Every day we hear about the effects climate change is having on the world we live in. Carbon pollution is having a serious negative impact on the environment and governments around the world are introducing plans to combat it. It is affecting the weather causing natural disasters and crop failure, amongst other environmental issues. Collectively we all contribute by the decisions we make each day. Below are 5 ways to reduce your individual carbon footprint to minimize your impact on our precious surroundings:
Take Public Transport
Vehicle emissions are a huge contributor to carbon pollution in Australia and around the world. Taking public transport or organising a carpool are several ways you can minimise your carbon footprint.
Filter your Water
Buying plastic bottles of water is another everyday activity which has huge repercussions on the environment for two reasons. Firstly, the plastic bottles often end up in landfill because of improper disposal and recycling processes. Secondly, the packaged water has to be packed in factories and transported to stores for you to buy it, with both of these having a massive impact on the environment. Tap water in western countries is perfectly safe to drink and a simple home filtration system will remove any remaining impurities.
Get Tougher on Printing
This is a crime against planet earth which businesses, in particular, are guilty of. Every day, huge numbers of Australians needlessly print documents which could be read on computers or other devices. If you do read a hardcopy newspaper, at least make sure it’s properly recycled when you’re finished with it.
Laptop & Desktop As electronic devices go, laptops are up to 80% better for the environment than their desktop counterparts. This is because energy-efficiency is a key part of the laptop design process to preserve the battery for as long as possible for the users’ convenience.
Unplug
Unplugging your electronic devices when they’re not in use can save both the devices themselves and your dollars when compared to leaving them active. Unplug chargers, put computers into sleep mode and turn off TVs and cable boxes to do your bit for the environment and your wallet.
Buy Local and In-Season Food
Buying fresh fruit and vegetables and other produce not only contributes to the local economy, but also minimizes the carbon emissions associated with transporting out-of-season fruit and vegetables from other states. Correctly storing your fresh produce in our breathable swags will also keep it fresh up for up to 3 times longer!
