Considering the fastness of the current lifestyle, living sustainably is not an option; rather, it is an imperative. The negative impacts of climatic change, pollution, and resource depletion are really hard on the planet. In such a scenario, adopting eco-friendly practices becomes very important. In this blog, we will look through some quite easy and practical ways to live sustainably and get valuable insights into how you can make a difference for our environment.
Understanding Sustainability
Sustainability is about maintaining the possibility of feeding current human needs without destroying the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It creates an axis of balance between economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection. Embracing sustainable practices will not just reduce our carbon footprints; it will also help preserve resources for a future generation and create a healthier world to live in.
Eco-Friendly Solutions for Everyday Life
Reduce, Reuse, and recycle.
The three R's are reduce, Reuse, and recycle, preliminaries that have their base in the very fundamentals of living green. 'Reduce' means buying just what is required and purchasing products with minimum packaging. Reuse refers to the practice of using ready material for some other purpose, like keeping things in glass jars. The energy and resources saved get a boost from recycling because it makes unwanted matter functional again.
Added to these, there is Refuse and Repurpose. Refuse refers to avoiding the use of non-recyclable products and packaging. Repurpose broadly refers to the upcycling of products not in use by the user but that can potentially be used for various other purposes, such as decorative items and so on. Using the wasted printer paper as scrap paper, cardboard boxes for storing goods, tin cans for holding stationery, etc. are some examples.
Plastic bags have largely been superseded by cloth bags in India. Indeed, a recent report said that the use of plastic bags in India dropped by 60% with people becoming more aware and due to the implementation of government regulations. The rate of recycling is increasing globally. 56% of Germany's waste is treated as recycle, the highest rate worldwide, for example.
Energy Conservation
Energy saving is related to reducing greenhouse gases and conserving resources. The simple steps of switching off lights when not required, using energy-efficient appliances, and using renewable sources of energy can really help save a lot of energy.
Under UJALA in India, the government has distributed over 36 crore LED bulbs, leading to about 47 billion kWh of electricity savings per annum. Naturally, such initiatives reduce energy consumption and lower electricity bills for a large segment of consumers. At the global level, there is a growing move towards the use of renewable sources of energy like solar and wind.
Sustainable Mobility
A large proportion of your personal carbon diet can, in fact, be lowered by sustainable transport options. Walking, cycling, and even carpooling in groups and using public transport pose good options for driving alone.
There are quite engaging bike-sharing programs that have made a big mark in cities. Also, cycling is promoted for shorter trips to avoid huge congestion and traffic pollution.
Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, has been considered to be the world's most bicycle-friendly city. More than 62 percent of this city's population cycles every day to work, setting examples of how to live an environmentally friendly life in cities.
Water Conservation
One resource that has to be necessarily conserved is water, especially in countries where the problem of water shortage is serious. Some easy habits like fixing leaks, using appliances that save water, and harvesting rainwater can help conserve this precious resource.
In Rajasthan, it reaches back to traditional methods like "Johads" (small earthen check dams) to conserve rainwater and recharge groundwater. Community-driven initiatives on this scale substantially changed the availability of this now perishable resource, as experienced in arid regions.
The United Nations comments that by 2025, two-thirds of the world's population may fall short of water. Thus, water conservation is becoming an international priority.
Conclusion
Basically, living sustainably doesn't necessarily have to mean huge changes overnight. In principle, however, it only deals with those small changes that create a big difference. Reduction of waste, energy saving, opting for sustainable transport, and saving water bring us closer toward a healthy planet.