Photo by Daniel Frank from Pexels
Most people want to make the world a better place in some way. It’s something we can agree on, since whatever our differences, we do all live here. But not everyone knows the best way to do it. When it comes to the environment, many find themselves faced with the largeness of the problem and wondering what they can possibly do to help. The good news is that there are easy, everyday habits you can practice that will, slowly but surely, decrease your carbon footprint and help you make the world that much more environmentally friendly. Here are some of our favorite tips:
When You Can Walk, Walk
Cars can be pretty convenient, especially when you live outside of the nearest public transportation coverage. But gas emissions from cars are a leading cause of pollution. We’re not suggesting you give up the car completely–that would be impractical. But if you’re just walking to the store down the street for some bread and milk, or you’re meeting a friend who lives in the neighborhood, take a walk. You can even invest in a bike for those destinations that are a bit out of walking distance but too close to justify using the car. This is not only a good way to limit pollution in your area; it’s also great for your health.
Cut Back on Electricity
Again, this isn’t to say you shouldn’t use electricity when you need it. Just use good conservation habits. Turn the lights out when you leave a room. If your phone is fully charged, take it off the charger. In the daytime when light streams through the window, you may be able to enjoy the indoors without turning on a lamp, and when you do use lamps, you can use energy efficient light bulbs. This is a great way to have a positive effect on your environment and your energy bill at the same time.
Conserve Water
When you wash the dishes, use an energy efficient dishwasher or handwash with just enough water pressure to get the job done, rather than defaulting to full blast. Another way to conserve water is during your shower. Turn your water down or off while you’re scrubbing on the soap, and turn it back on when you’re ready to rinse. It might feel a little strange at first to change things, but you can remind yourself that you’re making a difference in your environment and your community.
Pay Your Bills Online
If your apartment, utilities, phone company, or other bills allows you to pay online, do it. Online bill pay allows you to stay on top of your finances in a completely environmentally friendly way–no paper necessary. Your bank may even have a service that allows you to pay invoices online.
Recycle
One of the easiest ways to be more environmentally friendly is to recycle whatever home waste can be recycled and invest in products that use recycled materials. Rather than throwing them out with the regular trash, you can recycle paper, cardboard, and various plastics so that they can be used again and less resources have to be expended in making new products. Just check your recycling company’s list of acceptable materials to make sure what can and can’t be recycled. There may even be private services that accept difficult to recycle materials.
If you live in Brazos Valley but outside of Bryan-College Station limits, you don’t have to worry about missing out on the recycling benefits. Brazos Valley Trash Valet & Recycling offers residential trash and recycling services to your area. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you be more environmentally friendly.
