem to be useful anymore, repurpose them to reduce daily waste. Upcycling fabric scraps or using old tires as planters not only conserves materials but adds a creative touch to your surroundings.
Buy in bulk.
Minimize packaging waste associated with individually wrapped items by buying goods in bulk. This can reduce carbon emissions generated from manufacturing and transportation as well as save you some money.
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