Tomorrow is Summer Solstice, which marks the longest day of the year and the beginning of my favorite season: summer! For today's post I figured that there was no better way to celebrate the start of summer than to write an article on how to make your lifestyle more environmentally friendly.
I wouldn't call myself an environmentalist; I'm an outdoorsy person, I took an environmental science class once, I worked in a garden center and one of my best friends is very environmentally conscious but I wouldn't call myself an expert in the area. I have noticed, however, that I've got a little more experience than most. The first thing to know before getting actively involved in anything is that it's the smallest things that count, so although I'll be listing off some easy things and some harder things, I will still be proud of you if you choose to go the easy route first. Alright? Let's get started.
Step One: Find out what your
ecological footprint is and learn how to reduce it. Many of us don't take into account the ways in which we, as individuals, effect the status of the environment just by living. We create waste, release chemicals into the air, we consume things that put a strain on the Earth's resources. If you're anything like me, you'll be shocked when you find out how high your number is! Don't worry, there are plenty of ways to reduce it!
Step Two: Get into the habit of saving water and energy. Get energy saving light bulbs. Turn of the lights when you leave the room or when they are not necessary. Get power strips and turn off
and unplug all small appliances that are not in use, including your computer or laptop. When it comes to water, make a habit of turning off the faucet frequently. Take shorter, cooler showers less frequently (as in not every day) and turn off the water when you don't need it, like when you're soaping/shampooing up or shaving.
Step Three: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. I find that many people don't pay much attention to this well-known slogan. Many folks are good at recycling, but they don't realize that these three things are listed in order of descending importance: reduce the amount of waste you put out, reuse what you can, and recycle whenever possible. Ever since I was little, my family has always reused plastic water bottles that they get from the store, getting at least 4 or 5 uses out of each one before we throw them in the recycling bin and buy more. Even better, you can buy a reusable mug or metal water bottle and never have to throw it out! How about electronics? How often do you buy new gadgets and how necessary is it to have them? Ever think about
where they end up? Thrifting is one of my favorite ways to be eco friendly! If you're more creative than I am, you can even buy second-hand clothes and make something new from them!
Find out more about how to reduce your waste in the first place.
Step Four: Save the World DIY Style. As a lover of the outdoors, I'm a huge fan of gardening. I love tending to plants and reaping the benefits of taking good care of them. There is nothing better than going into your own back yard to grab ingredients for dinner! Growing your own garden eases the burden on the Earth's resources because you are taking away the amount of land that needs to be used for all of us, and it doesn't hurt that it saves you a bit of money. My good friend
Aly is becoming somewhat of an expert on edible wild plants, knowledge that is never a bad idea to have. You could also build your own
compost heap or a basin to catch
rainwater. Voila! More Earth-saving techniques that will help you keep your garden lovely.
Step Five: You Are What You Eat. Several times in the past, I've tried to go vegetarian with my diet for various reasons. When I was fourteen, I had just discovered PETA and thought they were awesome (until I knew better). Later on in life, after taking my Environmental Science class, I learned that it can be a huge benefit to the Earth, and later yet, after watching
Food, Inc., I was disgusted at the practices of the meat industry and realized that it was not only an issue of environment but even an issue of classism. Because we eat meat, extra land has to be set aside to feed the animals that we then consume. Vegetarians and vegans use less land space and fewer resources. You can learn more about the various impacts of factory farming
here. Finally, folks who work for the meat industry are treated poorly and often catch diseases and chronic illnesses from working in an unhealthy environment (one that produces food that we eat!). Going vegetarian can be a big step for some people and it is certainly not easy, so start slow: if you eat a lot of meat, try going meatless one day per week. If you don't eat much meat, try cutting out red meat, and focusing on poultry and fish. Slowly cut foods out until you can go meatless! I do realize that unfortunately, being vegetarian and especially vegan is not possible for everyone financially or for health reasons, but remember that this is only one suggestion in a plethora of lifestyle changes!
Step Six: Support local businesses. A great way to reduce your carbon footprint is to shop locally so that you don't have to travel as far to get what you need. This especially goes for farmer's markets, which I absolutely hit up once a week in the summertime. Helping local businesses also supports your local economy! However, this can also be an expensive step, so if it's a burden on your wallet, try buying locally once per month.
Step Seven: Change the way you get around. This is a step that might be really hard for some people. For instance, when I got to England, I was in total shock that I could get a bus to and from pretty much anywhere in the country. In my hometown of roughly 36,000 people, there is not a single public bus and probably one taxi. My plan this summer is to buy a cheap street bike, redecorate it, put a little basket on the front and ride it whenever I can, though my town is full of steep hills so it's going to be a challenge! You can also use the buddy system when traveling and carpool whenever possible!
So there you have it! Good luck being green, the Earth thanks you! Happy Summer to everyone!
