Global Warming - What Can You Do?

How to Reduce your Household's Impact on the Environment

Feb 6, 2008 Lisa Mora

Environmentally-friendly tips to reduce Greehouse Gas emissions, conserve energy and minimize our impact on the environment

Global warming - We hear about it on the news all the time and most people now accept that it is a scientific reality. We are told we need to reduce our Greenhouse Gas emissions, conserve energy and lessen our impact on the environment, but how exactly can we do that?

Here are a few simple green tips to make your household planet-friendly:

• Recycle - Find out what your local council recycles and keep a separate bin for recyclables next to the general refuse bin. Ensure all household members are aware of what can be recycled. Usually all glass, paper, cardboard, aluminum tins and plastics can be recycled. Reducing the amount of trash you throw our means less goes to landfill which is good for the planet.
• Compost - Composting is great! A lidded plastic container can be kept in the fridge for all your household's food scraps. When the bin is full, simply dig a hole in the garden and bury it for instant compost that your garden will love. Keeping the bin in the fridge means no nasty smells, and your trash will also be odorless without the food scraps in it.
• Re-use - When building or renovating try to source as many materials as you can from your local salvage and recycled building materials yard. Many will also take unwanted materials from you and might even give you cash for stuff that would have otherwise ended up in the tip. Manufacturing new materials uses a lot of energy and contributes to Greenhouse Gases so it is far better to use materials that have already been made if possible.
• Conserve - The creation and consumption of electricity is a huge Greenhouse gas contributor. Switch off lights and appliances when you are not using them, only use air conditioners and heaters when you really need them and change your light globes to the new energy efficient types. Being aware of your household's energy consumption and making these small changes has the added benefit of reducing your electricity account too. Some electricity providers also offer "Green energy" options where the electricity will be sourced from environmentally-friendly alternatives like wind and solar power. Call your provider and ask if you can switch to one of these options.
• Cycle or walk - Do you really need to take the car to drive just around the corner to the local store? Car engines are one of the biggest producers of Carbon Dioxide, a dangerous Greenhouse gas, as well as huge consumers of petrol, a precious and finite resource. Try alternative forms of transport if you can; walk, catch a bus or train, ride a bike or rollerblade! The bonus of reducing our dependence on our vehicles can be an increase in physical fitness, an increased sense of well-being and fun!

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