Most people around the world are aware of the existence of global warming and the many activities which contribute to its existence. What they may be less aware of, however, is how large of a positive impact simple individual habits that start at home can be done to help the planet.
15. Take shorter showers.
Showers are one of the most water-wasteful activities that takes place in any household. According to the United States Environmental Protection agency, 2.5 gallons is pumped through the average shower head every minute it is used. That means that a 25-minute shower uses almost 65 gallons of water! Reducing the time spent in the shower is one of the easiest things an individual can do to help conserve water and in turn help the planet.
14. Ditch the flashy gift wrap and get creative.
Gift wraps are popular features of the holiday season and come in numerous colors. However, the majority of these gift wraps are made of foil paper composed of many metallic compounds. The influx of these papers during the holidays leads to gigantic amounts of wastes in following days, and a usual method of disposing of the waste is burning. Unfortunately, when it is burned, gift papers release many harmful pollutants into the air. Therefore a more environmentally-friendly alternative is encouraged including the use of fabric or recycled materials as a gift wrap.
13. Don’t use products with microbeads.
Microbeads are tiny plastic particles found in several personal care products such as toothpaste and cosmetic products. Recent studies have shown that these microbeads escape the filtration done in sewage treatment plants, therefore causing widespread water pollution in the oceans which harms aquatic ecosystems. Several countries have begun making legislations to impose bans on products with microbeads including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. However, in countries where the legislation does not exist, consumers can make the informed decision to not buy products containing microbeads.
12. Grow your own food.
Urban farming is the practice where urban residents who typically purchase their food in markets instead utilize small urban spaces to grow their own food. While the practice has a significant economic benefit to the consumers, it also has several environmental benefits including a reduction in carbon dioxide emission from trucks which are used to transport food produce to the cities. You don’t need a large space in order to start an urban garden – even those with a small balcony could grow a few plants!
11. Drive slowly.
The introduction of low-speed limits is seen as a safety precaution on motorists. However, studies have also shown that driving at low speeds leads to an overall reduction in fuel consumption which has a positive impact on the environment. Slow driving (also known as eco-driving) has also been linked to a reduction in traffic congestion which are major sources of greenhouse-gas emissions.