Environmental Awareness for Beginners

Environmental Awareness for Beginners by North Carolina Lifestyle Blogger Adventures of Frugal Mom

The planet is at a critical point. That’s probably not a surprise to anyone who has even glanced at the news headlines at any time in a couple of years. Governments and corporations have to start working to make wholesale changes to the way we approach pollution, waste, and the environment. Many governments and corporations are trying to do this. That’s partly because it’s the right thing to do, but it’s also because it’s both good politics and the good public to declare that you support the environment. Many local governments are trying to tackle these climate issues by creating green areas, revegetating land, and helping to prevent erosion with the help of companies that offer various environmental solutions like Erizon hydroseeding QLD for example.

After the United States announced it would withdraw from the Paris Agreement, a multitude of state and local politicians declared they were going to do everything possible to follow the agreement locally and regionally. Many business leaders also condemned the move and said they would work hard to ensure their company was as environmentally friendly as possible. You may be thinking, “That’s nice and all, but what can I do as an individual?” Plenty, as it turns out. Don’t be embarrassed if you’re late to the environmental game; it’s better to be late than to never show up at all (or worse yet, insist that climate change is a massive hoax engineered by China).

How to recycle

The easiest way to get into recycling is to have a bin in your kitchen devoted entirely to recyclable materials. If you aren’t sure what those recyclable materials are, check with your city. Or better yet, go outside to your curb. There’s probably a green recycling bin placed there by the city, and they usually have a guide printed on the lid that tells you what you can and can’t place in the bin. There are usually photos as well because they don’t want to have to sort through all your grease-stained pizza boxes to get to the stuff that’s actually reusable (non-greasy cardboard boxes are usually fine, but check with your local officials to be sure).

For bonus points, look into recycling scrap metal for cash. Most people start with soda cans, which is one way to feel less guilty about your Diet Pepsi addiction. You can go way beyond that, though. Appliances and computers can even be recycled (electronics are what’s known colloquially as “e-waste.” Check with your local scrap metal place before you haul down a truckload full of stuff, though, as different places have different rules regarding what’s acceptable. It’s generally safe to assume that things like hazardous waste are not kosher.

Becoming energy efficient

Energy efficiency is also important, though it’s tougher in some ways to follow through. If you’re living in Texas in the middle of an August heat wave, it’s hard to think about the environmental dangers of refrigerants like Freon. Try setting your air conditioner a couple of degrees warmer than you would normally, and then go from there. Dress in short sleeves or tank tops when you’re hanging out around the house. Use box fans when you can.

Lighting also plays a role here as well. Purchasing LED light bulbs may be more expensive in the short-term, but they’ll last longer and reduce your energy usage. Who doesn’t want to lower their electric bill? Don’t forget your outdoor lights as well. Look into lighting alternatives you may not have considered before and try to figure out what’s best for both your pocketbook and Mother Nature.

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