A lot of people trust major organizations and regulatory bodies to fix all the problems. Sure, major industries like mining and manufacturing are the largest polluters in the world, but what about personal responsibility?
There’s nothing easier than waiting for someone else to fix the problem, but what about making a personal effort to fix the problem? What about personally contributing to the resolution of these problems?
Well, there are five major choices that every individual can make in order to lead a greener life. Here’s how each of these choices can benefit you, other than just saving the planet.
Switch to water-saving practices
Tomatoes growing at RedSea farms, Saudi Arabia
Water conservation is important for the future of our planet, but it also lowers your water bill. Most importantly, there’s a way for you to save water without impacting your daily routine in any way.
The first thing you can do is be more mindful of the way you’re spending water. Rinse instead of washing, turn the tap off while brushing, and try to stick to similar water-conserving behavior patterns as best as you can.
The easiest way to save water is to go with low-flow fixtures. By replacing your toilet, faucet, and showerhead with low-flow alternatives, you’ll save huge amounts of water and never feel the difference. Your toilet alone is responsible for one-quarter of all water spent in your household. A low-flow toilet is just as efficient, but it wastes a lot less water.
Next, you want to change the way you’re watering your garden. While drip irrigation is quite an effective (and surprisingly water-efficient) way to water these plants, there’s a way to go even beyond. Smart irrigation systems are, by far, the most efficient way to ensure that your plants get the exact amount of water they need. In other words, it’s a boon to both your water saving and your gardening.
Choose greener digital practices
Looking for a server powered by the sun?
The majority of individuals use at least one or several digital devices. The choice of the right device can reduce the amount of power that your household uses, but it’s not just about hardware.
By using cloud computing, you usually spend less power than if you were to store data on your own devices. Sure, these data centers often get a bad reputation for being power-hungry, but if you look at the equivalent of storing an equivalent amount of data on private devices, you’ll get a chance to see just how big of a difference this can make.
When hosting, make sure to check if the host in question is “green.” Sure, a lot of people don’t pay much attention to the carbon footprint of their site, but all it takes is just a bit of research to make a significant difference.
You can even make a difference with a VPN that’s optimized for server usage. To understand how this works and find the platform that will deliver the best results, you might want to first go through some VPN guides and resources.
Ultimately, you need to be extra careful when disposing of anything containing electronics. Make sure to dispose of it in a prescribed way and prioritize methods that offer recycling.
Green gardening
In order not to drain the soil and torment the ecosystem of your property, you need to start with the right plan. This means researching plants that work well in your climate and taking your soil for analysis. If you make the right selection of plants, your effort will be minimal, and you won’t have to disturb the local ecosystem too much.
Another concept worth exploring is the one of companion planting. Some plants are natural repellents of pests that destroy your other crops. By planting them next to each other, you can improve the crop yield without using pesticides and polluting the soil.
You should also start composting. This way, you’re recycling your food leftovers and providing your garden with a lot of natural nutrients. You can use almost all of your food leftovers except for meat and dairy. Even eggshells can be used.
In order to keep your garden warm during the colder part of the year and prevent it from losing too much moisture during summer, you might want to consider mulching. All you need to do is get a wood chipper and use any branches and debris that you encounter on your property. Just make sure that you don’t do this with processed wood since it has chemicals that might be released into the soil.
Mindful shopping
Another thing you need to do is consider what you’re buying. Read the labels and check how your products are made. It’s not just about buying something that has a harmful or dubious origin, it’s about feeding the money into that industry, potentially making it even larger in the future.
You also want to support ethical businesses by diverting your resources toward them and incentivizing them to keep doing a great job. This will not only feel good but also produce a butterfly effect further down the line.
Buying locally is also a conscientious choice. The thing is that even if someone else is delivering the product, it still has to be delivered. If you’re ordering it from anywhere in the world, the process of shipment will cause pollution. We’re not suggesting that you completely stop ordering products online, but it might be a good idea to start by checking if there are such products locally.
Planning bigger, fewer grocery runs is another amazing idea. This way, you take fewer trips. Ordering online doesn’t really help since you’re having someone take the trip either way. Sure, one might argue that they would be passing down this route to deliver to someone else, and, in that case, this would be the less polluting alternative.
Reexamining your transportation habits
Try cycling by the sea in Venice, LA
Lastly, you need to start reexamining your transportation habits.
Public transportation and carpooling are the best course of action, but they can be quite inconvenient, and they’re not always available. Your office might be too far out of the way, and while walking 30 minutes from the bus station is even greener, the majority of people don’t have the luxury of that much extra time.
You might also want to consider cycling and walking from time to time. Sure, some people live in remote areas, and not a lot of people are willing to relocate in order to get more transportation options (for the sake of eco-friendliness). Still, you don’t have to go that far. We’re just suggesting that you could walk when you have the time and energy.
Most importantly, there is a way that will allow you to save money on gas, as well as keep driving in a more eco-friendly manner. You could switch to an electric car or a hybrid. Sure, a lot of people are concerned about being early adopters and have the so-called range anxiety, but these problems are getting better and better solutions by the minute. If not, you could at least, take gas mileage into consideration when buying your next car.
When you want something done, do it yourself
The last thing you need to consider is the importance of taking action and making adjustments to your life. Sure, your household is not going to save the planet or ruin it, but it’s important to take sides. Spending just one glass of water less per day makes more difference than all the moral grandstanding in the world. Always keep that in m
Author: Bhok Thompson
Bhok Thompson is an “eco-tinkerer” who thrives at the intersection of sustainability, business, and cutting-edge technology. With a background in mechanical engineering and a deep fascination with renewable energy, Bhok has dedicated his career to developing innovative solutions that bridge environmental consciousness with profitability. A frequent contributor to Green Prophet, Bhok writes about futuristic green tech, urban sustainability, and the latest trends in eco-friendly startups. His passion for engineering meets his love for business as he mentors young entrepreneurs looking to create scalable, impact-driven companies. Beyond his work, Bhok is an avid collector of vintage mechanical watches, believing they represent an era of precision and craftsmanship that modern technology often overlooks. Reach out: [email protected]
