It’s a question that most of us should find ourselves asking in the current climate. Although it’s clear to see in the media, that there are those who take raising awareness to the next level in protesting against climate change, that’s not something that everybody wants to get involved in. So how can the rest of us be pro-active in making a change to the environment in our day-to-day lives? It doesn’t have to be a massive lifestyle change, and it doesn’t have to impact your daily living a huge amount. Just making some of the smallest changes, can make the biggest differences, and here’s how you can help.
Become More Aware
The first step in becoming more environmentally friendly, is by becoming environmentally aware. After all, how can you really contribute towards helping a cause, if you don’t really understand it? Nowadays, there are so many resources out there to inform the general public about being eco-aware, that there’s really no excuse for not doing your research and knowing about the world. It’s even as accessible as simply having Netflix. All you need to do is watch the documentaries on the said topics, and there are an abundance of Attenborough shows out there that are not only educational, but fascinating and enjoyable.
As previously mentioned, there are those that go out and protest against climate change and aim to raise environmental awareness every day – and you don’t have to get actively involved in order to follow their lead and do what they’re asking. Research what it is they’re saying and read up on it. It’s really not difficult. The sooner we as adults become knowledgeable in this particular area, the sooner we can educate the younger generations also.
Start at Home
The easiest place to start is by becoming aware of the energy you use in your home. By doing this, you can not only help the environment and reduce your carbon footprint, but by making your home more energy efficient you can actually reduce your utility bills by hundreds of pounds every year. It can be as simple as making sure your windows and doors are properly sealed and investing in double glazing in order to keep cold air out in the winter months, meaning you’ll use your heating a lot less. Or, you could even look at installing low-flow showerheads and smart meters into your home – it’s completely up to you how much or how little you contribute financially – as long as you do SOMETHING.
Another great positive to reducing your energy usage and ultimately making your property more energy-efficient, is that it could make your home overall more desirable. If you’re looking at how to sell your home quickly, making sure your home’s Energy Flow Chart is the best it possibly can be will make your home more desirable to potential buyers. After all, the last thing they want is to get a well-priced house that ends up draining their energy and finances.
Shop Local
Most people are unaware that mass food-production systems used by the majority of the population put an unbelievable strain on our environment as a whole. Of course, the shipment of food all over the world requires a large amount of fuel, which adds not only to carbon-emissions but pollution too. One of the best things that families in the UK can do is buy locally sourced food as opposed to mainstream shopping. Not only is it good for the environment, but did you know that certain locally sourced produce such as honey can actually help with allergies such as hay fever throughout the summer months? The more you know!
Start Composting
Finally, remember that no matter where you buy your produce from, it all needs to go somewhere when you’re finished with it – and all of that waste adds up. Rather than throwing your fruit and vegetable waste away in the traditional rubbish system, why not start a compost pile in your back garden? If everyone in the world did this, it would massively reduce the overall landfill contributions – and a compost system provides a biodegradable and natural way to dispose of inevitable waste. Not only this, but it makes for a great fertiliser. Although buying local is a great place to start, who is to say that in time you won’t want to start growing your own produce? A good fertiliser is instrumental in making this a success. If you take a step back and think about it, it’s all intrinsically linked together, so the sooner you start in one department, the sooner you’ll be living an all-round more eco-friendly existence.
