What is sustainability to you?
"Sustainability is the use of natural products and energy in a way that does not harm the environment."
However, if you would like to be more sustainable, it is important to make sustainability personal to you; otherwise, the subject matter could become something detached from your everyday lives.
We have spoken with a number of individuals who have fallen into 'sustainability paralysis', a situation where you have the desire and drive to take climate action, but you are not sure where to start, so you end up not doing anything. This typically happens when sustainability is not tangible or personal. It is considered something only governments, large corporations, or super keen evangelists act on.
Well, this week, we would like to make sustainability personable to all of you! Let's break down the three core elements of sustainability and discuss how you can make small changes today.
Natural Products
Where possible, use natural products. There are many green hacks that could be under your very noses; for example, did you know you can use orange peels as fire starters? Yes, you might be surprised too when you find that out! It is a sustainable alternative because the oil in the skin fuels the fire by generating less creosote than traditional paper. It's a great thing because creosote is not only a toxic compound, but it also reduces the airflow in chimneys.
If you think about how many orange peels you have thrown away, remember, these are reusable natural products that can be used as a sustainable alternative. One of the best things about sustainability is that it not only helps the environment, but it also can save you money in the process.
For many more green hacks, please visit www.co2hero.com and download the free app.
Efficient Energy
With an ongoing global energy crisis and many countries facing all-time high energy bills, sustainable energy has never been such a poignant topic! In some regions, annual energy bills have risen by 250%, with governments being forced to introduce energy caps and assistance to those most affected.
Whether it's to lower your bills or to keep a cleaner footprint, there are a few minor changes that can make all the difference to your energy output, especially during cold winter months.
The good news is that there are many ways you can reduce your energy bills today. For example, why not try out some of these tips:
- LED Lights - Can save up to 90% of energy compared to conventional bulbs.
- Candles - Eco-candles can heat your space as much as a 750w space heater would.
- Smart Thermostat - Use the interval setting to save wasted energy when nobody is in the house or office.
If you would like more sustainable energy-saving tips, here is a link to an article we wrote on High Energy Bills.
Do Not Harm Your Environment
Sustainability does not harm the environment, or even your environment! Your environment can be many things. It can be your spouses, children, family, colleagues, neighborhood. It can be your houses, villages, cities, and with globalization, the actions you take locally can even affect communities on the other side of the planet!
Your environment is a large topic, and as your actions can change people's lives, to live sustainably, you should start by educating yourselves. None of you know everything, but try to understand what impact your personal carbon footprint leaves on your environment and why. Educating yourselves on these topics will help you understand how you can make a significant difference.
Do Not Harm Your Environment Then you can start to implement incremental everyday actions that will make big differences. For example, could you take buses or bikes rather than using petrol-powered cars? Could you shop or even grow food locally and save the emissions of international transportation? Could you buy reusable flasks rather than using one-time paper or plastic cups? There are huge gains to be had by making relatively small changes, and the best part is that you can start today!
If you would like free personal carbon calculators and more education on sustainable living, visit www.co2hero.com.
