Going green is associated with time consumption, expensive products and extensive reading. At LivingLifeNaturalBlog.com, our job is to help you achieve environmental sustainability and strive for a healthy lifestyle. The key to getting started is to adopt a few habits that you think you’re capable of committing to and to begin doing them daily. However, the problem is that sometimes we’re not sure what those simple everyday routines are. This is why this blog is dedicated to helping you become more educated about what you can do to take an active part in helping change the state of our planet.
Before we get started, let’s first understand why working towards environmental sustainability and a healthy planet is essential. Many will be the first to mention global warming, and it’s true, the state of the earth is drastically changing, and we have the power to change that. Here are a few vital statistics about the environment and the planet worth learning about.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the air are highest in 650,000 years. CO2 is heat-trapping, or in other words, greenhouse gas, and is released through human activities such as volcanic eruptions and respiration. Research has shown that nine of the ten warmest years on record have occurred since 2000. 2005 and 2010 ranked as the warmest years. Antarctica and Greenland are losing mass at alarming rates; the former has been losing approximately 147 billion tons of ice per year since 2003, while the latter has been losing about 258 billion tons per year.
Methylene Chloride, found in spot removers and floor cleaners, causes chest pain and other heart symptoms when breathed in. The danger is even greater for those who already have heart disease.
All that said, it’s important to realize that with a few changes made to our daily lifestyle, it is possible to create a difference. Helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, learning about how natural and organic products can improve your well-being, and committing to your family’s health is essential and, at this time, most necessary.
Here are a few ways to get started
1. Change your lights: Pick a few lights in your home that you use the most, and replace them with ENERGY STAR qualified products, which use 75% less energy than standard lighting and last 10 to 50 times longer. You will also save about $70 a year on energy bills and help the environment at the same time.
2. Change your shopping habits: Make the decision to spend your money at stores and companies that share the vision of a sustainable and healthy environment. These stores offer a wide selection of products and local and organic foods, and they’re conscious about limiting waste.
3. Reuse grocery bags: In the US, 100 billion new plastic bags are used each year, which costs 12 million barrels of oil. Globally, only 1 percent of plastic bags are recycled. One of the simplest things you can do to help the planet is to reuse your bags when you go shopping.
4. Compost: Going green in your yard is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to help the environment. By composting your food and yard waste, you will send less garbage to landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Leave your car at home: Attempt to stay off the road one or two days a week. This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1590 pounds per year. Instead, burn some calories and walk or cycle. It’s great for your health too!
6. Share, share, share: Don’t forget to share your knowledge and tips with others. Tell you, friends and family, so they can also embark on this journey with you.
Going green is easier than you think. Pick a few of the above habits to incorporate into your lifestyle. Not only will you reap the benefits, but you will also be contributing to the planet’s environmental sustainability and helping our world become greener, one day at a time.
Let us know if there’s a specific topic you’d like to know more about. Become part of this global dialogue and, let’s together, help keep our environment safe.
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