10 Conscious Things You Can Do to Help Save the Environment

Make yourself a little greener with these ten simple and reasonable changes that each one of us could make to minimal environmental harm. You can do your part just by changing your daily habits.

1. Use Your Own Re-Usable Shopping Bags
   Take your own re-usable shopping bag to the grocery store to save money and minimize waste. Statistics show that more than 50 years, global production of plastic has continued to rise. Recovery and recycling, however, remain insufficient, and millions of tons of plastics end up in landfills and oceans each year (Worldwatch Institute, G.Gourmelon, Jan 27/2015).
2. Say No to Over-consumption
   Teach yourself to think how to create a better quality of life for everyone, think how to minimal your ecological footprint. First of all, buy goods that you really love or need and look after those items. Do not buy items that you do not really use or throw away too easily. Over-consumption is a large issue that leads to environmental degradation and the eventual loss of resource bases, according to the Worldwatch Institute. The Global Footprint Network calculations have shown that it takes the planet 18 months to regenerate everything people use in a 12 month period. So, focus a lot more on quality not quantity — try to find the balance between too much and too little consumption.
3. Do Not Waste Resources, Promote Re-Usage & Recycle
   If you do not anymore need an item then think who might benefit from it. Try to sell or donate your old things — support charities instead of throwing things away. For example, I have been using charity home collection service Traid in London. Also try to get things repaired to reduce waste and support local businesses. Recycle whatever and whenever possible and prefer safe recycled products such as recycled paper. As well as, think before printing, save trees and paper.
4. Use Cleaner Transport
   Air pollution is a major issue of concern. It is well recognized that road transport plays a significant part in air pollution in urban environments, and thus contributes to this public health issue, according to ECF (Cycling and Urban Air Quality: A Study of European Experiences, November 2014). Prefer to walk, bike, use public transport or eco-friendly vehicle. If you do not own and drive a car you can help to avoid traffic jam and keeps your city´s air cleaner.
5. Look for Local Food That Haven´t Traveled Long Distances
   Shop local food from farms that have not traveled long distances (uses more energy) to reach you. Organic and other forms of low-input farming pays close attention to nature, are less energy/chemicals intensive in their manufacture and offer benefits for animal welfare as animals are required to be kept in more natural, free conditions (RESET.org, Soil Association, BBCFood). Support organic farmers achieve financial sustainability. Also choose foods with less packaging, recycled or eco packaging to reduce waste.
6. Adopt Water-Saving Habits
   Too much pure water is wasted every day by bad habits we have all developed. Take shorter, less frequent showers as this saves water and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by using less energy to pump, heat and treat the water (RESET.org, Energy Saving Trust). Run the dishwasher and the laundry machine only when full. Use a glass of water instead of a running tap when brushing your teeth. Do not rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Saving water can save environment and reduce your water bills.
7. Be Energy-Concsious
   Make every effort to conserve our electricity. Much of the electricity that we use still comes from sources such as oil and coal. Fossil fuels are not renewable and clean sources of energy. Conservation of electrical energy can help to lessen pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (Energy Saving Trust, Legend Power). You can also save some money, so, switch off anything that uses electricity when not in use. When purchasing a new equipment, look for the energy star label as not all modern appliances are significantly more energy-efficient.
8. Line Dry Your Clothes
   Air drying leaves your clothes smelling fresh and is environmentally friendly. Tumble dryers are big energy users in most households, also refrigerator and air conditioner.
9. Eat Less Meat
   Eating less meat can have a positive impact on your environment and health. That way you can reduce your carbon footprint, minimize water usage and animal waste. Also limit cancer and heart disease risk, fight diabetes, prevent long-term weight gain, etc. (Sustainable Table, Why Eat Less Meat, Healthy Food).
10. Prefer More Sustainable Goods
    Whenever possible choose to buy more eco-friendly and ethically produced products as sustainable products provide environmental, social and economic benefits while protecting public health and environment. Shop for high-quality items that are made to last.