24/11/2020 Let's become green citizens

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Let's become green citizens

Green Beginners

Bike more; drive less: If more people commuted on two wheels instead of four, experts estimate we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions
by 11% by 2050. One study found that half of all car trips were less than 3 miles. Given the short distance, cycling or walking could easily
substitute for 41% of these trips, saving nearly 5 percent in carbon emissions.
Watch what you buy: We can all do more to be more conscious about what we buy, and where we buy it from. Buying less will save you
money, reduce waste and improve your environmental footprint. Living a less consumerist lifestyle can benefit you and our planet.
Turning off lights and faucet when not needed.
Separating garbage types.
Walk, bike or carpool. Also, take advantage of public transport when available. 
Use reusable containers (bottles, cups). No single-use plastics (Stop using plastic straws)
Carry reusable shopping bags: reduce the amount of plastic and paper bags that often end up in landfills
Plant a tree (or two): trees and forests are extremely important for providing oxygen, homes, and resources. If you live in an apartment, you
can still fill your windw with a few plants, or even talk to your neighbours to turn the rooftop into a garden. With some research, you can rest
assured that you will find a few plants that will do well in your housing conditions, no matter how little of a green thumb you have. 
Try to have appliances and the such repaired before buying new ones. Instead of immediately giving up on that house appliance that's been
failing for a while, try to see if you can have it repaired. Again, you will be spending less and helping the environment at the same type. 

Green Advanced

Eat sustainably: Food production is a major driver of wildlife extinction. What we eat contributes around a quarter of global greenhouse gas
emissions and is responsible for almost 60% of global biodiversity loss. Farming animals for meat and dairy requires space and huge inputs of
water and feed. Today, one of the biggest causes of forest loss is the expansion of agricultural land for animal feed production, such as soy.
And producing meat creates vastly more carbon dioxide than plants such as vegetables, grains and legumes. Moving away from a meat-
dominated diet towards a more plant-based diet can lower your impact on the environment. Moreover, the type of meat that you choose to
eat also has a different effect: poultry has a considerably smaller footprint than beef. 
Dim the screen: laptops, desktop computers and tablets use a lot of energy, and their brightly-lit screens are one of their biggest energy
expenditures
Reuse: some recycle, but not many take advantage of reusing. Sometimes what we consider waste can be used to fulfill a different
function.This task indeed involves great imagination, resourcefulness and crafting. What's good about it is that this action is totally frugal.    
Make compost: instead of using synthetic fertilizers that might pollute soil, we can make compost in our own gardens. Compost is definitely an
organic and green option.      

Green Experts

Be an advocate, activist: those who take environmentalism seriously devote their whole time to it; they do it twenty four hours a day seven
days a week. They attend summits, participate in demonstrations, are part of wildlife rescue teams, etc. Some people might find this pace a
bit time-consuming; however, we can all play our part. For example, those who cannot do what activists do might support environmetalist
organizations by means of donations.  
Give up flying: Emissions that aircraft engines release are the result of fossil fuel combustion which augment carbon footprint. Take for
example Greta Thunberg and her family. They have given up flying for the sake of the environment.    
Go vegan: Livestock production is one of the most polluting industries on Earth. Following a vegan a diet means lowering the carbon footprint
effectively. According to recent research from the University of Oxford, cutting on meat and dairy products diet could reduce an individual's
carbon footprint from food by up to 73 per cent. 
Going off the grid: green experts might try to find alternative solutions to get energy or heating the water, such as installing solar panels. 
Watch out for the insulation: both in summer and winter, a lot of electricity and gas is spent in regulating the house's temperature, amounting
to a lot of energy. Well insulated houses are more likely to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout all year. Also, when you do want
to use the air-con, a stove, or the boiler, to change the room temperature, well-insulated houses require less energy, as they conserve the
temperature better. 
Live smaller, but smarter. As attractive as big houses are, sprawl is taking a considerable part of land. Living in a small, but well designed
house, with enough space for everyday life, will reduce considerably your carbon footprint. Limited space also invites you to think twice
before buying something, stopping you from accumulating unnecessary junk. 

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