Everyone knows they should be more environmentally friendly. The planet is heading towards a climate change disaster, and a lot of work needs to be done to turn the tides. As individuals, our collective efforts to be greener will make a huge difference to the state of the environment.
There are so many ways to reduce your impact on the natural world, but all the advice is the same. You’re constantly told to eat less meat, recycle, use sustainable modes of transport, and be conservative with your energy usage. But you know all this, and you’ve no doubt incorporated this advice into your life. But there are so many additional ways of being eco-friendly that you might not be aware of. Here are five unusual methods that might just make your life a little bit greener.
Ditch Google
When you need to know the answer to a question, research a product, or search for a business, you will most likely type a search query into Google. It’s become the default engine for most people, and you probably don’t think twice about it. But by switching up your search engine, you could be helping the environment. Ecosia is an environmentally conscious search engine powered by 100% renewable energy sources. And for every search you make, they plant trees in some of the harshest environments on Earth. Using a new browser will make very little difference to your life, but for future generations, your new habit will have a significant impact.
Use cold water
How many times a day do you wash your hands? At least every time you go to the bathroom and prepare food, but probably more than that. If you were to use cold water instead of hot water each time, you would save a monumental amount of energy over the course of your lifetime. Cold water allows you to remove germs just as effectively as warm water, and you won’t have to wait around for it to heat up either.
Go solar
It takes a great deal of energy to heat and power your home, so switching your current energy source for solar power could transform your life. A residential solar panel installation will allow you to have an energy-independent home, powered entirely by the sun. It will save you money, and the renewable energy will cause your carbon footprint to shrink dramatically in size.
Streamline your emails
Did you know that every email you send or receive emits 10 grams of carbon dioxide? You probably don’t worry too much about your inbox, but all those newsletters and junk emails are putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Take some time to unsubscribe to all those newsletters and be more conscious about your communication habits in the future.
Have an eco-friendly death
Saving the planet doesn’t have to stop when you die. Cremations release a huge amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, while traditional burials pollute the earth with non-biodegradable materials. There are many eco-friendly burial alternatives, such as composting your remains, becoming a tree, or having your ashes turned into a coral reef.
