Be a part of the Go Green Initiative (5 ways)

Whether you’ve decided to go green to do your part for the environment, to save money, or just to see what it’s like, every step you take to be part of the go green initiative is a step that will help the whole world. 

The best thing about these green habits is that majority of the time they end up being the more economical option. Being environmentally conscious also creates good economics in our home and budget, as well as the earth. It’s also important to involve our kids and teach them why we’re making these choices so that when they’re adults, it’ll be second nature to them, and they can continue passing it down to their children.

We have the power to change the way we live our lifestyles to be more environmentally conscious. It just requires a little planning, thought and creativity to significantly reduce your impact on the environment by cutting back on the amount of trash you create – you will even see an improvement with basic living costs!

If you’re just starting out and you’re stuck for ideas, here’s 5 ideas to get your started:

Biodegradable coffee pods? It’s a go green initiative too!

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages all around the world. With technology developing and people becoming more money conscious, coffee pod machines have quickly become a staple appliance in nearly every household. It is cheap and convenient and means that you can enjoy a great coffee without having to leave the house. It is said that Australians alone are using around 3 million coffee pods per day! Majority of which are aluminium pods that end up in landfill and don’t break down for around 500 years.  If you’re not willing to give up your coffee pod machine, the best alternative is to look at opting out your aluminium Nespresso compatible pods for some biodegradable ones, which break down in just 2 years. 

Eat less meat

As an individual, one of the most powerful things you can do is reduce or give up your meat intake. Meat agriculture is one of the top producers of greenhouse gases. It produces more greenhouse gas than all the exhaust emissions from the entire transportation industry combined (cars, trucks, boats, you name it). The meat industry is entirely based on consumer demand. The less we eat, the less is produced. You don’t have to go full vegan to reduce the environmental impact of your diet. Going meat-free even one day a week will make a huge difference and you can enjoy the good health benefits of eating a diet high in plant-based foods. Know more about it here.

Drive as little as possible

Here’s another go green initiative you could consider. If you can make the journey by foot, bike or public transport, then do it. Driving, unless you’re in an electric vehicle, isn’t very eco-friendly and can really add to your carbon footprint. When you do have to drive, make sure that you get the most out of your vehicle by keeping the speed down, ensuring tyres are properly inflated and that the engine is running smoothly. You should also avoid using the air-conditioner and heater as much as possible. Another idea is to ask your friends or work colleagues to carpool if you live close and are all heading to the same location.

Use LEDs

Just about any room in any given building is lit up with some form of lighting, and the eco-friendliest option is to ditch your regular globes and grab some LEDs instead. The lifespan of LEDs is a significant advantage over traditional lighting, with most lasting 2-4 times as long. Not only this, but they also consume very low amounts of power, You could be saving around 90% of energy than traditional lighting.

Some more environmental advantages include LEDs having no toxic elements and less lights needed due to the better quality of light distribution compared to other types of lighting.

Start a compost for kitchen scraps

Landfill is the second largest source of methane gas. Most of that methane is coming from food scraps and organic materials that have ended up in landfill. Instead of chucking leftovers and scraps straight into the bin, set up a compost bin in your kitchen. Start making a conscious effort to see whether your scraps can be composted. On average, more than 30% of household waste is compostable. Usually any vegetable scraps, grains, products made from flour, eggshells, coffee and tea can be chucked straight into home compost. You can easily reduce the amount of waste your kitchen generates by doing this.

There you have it. Follow or start the go green initiative for a better world. Not only for us but for our future generations too.