Saving the planet is not something that one person can do. It takes all of us, and it starts with little things. We all know that we should be recycling, right? And that we should stop using plastic bags? But what else can we do to help to reduce our greenhouse gas footprint?
Below are 10 easy ways to make a positive impact on the environment. Which will you try first?
What is a greenhouse gas footprint?
A greenhouse gas footprint is the impact we have on the atmosphere and what we can do to reduce it.
It can be hard to keep up with what we need to do to help. But here are 10 easy ways to make a positive impact:
10 ways to reduce your greenhouse gas footprint.
1. Turn off lights when you're not using them.
2. Use public transit or carpool with friends and family to go to work, school, or even shopping.
3. Install a programmable thermostat; it will lower your heating and cooling bills by 10% during the winter and summer months.
4. Put on a sweater if it's cold outside; don't turn up the heat!
5. Unplug electronics when they are not in use; this will reduce your energy usage by 5-10%.
6. Recycle all of your paper products (paper towels, tissues, etc.), aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastics containers, and cardboard boxes (flatten them first).
7. Never pour cooking oil down the sink- instead, coat pans with cooking spray instead of oil for healthier frying!
8. Use reusable grocery store bags instead of plastic bags! The less plastic you use, the better for the environment.
9. Use energy efficient light bulbs to save money on energy bills and help preserve our planet's fragile resources. You can also invest in solar panels for cleaner energy usage!
10. Plant trees to protect air quality and combat climate change.
Beside the above mentioned easy ways we should also follow the following measures to reduce our green house gas footprint.
Get rid of plastic bags
Plastic bags are terrible for the environment. Not only do they litter the landscape, but they're also a hazard to animals and marine life who often mistake plastic bags for food.
This is why many governments have taken action against plastic bag use. Countries like Ireland, Australia, Rwanda and Bangladesh have all banned or taxed plastic bags in an effort to reduce their negative environmental impact and improve the health of their citizens.
So what can you do? If you buy things in bulk, take your own reusable bag with you. It's an easy way to get rid of plastic bags while keeping your things safe from harm!
Use reusable water bottles
We've all seen the viral video of the turtle on its back, struggling to flip over on its own. This turtle is suffering from plastic pollution. Did you know that one million birds and 100,000 marine animals are killed each year by ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic debris?
Swapping out your water bottles for reusable ones is an easy way to reduce your environmental footprint. Not only will you be reducing your use of disposable plastics, but you'll also be helping our planet's wildlife!
Recycle paper and cans for cash
Recycling paper and cans is easy and gives you an opportunity to make some money. Scrap paper and cans are collected at many convenience stores, apartment complexes, schools, and grocery stores. With scrap paper and aluminum cans, you can recycle plastic bags, pizza boxes, soda bottles, milk cartons, and more.
Many recycling centers offer a reward or incentive for recycling; look for signs at the store entrance to see if your local center has a program in place. If you're not sure where to recycle these items near your home, call your local sanitation department or visit Earth911.com to find out where nearby recycling centers are located.
Conclusion
There are many ways to reduce the impact that your lifestyle has on the environment, and one of the simplest is to reduce your individual green house gas footprint. In order to do so, you should eliminate any wasteful habits you have, such as using plastic bags or disposable water bottles, and find ways to recycle items. The more you try to do, the better off the environment will be.
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