Blog post written by Lucy Jones. In her day job, Lucy works closely with businesses to help them optimize their eco credentials. Away from the office, she’s a passionate blogger, and most enjoys creating content on the topic of sustainability.
While climate change is an issue that many people are well aware of, is it something we take into consideration in our daily lives? It can be easy to assume it’s up to large corporations to make the necessary changes to protect our planet, but you can make a significant difference by implementing a few key changes around your home and to your lifestyle.
Here, we explore five impactful actions that you can take from the comfort of your home to help reduce the impact of climate change.
Photo by MART PRODUCTION
For many of us, we simply have to turn on the tap and clean water will run endlessly, so it can be difficult to understand how much of a scarce resource it truly is. Research from the Environmental Protection Agency shows that “the average American family wastes up to 180 gallons of water each week”, which adds up to immense volumes when you consider there are around 133 million households across the country.
To reduce your water consumption at home, be sure to fix any leaks promptly and install low-flow showerheads and faucets – which provide the same pressure while using less water. Simply taking shorter showers and avoiding leaving the tap running while shaving or brushing your teeth can also add up to gallons of water being saved in the long-term.
Switching to energy-efficient appliances, especially those with the ENERGY STAR label, ensures that you’re actively minimizing your electricity use. These use less energy to run, saving you money on your bills while also being far more sustainable than other appliances – without sacrificing on results.
Small changes to your habits can also have a big impact. Turning off unused lights and devices when not in use, and using energy-saving lightbulbs or LED lamps all contribute to your eco efforts. Remember that even when left on standby, electronics use energy – devices on standby account for as much as 2% of global energy consumption.
Another way to reduce your carbon emissions is to opt for walking, biking, or public transport whenever possible over driving. Plus, you could consider investing in an electric vehicle if you’re in the market for a new car, to further cut down on emissions.
A great way to demonstrate your eco-friendly values and help shift the needle on climate change is to support renewable energy providers. By switching to a provider that prioritizes renewable sources like wind or solar, you’ll help increase the demand for green energy.
If you have the means to do so, installing solar panels can also help cut your energy bills and save the planet – harnessing the power of the sun to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels.
Go one step further and support climate-friendly policies by becoming an advocate for change; contacting local representatives, supporting sustainable policies and educating others on greener lifestyle choices all helps to compound the changes you make as an individual.
Photo by SHVETS production
We all produce waste in our daily lives, but there are ways to minimize the volume and impact of our waste products. Recycling where you can and composting organic waste massively reduces your landfill contributions. This is especially true for food waste, as around 94% – some 80 billion pounds yearly – ends up in landfills and significantly contributes to CO2 and methane emissions.
Another easy change to incorporate into your routine is to opt for reusable products, such as bags, bottles and containers, over single-use or plastic ones. This also extends to your home cleaning supplies – did you know that the traditional plastic bottles used for disinfectants and cleaning products can take up to 450 years to decompose? Switch these out for reusable containers, and take it further by making your own cleaning supplies at home to reduce the environmental impact of harmful ingredients.
There are also ways to help make a positive difference outside of your home, for example, by planting trees in your yard or supporting reforestation projects to help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Be sure to also share your knowledge on the importance of climate action with friends and family, encouraging them to adopt sustainable practices for themselves.
By implementing as many of these steps as you can, you can make a significant impact on combating climate change from the comfort of your home. Remember, every small change contributes to a larger collective effort, paving the way for a more sustainable future.