“Change only happens when individuals take action” -Aliya Haw, director of NRDC’s Clean Power Plan Initiative
As we dive into 2022, we are always looking for alternative ways we can take steps in making the world a better place.
In the past year, a study published by BBC indicated that weather events linked to a changing climate, brought misery to millions around the world.
Here are a few practical tips by Clean Water Action on how we can support the planet
1) Know your carbon footprint.
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions that come from the production, use of, and end of life of a product or service. This includes carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases (among other gases), which are commonly produced by humans and agriculture. Calculate your carbon footprint by visiting this site.
Knowing your carbon footprint can help you pinpoint areas where you can make easy, small changes.
2) Create less waste.
On average, Americans waste around 40% of the food that they buy. To lower your food waste and save money, you can:
- Take stock of your fridge regularly. Create a grocery list beforehand and stick to it while shopping so you don’t overbuy or purchase things you don’t need.
- Be wary of bulk. It may seem like a good deal but you may not end up eating it all before it goes bad.
- Plan out your meals. Don’t cook more than you can eat and adapt recipes to your needs.
- Get creative and reuse leftovers instead of tossing them.
- Freeze your food if you are not using them soon. This extends the life of your food
- Take home oversized restaurant services but try to only use environmentally friendly dishes and dinnerware.
3) Recycle more.
Americans generate roughly 258 million tons of trash per year. Of that, 169 million tons end up in landfills and incinerators. Here are some tips to make sure that your waste ends up in the right place:
- Look for your plastic numbers to figure out what can be recycled. Check your city or state’s website for accepted numbers.
- Empty and rinse food containers before recycling. Dirty containers can spoil a whole batch of recyclables.
- In addition to plastics, recycle paper, steel, and tin cans.
- Always consider if you can repair or reuse items before throwing them away.
- Donate working electronics. If you cannot donate, many electronic stores and municipal recycling centers accept used electronics.
4) Small changes start at home.
American homes on average distribute energy as 20% of energy to heat, 13% to hot water, 11% to cooling, and the remaining on appliances. Making small changes can make a big difference:
- Keep the temperature stable in your home. Turn down the heat, use a programmable or smart thermostat if you can, and keep blinds closed.
- Turn down your water heater to 120 degrees,
- Remember what your parents told you: turn off lights and appliances when you are not using them. Unplug if possible to reduce even more energy.
- Stream movies through a smart TV, not your game console. Game counsels use about 10 times more electricity since they are not optimized to play films.
- Use a laptop. Desktops use a lot more and use a constant source of electricity.
- Replace lights with LED lights since they use up to 85% less energy and last up to 25% longer.
- Pay attention to your fridge temperatures. The US Department of Energy recommends around 35 – 38 degrees for the fridge and 0 degrees for freezers. Replace old fridges if possible too. This will save you money and help your carbon footprint.
- Seal your home well and insulate it to keep temperatures stable. If you have an older home, be sure to re-insulate your home since many used degradable insulation. For example, before 1940, many homes used sawdust and newspaper for insulation.
Supporting Our Planet
Check out our Upcycle Capsule that represents our vision to manufacture quality pieces that benefit people and the planet. Each piece from the collection was made entirely from excess fabrics & materials from our previous collections.