It’s good that more and more people are becoming aware of the earth’s current environmental climate. From calculating carbon footprints to ditching single-use plastic, we’ve gotten better in trying to live sustainably. However, there are things we do every day that are still harmful to the environment.
These activities have become so mundane that finding an easy fix isn’t, well, easy. To be honest, making the switch is a bit tricky. As Bustle wrote, when it comes to sustainable living, “we have to talk about whether that sustainable is sustainable both for the earth and for us.”
The following habits below aren’t simple habits to break, but if you’re able to switch and start practicing something more eco-conscious, that’d be great. By doing more to reduce our carbon footprints, the earth just might live a little longer.
Online shopping
I’ve never been so guilty in my life, yet I still do it! Online shopping is convenient, yes, but is a terrible habit to form. Vox reported that majority of last-mile deliveries were to stores—that is until the online revolution happened. Transportation overtook power plants as the top producer of carbon dioxide emissions in 2016 (U.S.), and I can only imagine the amount of CO2 we have in the Philippines.
Online shopping doesn’t have to be bad. It all boils down to our shopping habits. Online shopping can be greener if we plan our orders ahead so everything can be shipped at once. Plus, your impulsiveness might have something to do with it, too. Impulsive shopping is totally unnecessary if you think about it, so I suggest you start buying less. Put your money where it should be (life insurance, investments, etc.).
Not unplugging appliances
10 percent of our electric bill goes to our appliances that are plugged but unused. 10 percent might be a small amount, but when it comes to electricity, that’s a lot. Some appliances use what’s known as “phantom energy.” The most common culprits include routers and modems, computers, TV, and video game consoles. So make it a habit to always unplug your appliances before leaving the house.
Disposing of used pet litter
If you have a pet hamster, guinea pig, or rabbit, you should know that their bedding and waste are totally compostable. You’ll be reducing the amount of waste going into landfills by means of composting. As long as you’re not making your compost with “pure poo,” you’re good to go.
Header courtesy of Unsplash
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