We only get one Earth, and we need to do everything we can to protect it. Luckily, there are a few small changes you can make that will have a huge impact on our planet.
1. Buy a reusable water bottle
Not only is bottled water expensive, it’s extremely bad for the environment. Most of it is just bottled tap water anyways, and a lot of companies take water from areas that are already experiencing a drought. Plus, the plastic bottles often end up in our oceans and rivers, where they will be mistaken for food by aquatic animals. Using a reusable bottle is not only environmentally friendly, it’s a lot cheaper, too! Most places offer water for free anyways, why not take advantage of it? We have built in water bottle filers at most of the bubblers on campus which is more convenient than stopping in the Blue Devil Market to buy a water.
2. Go meatless one day a week
It takes roughly 110 gallons of water to produce one quarter pound burger patty, and when you eat meat, you’re only getting about 10% of the energy that was originally present in the grains and corn they eat. Hop on the “Meatless Monday” bandwagon, or go for more if you’re feeling ambitious. You’ll be surprised at how good you feel, as long as you’re eating the right foods. Here’s an awesome website that explains the movement and gives you some amazing recipes that will fill you up.
3. Set up a compost at home
You can buy an odorless compost container from The Container Store for just $30, or look up a DIY on Youtube. They even give you the option to add Compostable Waste Bags to your order for just $4.99! This is one of the easiest things you can do to help the planet. As an added bonus, composting is a great way to turn your food waste into something productive instead of sending it to the landfill. Compost is a great alternative to fertilizers (which are not so good for the environment). Even if you’re not a gardener, you can use it on your lawn!
4. Take shorter showers
You’ve heard it before, but the average shower wastes 17.2 gallons of water. You should also turn off the tap whenever you’re not using it, like when you’re brushing your teeth. Make it a priority to fix leaky faucets as well, because household leaks waste over one trillion gallons of water each year around the world. Small, easy fixes like these will help reduce our water consumption and make the world a more sustainable place.
5. Carpool, or take public transportation
Climate change isn’t a new thing, it’s been happening for hundreds of thousands of years. However, recent human activity is speeding up this process. Carbon is essential for keeping the planet from freezing, but with cars and factories, we are releasing more carbon into the air than necessary, and the plants can’t keep up. This means that not all of the excess carbon is absorbed and turned into oxygen by plants. By carpooling or taking public transportation, you are lowering your own carbon footprint and doing your part to counteract this excess emission of carbon.
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We can all do our best to be more eco-friendly, which will benefit the human race for generations to come.