The Easy Environmentalists – 5 Simple Switches to Lower Your Environmental Impact
If you have read any articles lately, seen any recent news, or watched any documentaries or shows on renewable energy, you may be wondering how you can lower your own impact. It can be a challenge to think about your own impact to begin with, let alone how to lower it. With that said, if reducing your carbon footprint is important to you, consider these five simple switches today.
1. Solar Power
Solar power is a fantastic option to not only lower your impact, but also potentially lower your bills. Solar is one the cleanest, most affordable energy sources. It is a great way to immediately lower your impact by lowering your consumption of nonrenewable energy. Try AGL solar for solar power, that can really help lower your environmental impact and your energy bill.
2. Plastic-Free
It is very likely you will have heard of this trend that is sweeping the country. People are now beginning to understand the environmental impact of plastic and the consequences of not recycling plastic properly. Instead of trying something which is likely to fail like eliminating plastic from your life, start small.
Go plastic free for a month, and if you make it to the end, try for two months. During that time, making sure that where you come into contact with plastic in other aspects of your life, you are recycling the plastic appropriately. It may not seem as though it is lowering the overall impact, however, if everyone did this one simple action it would make a huge difference, so it may as well start with you.
3. Turn it Off
This one is an insanely simple change that we should all make to our lives, but one that very few people either do or stick to. When you leave the house or know that you are going to be gone for a long period of time, turn everything off at the wall, or better yet, the fuse box.
Appliances like your TV, microwave, lights etc. can chew through the electricity which hurt the environment as well as the bank account. One simple way to lower your impact is to limit the usage when you aren’t actually using them.
4. Make energy efficient choices
When it comes to appliances, light bulbs or anything that uses electricity or energy, try opting for a higher energy efficiency rating. These appliances can sometimes cost a little more, but over the life of their use will save you a bundle on energy consumption. But better yet, they will also help reduce your impact on the environment.
Energy efficient appliances work smarter, not harder. Look for washers, dryer, fridges with a minimum of four stars. Also consider swapping out your light bulbs with energy-efficient globes.
5. Save it for a rainy day
One sure fire way to lower your environmental impact is by installing a rainwater tank. Avoid using unnecessary water on the gardens, lawns or washing the cars. Instead, use water you’ve been saving from a rainy day. Rainwater tanks are a great way to lower your impact and reliance on other water sources.
Rainwater tanks are also a great way to avoid those desperate situations, like when water restrictions are in place. With a rainwater tank, you can keep the gardens looking beautiful and fresh all year round, without the guilt of wasting water.
Lowering your impact is not something we think about very often but it is something that we should also consider starting. It doesn’t have to be a huge investment on your end, but a subtle change in your routine could make all the difference to the environment. Use these five simple switches to help lower your personal impact on the environment.
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Yes (5 times over!) … and I am pleased to say that we will be installing solar panels when we do our small house extension this year!
Thank you for adding this post to #GoingGreen. The next linky will open on Feb 5th and I hope you can be there.
Hi Rosie,
Glad to hear your installing solar panels. We have looked into it and if I was younger I would definitely add some solar to our house but at this stage of our lives it doesn’t make sense money wise. I surely will be linking up to #GoingGreen Linky on the 5th. See you then! Have a healthy, happy & blessed day!
Another brilliant, informative post from you Marla. All these points are great ways that people can start taking steps to having less impact on the earth.
Plastic is such a massive problem, and I hate to see all the images of sea creatures affected by the amount that ends up in the ocean. going plastic free for a month certainly seems daunting, but if anything it would hopefully teach people just what they can recycle.
I’m constantly frustrated at the amount of plastic that can’t be recycled, like black plastic! Such a shame.
Anyway, thanks for sharing this great post with us Marla 🙂
Hi Kevin,
Your sure are right about plastic being a massive problem. It seems you can’t get away from plastic as hard as you try. Companies and people are making some positive steps toward cutting back plastic. I try in every way I can to eliminate as much plastic as possible. Recycling I have read sometimes is not always a great option either because it takes a lot of energy and fuel to recycle plastic – so it double bladed sword.
I’m glad that you like my article and hopefully you found it helpful. Thanks for stopping by, commenting and sharing your thoughts. Have a healthy, happy & blessed Christmas and holiday season.