The choices you make each day affect more than just your life. They also affect the climate and the entire environment. The foods you eat, what you do for a living, and your home can all change the environment either for the better or the worse. Luckily, there are a few areas you can focus on to reduce your footprint and be friendlier to the earth.
1. Your Career
You spend 40 hours a week at your job, and this is likely the largest time commitment you have each week. It makes sense to choose a career that allows you to make a difference. A green career is a position that allows you to focus on sustainability and conservation. While specific positions can vary, you could find yourself addressing environmental concerns or promoting eco-friendly decisions. There are several ways to break into a green career if you are focused on making a change. You could get your degree in a relevant field to gain the necessary skills and knowledge. You can find online scholarships to make it more affordable to get your degree instead of having to pay out of pocket.
2. Your Shopping
It’s important for all purchases to be well-thought out, but especially larger ones like vehicles. Of course, not everyone can afford a hybrid car, and you shouldn’t run out to replace your current vehicle if your current one is still working well. Before making a purchase, ask whether you really need the item. If you do need it, look for an eco-friendly one. That might be an electric car or a more energy-efficient appliance. You can save money on using the item, and getting an energy-efficient appliance can reduce your carbon footprint. Depending on the item, you may be able to purchase a used version instead of buying something brand-new. Gently used items often still have a lot of life left in them, and it takes resources to manufacture new items.
3. Your Home
Keeping your home in good condition can help you save energy. It should have well-insulated windows and good insulation in other areas, like the attic. Consider using a smart thermostat to cool and heat your home so you aren’t using as much energy when you are not thee. Often, there are state incentives for making your home eco-friendlier, and the net cost of these changes after the incentives is often extremely low.
4. Your Diet
Everyone knows eating junk food threatens the environment but that’s mainstream because the product itself is considered unhealthy. What you might not know is that the meat industry is a destructive industry and creates emissions and greenhouse gasses. Reducing meat consumption can help reduce your carbon footprint, and it can be less expensive to eat more plants and fewer meats. Plan shopping trips carefully to avoid food waste so you consume everything you purchase. If food does go to waste, consider composting it instead of throwing it away. Creating your own compost is more eco-friendly than throwing away the items, and you can use it in your own garden. If you don’t have a garden, your area may still have a composting program in place. This prevents more from going into landfills.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
