Ecological habits help not only to protect nature in everyday life, but also to save money. You can start a new life in an eco-friendly style with simple steps.
EcoPolitic has prepared for its readers TOP-10 such habits.
- Garbage sorting;
The easiest way to start sorting waste is to separate the fractions. Thus, the dry fraction, i.e. glass, paper, metal and plastic, can be stored separately from other waste. Your own sorting station will not take up much space, and a trip to the sorting containers or to the station can be combined with a walk.
- Composting;
Organic waste, such as potato peelings and spoiled fruit, can be turned into compost. If such waste ends up in a landfill, it becomes a source of the powerful greenhouse gas methane. This gas increases climate warming more than 80 times in the first 20 years compared to carbon.
You can set up a composter in an apartment, for example, buy a ready-made one, or make it yourself from small buckets, or a larger composter in the yard or cottage. Also, organic waste can be handed over for processing at a composting station, for example in Lviv or Lutsk.
- Do not throw food away;
Food waste accounts for more than 10% of global carbon emissions, which is the cause of the climate emergency. To reduce their number, you should not buy food that you do not want to eat and cook too much. Unnecessary products can be frozen, and the leftovers can be used to prepare an unusual dinner.
It is also worth using more local products, because exotic goods are transported from distant countries, which creates a powerful carbon footprint.
- Reusable things;
Another way to save money is to refuse disposable plastic dishes, straws, bags, etc. Eco-bags, reusable drinking straws, eco-cups, etc. will be a great alternative for them.
- Rejection of fast fashion;
Give preference to clothes made of natural fabrics and avoid rash purchases. The fast food industry uses many natural resources, chemical dyes and synthetic fabrics. In addition, such things quickly become garbage and end up in landfills.
Currently, a new trend of a conscious approach to the production and selection of clothes, which is called slow fashion, is gaining momentum in the world of fashion.
- Energy saving;
Switching to energy-saving lamps will help to significantly reduce the load on the network and reduce the amount of electricity bills. Fossil fuels are used to produce a significant amount of energy, which causes emissions of greenhouse carbon dioxide.
In Ukraine, an exchange program was launched in 2023 old incandescent lamps to energy-saving LED lamps. Replacing 50 million LED lamps can relieve the work of one nuclear power plant reactor.
In addition, it is worth turning off the lights in the premises if they are not being used at the moment.
- Water saving;
Water is one of the main resources necessary for human life, and Ukraine is one of the low-water countries. If you turn off the water every time you wash the dishes or brush your teeth (when the water is not needed, but just pours from the tap), it will help preserve natural resources and save money.
- Delete unnecessary files;
Each spam email emits approximately 0.3 grams of CO2 into the atmosphere, and sending a billion such emails is equivalent to the work of 3 million cars. Every year, the Internet and its supporting systems produce 900 million tons of CO2, which creates more emissions than the annual output of all of Germany.
Removing unnecessary information from gadgets will make it possible to unload data centers, which consume a huge amount of energy to support.
- Dress warmly;
During cold weather, you can avoid unnecessary heating costs thanks to warmer clothes. So, in winter, some people heat their homes to a temperature so that it is comfortable to wear T-shirts. Comfortable hoodies and sweaters will help you not get cold and take care of the environment.
- Rejection of own car.
Reduce the use of your own car in favor of environmentally friendly transport or walking. This will allow you to save on fuel and car maintenance, as well as reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
Previously, EcoPolitic prepared a list of 8 steps that will help you successfully start sorting garbage.
