Editor’s note: check out our “10 More Ideas for how You can Help Fight Climate Change” plan in the OM library today!
Earlier this week, OM featured an article describing 10 ways you can help fight climate change. Today, we’ve decided to throw in a little more friendly advice. Here are 10 more ways that you can help change our climate for the better and help keep our planet sustainable for future generations:
1) Get a home energy audit
Performing a home energy audit can show you exactly how much energy you and your family consume at home and offer you some tips as to how to make your home more efficient. Assessments like these can help homeowners save between 5 and 30% on their energy bills! Using these tips will also take a big chunk out of your own carbon footprint.
2) Install a programmable thermostat
Rather than keeping the house at a constant 21 degrees Celcius, try buying a programmable thermostat! These allow you to customize your temperature timing, so that you’re not automatically blasting the AC when you’re not at home, or you’re not overbaking your living room when everybody’s asleep! This little change only costs around $20 (unless you choose to drop $50 for the Learning Thermostat), so it’s definitely an investment worth considering.
3) Unplug electronic devices when they’re not in use
Just because your laptop looks like it isn’t drawing any power, doesn’t mean that it isn’t racking up your electric bill by idling. According to Sisson, Barber & Walker (Apr. 22, 2018) “[a]bout 25% of all residual energy consumption is used on devices in idle power mode” . These authors also recommend taking a look at disconnecting your cable box, laptop and any extra speakers whenever you’re not using them, and consider grouping appliances together on power strips, so that you can just shut all of them off easily when they’re not in use (great for leaving for a vacation).
4) Build a downspout planter box
If you live in an apartment (and you get rain often enough), then you can capture your rainwater in a planter box while growing foods like carrots or onions! Every little bit counts, and the more you capture, the more energy you save your municipal water management system, chipping away at the industrial-scale energy usage they have to contend with.
Lawns require extra watering, gas-powered equipment for upkeep, and fertilizer that pollutes waterways. If it’s possible, consider removing parts of lawn (or if you can, the entire thing for the best ecological benefits). There are more options than just a lawn for the front of your house, and Elemental.green (2020) has a couple of ideas that you might find interesting! Of course, it’s a good idea to think long and hard about how this is going to affect your house pricing before you make and radical changes.
6) Don't buy a new house, renovate an old oneOlder houses are often rife with energy inefficiencies—but Harvard’s been working on an idea. They’re aiming pretty high, too: Harvard University’s HouseZero project seeks to turn housing from the 1920s into a house that is both sustainable and affordable. According to project leader Professor of Architectural Technology Ali Malkawi, their goal is to “make a building so efficient, that the energy generated by the solar panel on the roof the power the office equipment and computers, will be almost secondary” (Curbed.com, May 25, 2017).
Talk with your community and get an urban farm started! A farm in the city of Detroit has been showing a lot of promise over the last few years, and it’s inspiring other communities to do the same. Try talking with your community leaders to see if starting your own agricultural neighbourhood is a feasible idea.
8) Eat less meat
Cattle, sheep, pigs, they all have a tendency to create a lot of methane (Moore, Sept. 10, 2007). By cutting out (or even reducing) consumption of these meats and relying more on fish or chicken, you can put a serious dent in your carbon footprint. Swapping red meats and dairy out for a more balanced diet of fish, eggs and fowl an make a big difference (Weber & Matthews, Apr. 16, 2008).
9) Don't drink bottled water
In the US alone, landfills are already overflowing with over 2 million tons of water bottles. These things take a projected 1000 years to decompose (unless they’re incinerated, which produces toxic fumes). Buy reusable water bottles and just keep filling them up. The environment will thank you for that.
Yeah, busses can be annoying and trains can get pretty crowded, but they’ll save you money as well as cut a huge chunk out your carbon footprint. One small car driving one person times 1,000,000 is a lot harder on the environment than 20 people to 1 bus times a couple thousand. More than that, taking the bus might not take quite as long as you may fear (so long as your city is keeping up-to-date).