Habits that are damaging the environment

 

  1.  Using Kettles

Many people guess the amount of water they need when they boil the kettle, and they end up boiling too much. Boiling a kettle actually uses a lot of power- enough to light a whole household- which also costs the householder money. There are energy efficient kettles available that can help to reduce energy usage. 

 

  1. Eating Farmed Meat

Maybe you’re not ready to take a step in the veggie or vegan direction, but if you’re eating farmed meat, you’re supporting an incredibly environmentally damaging industry. Many acres of rainforest are cleared to grow soy crops and grains to feed cattle, and overgrazing of cattle is a major reason for global soil depletion and source of climate pollution. This is partly why box schemes for meat boxes are on the rise all over the world, but you might also consider going vegan or vegetarian on alternate weeks, or specific days, which will reduce your carbon footprint significantly


  1. Throwing biodegradables in the trash. 

Biodegradable packaging is any form of packaging that will naturally disintegrate and decompose. By throwing it away with regular trash you cause unnecessary waste. You can place the packaging in a small container until it decomposes. Some biodegradables need water to decompose so you’ll have to leave it in a jar of water until it dissolves. 


  1. Wasting paper

Paper Waste is a severe problem in many industries and offices. Because of printing mistakes, junk mails, billings, and packaging. Although it can be easily avoided by going digital and writing all your important documents online, or reducing the number of papers you use by utilizing both sides of the paper, or you can recycle used paper at home. 


  1. Commuting 

Traveling through cars and planes are one of the biggest environmental pollutants in our lives. Giving up these habits may not be easy, but taking steps to reduce them will impact the environment, local pollution levels, and your health. Consider ditching the car once or twice a week and cycling or walking to work instead, and try carpooling with work colleagues on alternate days. 


  1. Leaving The Lights On

 

You’ve probably heard this a million times before but turning the light off when you leave the room, even if you’re only going for a few minutes, really does make a difference to the environment, since it saves a finite source of energy that can’t be replaced.  There is more information here on the energy benefit of turning off the light when you leave the room (savings vary depending on the lighting source). If you’re forgetful or other people in your household are, you might benefit from putting stickers, or post-it notes next to light switches to remind householders to save energy by turning lights off when leaving the room.

 

  1. Leaving The Tap Running

Whether you’re washing the dishes or brushing your teeth, leaving the tap running while you do so wastes a vast amount of water. It may seem like a small water saving, but soaking dishes before washing them and turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth really does reduce the amount of water you use. Again, stickers or post-it notes placed next to taps can help to remind you to save water when you can.

 

  1. Using Plastic Bags

It’s hard to make the connection between the single plastic bag you get at the grocery store once a week, and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. However, there is a strong likelihood that the plastic bags you bring home will end up in the ocean, or worse. Consider buying a tote or cloth bag instead and make a habit of keeping it in your pocket or bag. Onya is just one company that sells durable and reusable bags that come with keyring attachments, so that you can keep them ‘on ya’.

 

  1. Flushing The Toilet

This is not the easiest habit to change, although the use of compost toilets is on the rise worldwide. However, flushing your toilet just once or twice less a week will make a difference to how much water your household uses (diluted urine is purported to be a safe and excellent liquid fertiliser), and adding a brick to your toilet cistern will reduce the amount of water the toiler uses with each flush.

 

  1. Ignoring Plastic Packaging

For many environmentalists, food packaging is the elephant in the room. This is because so many of our lifestyle choices involve buying goods that may only be available in plastic packaging. One step you can take to counter this is to contact the product manufacturer and ask them directly whether they might consider reducing the amount of packaging they use. Chances are that if it’s a small or ethical company they will take your thoughts on board. You can also check the recycling numbers on the products you buy that are packaged in plastic to see whether you can recycle them locally, and commit to buying only those products in future

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