Nowadays, news and reports about environmental pollution and global warming are appearing all across the media. Along with that, people are sharing more and more calls to “be green for the environment”. So what is green living? How can you live green? Let’s find out more about it in this article.
Definition Of Green Living
Green living is a lifestyle that minimizes the use of natural resources and avoids negative impacts on the environment. This is a healthy and sustainable lifestyle that meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations. Going green ensures that individual living habits will have the least negative effect on the environment.
The Earth is currently polluted at an alarming rate. Natural resources are gradually depleted due to the overexploitation of humans. If humans do not change their approach to the surrounding environment, they will both harm the Earth and threaten their survival. Green living is the solution of individuals to preserve the planet. Protecting the environment is both a responsibility and a privilege for us.
How Can You Live Green?
Green living does not have to be a complicated process. It starts with simple things that every individual can do. Here are 7 ways you can start your green journey easily and effectively.
Environmental-friendly utensils
Any item such as furniture, canned foods, or bottled beverages has gone through a manufacturing process that impacts negatively on the environment. To reduce those effects, you can choose eco-friendly utensils that are handmade without mass production, or items made from recyclable and biodegradable materials like wood or glass, instead of plastic. This action helps to protect clean water sources, ecosystems of species and reduce the amount of waste released into the environment.
Saving and using green energy resources
Electricity is mostly produced in thermal or hydroelectric power plants. Thermal power produces electricity by heating a large amount of coal and fossil fuels to generate heat. This process not only consumes resources but also emits lots of harmful gases. Hydroelectricity is made up of large hydroelectric power plants. The construction of hydroelectric dams can occupy a large area of forest, changing the flow of rivers and waterfalls. Both of these forms harm the ecosystem.
You can join Earth Hour by turning off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances every day. This activity both reduces monthly living costs and minimizes the amount of electricity needed to produce, thus protecting the environment.
You can choose to be self-sufficient by using renewable energy sources. For instance, the application of solar energy to heat bathwater and provide electricity is gradually becoming popular. Some localities also use other forms of green energy like wind and water power in production, cultivation, and animal husbandry.
Using water properly is a way of green living
Clean water is one of the most valuable resources. With the global warming trend, this important resource is gradually depleting. Scientists predict that without effective water use measures, some parts of the world will not have the opportunity to use clean water soon.
If we all save water in our daily lives, the water filtration systems of cities can reduce their working capacity and still ensure the amount of water reaching everyone. Besides, you can limit using bottled water to reduce the greenhouse effect. Bottled water is created from the production process of plastic bottles, which releases plastic waste into the environment.
Eating green food
Green food is fresh and organic food that nourishes the body and improves the environment.
The guideline of green food users is to consume organic food according to the local climate and soil. By eating green food, you can enjoy the freshest and healthiest ingredients. For example, if you live in a dairy farming area, take advantage of fresh milk on the farm instead of canned milk. According to research, naturally raised organic cow’s milk contains 68% higher levels of healthy Omega-3 fatty acids than canned fresh milk.
At a macro level, the use of green food brings many other benefits to the environment and boosts the local economy. This choice helps to reduce the greenhouse effect generated during the processing, canning, and delivery of foods. Moreover, by choosing fresh food at the source, you are encouraging natural farming and efficient use of farmland.
Fashion with the green style
The textile industry requires a huge number of raw materials, energy, and labor. This process involves the use of large amounts of pesticides to grow textile materials (cotton, jute, hemp, etc.) and chemicals to make fabric dyes. The gas and wastewater discharged from garment factories often have a significant impact on the living environment and groundwater. Environmental-friendly green fashion trends will both help you avoid exposure to harmful chemicals and at the same time save resources.
You should choose clothes made from natural cotton fabrics as they require fewer resources than other fashion apparel fabrics. For washing, you can buy washing powder extracted from natural cleaning materials. In addition, drying naturally instead of drying also saves electricity resources.
Furthermore, you should consider buying second-hand clothing. If circumstances do not require you to get a new set of clothes, buying second-hand will not only help to reduce the amount of waste, but also save money.
Beauty in the green trend
Many studies show that a woman can absorb more than 2 kilograms of cosmetic chemicals in her lifetime. Your skin, the largest organ in the body, absorbs up to 60% of the total chemicals you use on your body, from soaps, body washes, shampoos to sunscreens.
Meanwhile, if you choose pure natural products such as green tea leaves, locusts, aromatic leaves instead of daily cosmetics, you will reduce harmful chemicals absorbed into the body. This also minimizes harmful substances released into the environment in the process of raw material extraction and production.
Moving in the style of green living
Walking or cycling are good exercises for the body. Besides, when choosing these options of transportation, you will reduce the amount of CO2 and radioactive substances released into the environment from burning fuel for motor vehicles. This means you are slowing down global warming and reducing oil extraction. If you need to travel a long distance, you can choose public transport to reduce the emissions impact of private vehicles.
