How can we live in a way that conserves resources? Most natural resources are not available to us in infinite quantities. Nevertheless, the annual Earth Overload Day closer and closer to the beginning of the year. We consume more resources than our planet can handle - we rob it and also destroy the existences of other living beings.
In this article, I would like to give you some tips on how to consciously conserve resources in your everyday life.
The 10 best tips for resource-efficient living
We should all be aware that most resources are not available in unlimited quantities. And that - whether limited or unlimited - we should treat them with respect. Especially when many people on our planet do not have them available at all or only in scarce quantities. Here are 10 valuable tips to help you conserve and protect natural resources in everyday life.
Tip: By the way, you can ensure that natural resources are conserved and protected not only in your private life, but also at work. Take a look at the sustainable job portal You're sure to find a suitable job there to help make our world a little more resource-efficient.
1. Reduce meat consumption
To produce one animal calorie, an average of seven plant calories must be consumed.₁ Whoever uses the "Detour animal" avoids, can therefore conserve natural resources on a daily basis.
To produce one kilogram of beef, for example, more than 15,000 liters of water and 49 square meters of land are needed and about 27 kilograms of CO2 equivalents are emitted.₂ However, our greed for meat not only ensures animal suffering in the Factory farming. Also Water shortage and the Deforestation of the rainforests for the creation of arable land for fodder cultivation and pasture land are among the consequences.
You can learn more about this in the detailed article about the Reasons for veganism.
Even more continuing contributions:
2. save energy
Whether we're charging our smartphone, surfing the web, or driving our car to work. We all consume energy every day. But as long as this does not come from infinite, renewable resources, we are particularly a burden on our planet. Either way, it pays to use the available energy consciously. You can save it, for example, by letting hot meals cool outside the refrigerator before putting them inside.
Learn more in the detailed article with Energy saving tips.
Tip: So you are much more environmentally friendly on the road if your electricity comes from renewable sources! In this regard, look gladly in the contribution about Green electricity in!
3. save water
In our everyday lives, we consume resources both directly and indirectly. Directly, when we drink from the tap or water our garden. And indirectly, by consuming food that in arid countries is laboriously produced using the scarce commodity water had to be sprinkled.
In everyday life, for example, you can save water by collecting rainwater to water your garden. Or by consciously consume regional food.
You can learn more in the detailed article about the Save water.
4. value clothing
The Fast Fashion Industry has ensured that nowadays new trends and seasons are proclaimed almost every week. But every piece of clothing has a story. The cotton must be grown quickly. This is only possible with the use of poisons - which costs many farmers their lives. It also has to be sewn - and if a T-shirt costs only 5 euros, then someone else had to pay on top. On the one hand nature, whose waters already carry the trend color of the new season. On the other hand, people who had to sew it together for a cheap wage in dark, dusty halls.
Learn to value your existing clothes and prefer second-hand fashion. And try to buy more clothes that can be easily combined with each other. This way you will create more space in your closet and still have a wide selection.
You can learn more in the detailed article about the Slow Fashion.
Even more continuing contributions:
5. save paper
Paper does not grow on trees - but it is made from them. For every piece of paper, a tree had to fall somewhere in the world. Be aware of this and avoid paper where it is not necessary. This is important if you want to conserve resources in everyday life. Of course, this works well through the use of digital products. With your smartphone, for example, you can eliminate the need to print out train tickets. And with online maps, you don't need a thick paper city guide.
You can learn more in the detailed article about the Paper Saving.
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6. avoid food waste
On average, we Germans throw 80 kilograms, or about two shopping carts full of food, into the trash can each year, even though it would still be edible.₃ Many animals had to suffer for it in vain - and many plants had to be watered at great expense. This is not a respectful use of natural resources.
Therefore, buy your groceries wisely and plan your meals for the next week best before your shopping. Stick to your shopping list to avoid buying superfluous items. This is a very helpful tip to save resources in everyday life.
Learn more in the article about the Reduction of food waste.
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7. think minimalist
To avoid falling into old habits and wasting more resources over time, it is important to have a basic attitude that limits your actions to necessary things. So only buy the things that really represent an added value for you. This sounds logical, I know. But we often let ourselves be persuaded by flashing advertising banners or pushy salespeople. If you consciously think minimalist, you can get a lot of value from these sustainable lifestyle save money.
Learn more in the article about the minimalist life.
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8. conscious use of technology
63 million people in Germany have one or even several cell phones!₄ The latter because new models are constantly coming out and many people want to hold them in their hands right on the day they are released. Unfortunately, this consumer mania fails to show respect for the people who make the necessary rare metalsfrom the mines, for example in Congo. But also respect for nature, which provides us with these limited resources.
In order to save resources in your everyday life, you should have your cell phone repaired and use it for as long as possible instead of constantly buying a new one.
You can also learn more in the detailed Article about sustainable telephony.
9. drive more environmentally conscious
About 46 million diesel and gasoline engines already claim the German roads.₅ In doing so, they hit an average of 139 grams greenhouse gases per kilometer driven.₆ We move less ourselves - and quickly swing into the driver's seat even for short journeys. More conscious use of the car and more economical use of the natural resources it consumes are in order. Both to protect the environment in everyday life - as well as to stay healthy.
So walk more, ride a bicycle or use public transportation. And avoid driving as much as possible.
You can also learn more in the detailed article about sustainable driving.
Even more continuing contributions:
10. avoid garbage
Many products and especially many product packages are superfluous. For this reason, the Zero Waste Lifestyle emerged. People are deliberately trying to avoid waste. With this in mind, you can replace countless disposable products with reusable alternatives. For example, replace plastic straws with washable straws. Glass straws, bamboo or stainless steel. Or drink your (tap) water out of a reusable Stainless steel drinking bottle - and avoid the expensive mineral water from the plastic bottle.
Even more continuing contributions:
Conserving natural resources in everyday life - it's easy!
Waste and robbery are disrespectful - to nature, to animals, to plants and to other people. It is incredibly important to value all the resources that this planet gives us. I hope that this post will help you to be even more conscious with you in the future.
We deal with this world as if we had a second one in the trunk.
Jane Fonda
Do you have questions, tips, or your own experience with resource-efficient living that you'd like to share? Then just write me a comment.
Stay sustainable,
PS.: In the Environmental protection blog you can learn a lot more about sustainable everyday life. For example, learn how you can create a create a bird friendly garden and enjoy the chirping of birds every day.
References:
₁ S. Weick; Brot für die Welt; Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung e.V.. (2010): Meat consumption (as of March 2010). https://t1p.de/mav0. [07.05.2020].
₂,₄ Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland e. V.: Ressourcen schützen und respektvoll nutzen! (as of February 2014), available at https://t1p.de/7bsy. [02.06.2020].
₃ WWF Germany: WWF Magazin - Das grosse Fressen, available at https://t1p.de/cj31 [07.05.2020].
₅ Umweltbundesamt (2017): Bus und Bahn fahren (as at: 24.08.2017). https://t1p.de/heqx. [09.08.2019].
₆ TREMOD 5.82; Federal Environment Agency (2017): Comparison of average emissions of individual road users in passenger transport (as of 13.11.2018).
