3 Places You Can Make A Positive Difference for the Environment

‘Going green’ should be your mantra for the here and now, but also for the foreseeable future. Being more environmentally aware is imperative these days, and it doesn’t have to be as overwhelming a task as it sounds.

Small changes make all the difference, and here are some starting points to think about.

At Home

The biggest changes begin at home, and it’s your responsibility to ensure that you and your family are doing all you can to be more eco-friendly. This doesn’t even have to mean family who live with you – the next time you visit your parents, or even your best friends, ask them if they know what they need to do to be more green, or if they’ve any interest in learning more about it. Maybe they have been throwing their plastic into the trash can without even thinking about it. Maybe you have, too.

Most homes these days are equipped with correct garbage and disposal units for each type of material, and you just have to make sure you’re using them.

Also, think about small changes, like trying to use less water, switching to energy efficient light bulbs, and making use of solar power.

At School

Whether you’re a student yourself or have children who attend school, going green doesn’t have to stop at home. Just because a school building isn’t yours, doesn’t mean you don’t have a responsibility to help and take care of it – especially where the environment is concerned.

If you’re attending school, make a simple point of throwing away your garbage into designated recycling bins after you’ve finished your lunch. If you’re not sure where they are, ask an authority figure.

If you’re a parent, encourage a child to do the above when they go to school. If you’re also part of a PTA, you can bring up environmental issues during meetings, maybe encouraging the school to have a recycling policy or any other ideas which can help the environment.

Reptile Encounters have some great tips for working towards a sustainable classroom, which you can check out before you next broach the subject. Their wildlife and reptile shows help promote conservation and are a great idea for a school incursion.

At Work

The same theory as the previous points applies when you attend work – or maybe you work from home. Either way, you need to be environmentally aware in everything you do. If you’re consuming more food at home because you work there, ensure you’re disposing of the packaging in an eco-friendly manner. If you go out of the home for work, check if there is a proper recycling system at your workplace, and if not, perhaps approach your senior figure about it at the next meeting.

A lot of workplaces, such as office spaces, might have cleaners employed, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your part – dispose of your cardboard in correct cardboard bins, and the same with your plastic, so the cleaners don’t have to do it.

Don’t leave the taps running in the bathroom, and try to use alternative hand-drying methods instead of electric-powered hand-dryers.