There’s no denying at this point that things need to be done to help out the planet that we call home. No matter where you fall in your beliefs of the climate crisis we are facing, there are things we should all be doing to help make the Earth a better place, not just for us, in the immediate, but for future generations to come. If you are a parent, this indeed resonates with you as you could be worried about what kind of world we’re leaving behind for our children.
But, it’s not all doom and gloom, and we are not destined for that fate. People all across the world, every single day, are making choices that impact the environment in positive ways, and contrary to some people’s belief that their small actions won’t impact change – they most certainly do. People get creative when it comes to ways they leave an environmental impact and change their behaviour – from ways to be more eco-friendly while you’re on your period to carrying reusable straws and utensils with you for eating and drinking on the go. Let’s take a look at more smart decisions for a brighter future together.
Home Is Where The Heart Is
Home is not only where the heart is, but it is also in many ways the heart of the carbon footprint we are leaving on Earth. Take a look at how you use electricity in your homes and ways you can minimize them. Are there appliances that can be unplugged when they’re not in use? Is everyone in the household on keep with turning off lights when they leave a room? Do you need the television running all hours of the day? These are quick, simple fixes.
More in-depth approaches are turning to alternative forms of energy. Many people may feel like going solar for powering their homes is out of reach because of the cost. But, there are many grants and deductions available for people to move in that direction. It’s worth doing a little research and seeing if those resources would be available to you to make your home’s energy consumption more environmentally friendly.
Our Vehicles Matter, Too
We all know that how we decide to get around town makes an impact on the environment. We see this when we have to do our yearly emissions checks or, at minimum, state inspections. We can choose to make smarter choices when it comes to the way we decide to get from A to B. If you’re in a city, you may not need a vehicle altogether. You can rely on public buses and rail systems, which would significantly reduce your footprint. If you work close enough to home, walking or biking is another excellent alternative.
If you live somewhere a little more sprawled out, consider upgrading your vehicle to something more climate-friendly, like a plug in hybrid electric vehicle. These not only benefit the environment, but they benefit your pocketbook by avoiding the cost of fueling your vehicle with gasoline or diesel. It’s worth considering, you may be put off by the initial investment of purchasing a new car, but considering your yearly savings on fuel, it quickly becomes an obvious smart decision.
Our Food Matters
You may not have thought that what you eat has an environmental impact, but it does. Did you know that factory farming is incredibly harmful to our environment? While going entirely plant-based may not be something that you and your family can get on board with completely, you can do your part by choosing to consume less meat than you currently are. Start small with “meatless Mondays,” where you eat vegetarian that day and build from there. Not only will consuming less meat have a vast benefit to our environment, it greatly benefits your health as well. If you want to leave the world a better place than you found it, it’s worth looking into.
Volunteering Makes An Impact
We’re all busy, that’s a fact. Life can get chaotic, and it may seem like you don’t have the time to volunteer. But simply deciding to volunteer even once a month helping to clean up litter in your local community or highways surrounding it makes a huge difference. Not to mention, it makes your community beautiful, and who doesn’t want beautiful surroundings? Small efforts add up; they do. If you are a parent, consider getting your children involved in helping the community too. Not only does it give them a sense of pride, but it also teaches them social skills as they’ll meet others in the community. Studies have also shown that somebody who is generous live happier, more fulfilling lives.
It’s easy to take on a defeatist attitude and think there’s nothing that we (as one person) do to help improve the planet we’re living on truly, but that’s not true. Take some small steps today to make the world a better place for all of us. Here’s to the future!