It is no secret that human activities are majorly responsible for the unprecedented climate change that our planet has experienced over the years. Even though significant damage has already been done, it’s still not too late to revert the damage. One way you can make a difference on an individual level is by adopting green living practices.
What is meant by ‘Green Living’? Green Living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resources. It also means making daily lifestyle choices that lean towards limiting your carbon footprint on the planet. In the simplest terms, living green means engaging in practices which reduce negative impact on the planet and its creatures.
How one can ‘Live Green’? There are a lot of different ways to live green. Some people do it by doing recycling, driving a fuel-efficient car, buying from local businesses, and reducing the amount of energy they use and the waste they produce. Others do it by making natural changes in their lifestyles. No matter how you choose to go green, there are changes you can make to reduce the negative impact of your actions on the environment. These tips on how to make green living stylish, and inspiring.
Invest in Energy-Efficient Appliances
Every year, you spend thousands of rupees on energy to enlighten your homes. Most of the times you use electricity for lighting, heating, cooling, and refrigeration and for operating appliances, computers, electronics, machinery, and public transportation systems. One of the main reasons your electric bill may be high is that you use non-efficient appliances. One of the easiest ways to cut your overall energy use, is to start using energy-efficient appliances in your home.
(Example: Using a light-emitting diode (LED) that requires less energy than an incandescent light bulb to produce the same amount of light.)
Fix Leaks As Soon As Possible
Little leakage may seem like a non-issue, but the truth is, even the smallest leak can waste a ton of global resources in addition to being heavy on your pocket and damaging your property. Pay attention to every leakage that you observe around your home. Additionally, also be sure to check out your utility bills as unexpected increases in your monthly utilities statement are often caused by everyday leaks. So, if you notice a leak in your home, call the relevant expert immediately to fix it.
Start using Solar Energy
Solar panels are an easy and excellent way to make your home greener. True, installation of solar panels requires heavy one time investment, but you can save a lot of electricity and you also won’t have an electricity bill in longer run.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – 3R Approach
If you’re not reducing your waste generation, not reusing it (for example plastic bags), and not recycling it yet, now is the time to do so. Reducing waste is easy to do as you just need to be a bit more careful and creative. Similarly, reusing and recycling also requires little effort. For instance, try to use plastic bags multiple times instead of sending them to trash-bin after one time use. 3R Approach will surely help you to go green.
Collect & Use Rainwater
Collecting rainwater is not difficult. Consider for a moment, that just one night of rain can dump over 200 gallons of water on the roof of your home. Why not try to collect some of this? Rainwater collection is hugely beneficial for the planet. Instead of using a sprinkler, you can use this (free) water in your garden or lawn. This will not only help you cut the amount of water you use every month, but it’ll also save you a ton of money in the longer run. Start by investing in just one rainwater barrel. You’ll quickly see how easy it is, and you’ll want to expand from there.
Stop Buying Paper Towels
Instead of buying paper towels every week (which can add up to be a huge waste), buy a couple packs of reusable microfiber towels to use for cleaning purposes. You could even cut up old t-shirts and use these as cloths. Simple, and super-efficient!
What are some of the other ways that you keep a green home? Tell your secrets in the comments!
