Protecting the environment in everyday life - how can each of us make the world a little bit better every day? Quite simply! I'll say that up front. And you don't even have to walk around in Birkenstock sandals or make dreadlocks - because protecting the environment isn't just for hippies! Each of us is either part of the Environmental problems of our time or part of their solution. If you want to do one or two good deeds for the environment yourself, then that really is a great attitude! And implementing it in your everyday life is anything but complicated.
To get you off to a good start, I'd like to introduce you to 10 simple things you can do every day to protect the environment. Let's go!
Notice: I have thousands of tips in my head that I want to pass on to you. But of course I don't want to overload you with information. So here are a few suggestions to get you started - and only if you want to can you click on the more detailed articles to find out even more.
10 ultimate tips for environmental protection in everyday life
Protecting the environment in everyday life is hugely important. But before I had my hello wake-up moment a few years ago, I didn't really think about environmental protection. Today I consciously live much more sustainablywithout totally restricting my quality of life. On the contrary - my quality of life has actually improved enormously.
Here are 10 tips that I have also used - quite incidentally - to start protecting our environment in everyday life and to improve my personal health, reduce our ecological footprint.
1. pick up garbage
Whether you see litter on the ground on your way to work or while jogging, pick it up every now and then and throw it in the nearest garbage can. That will give you a few Karma points and is really easy to implement in everyday life. Here are a few articles that will help you with the implementation:
That's why you're protecting the environment: Plastic waste in nature is a massive environmental problem, as products such as plastic straws, plastic bottles and plastic bags are not biodegradable. You are protecting the lives of many animals that mistake plastic items for food or put themselves in danger by using them as nesting material.
2. save water
By taking a shower instead of running a bath, you save an enormous amount of water. However, make sure you shower as briefly as possible and turn off the tap when soaping up. You can also collect rainwater for watering the garden to save water directly. However, you can be particularly water-efficient if you reduce your consumption of beef, for example, or use become a vegetarian.
That's why you're protecting the environment: Even here in Germany, but especially in regions of the world that are already dry, the high water consumption is leading to Environmental problem of water scarcity. Just to produce one kilogram of beef, for example, more than 15,000 liters of water are used.₁ Water is a precious and vital commodity, which is why we should use it carefully - whether we use it directly or indirectly.
3. environmentally friendly nutrition
When choosing your food, make sure you have a regional and seasonal purchasing. Apples don't have to be flown in from New Zealand if they grow here too. And broccoli, for example, only grows in Germany from June to October. It is also important to actively Reduce food waste and resource-intensive foods such as beef. Here are some further articles on this:
That's why you're protecting the environment: A consciously environmentally friendly diet counteracts almost all the environmental problems of our time. For example, regional food has a shorter transportation route and requires fewer resources to grow. By avoiding animal products such as meat, for example, you are counteracting the cruelty of animal farming. Factory farming and save (Rain)forests before deforestation. The latter is done to make room for cow pastures and areas for growing animal feed. You can find a detailed explanation in the article Connection between nutrition and the environment.
4. reduce and change consumption
Buy only things you really need. Live more minimalist and invest your well-earned money in useful things that represent real added value for you and our environment. Make sure that your favorite products are free from palm oil and Microplastics are - this is very easy with the App CodeCheck. and that in the best case plastic-free are.
That's why you're protecting the environment: Natural resources are limited - the overexploitation of nature is a burden on the environment. By consciously avoiding products containing palm oil, for example, you are saving the orangutan's habitat - the rainforest - and counteracting the environmental problem of species extinction. (see Rainforest is cut down for palm oil)
5. create environment friendly garden
Dead wood, piles of leaves, trees, bushes, wildflowers and a pond? That sounds a lot more natural than a dreary rock garden, doesn't it? Try transforming your garden into a paradise in this way instead of a sad stone desert. Here are some further contributions:
That's why you're protecting the environment: Animals need food and shelter. A green, lively garden with a pond offers them everything they need. By turning your garden into a paradise of biodiversity, you can counteract the Environmental problem of species extinction even more so. And that you can also create a garden paradise in which you can regularly Spending time outdoors in nature I don't even have to mention it, do I?
6. driving environmentally conscious
If you can't avoid the car journey by walking, taking the train or public transport, then drive with foresight. Check your tire pressure and carpool. Use the airstream instead of the air conditioning. Reduce unnecessary ballast and thus the weight of your car. You can find more tips in the detailed article about sustainable driving.
That's why you're protecting the environment: Combustion engines emit CO2 out. A greenhouse gas that in turn exacerbates the environmental problem of climate change. In addition, by not using a car, you save the limited resource of crude oil.
7. use green electricity Save electricity
If you are not yet using green electricity, switch to a green electricity provider. This will take no more than five minutes. You should also save electricity. For example, by streaming a little less Netflix, turning off the lights when they're not needed or letting hot meals cool down before putting them in the fridge.
That's why you're protecting the environment: Electricity from nuclear power is dangerous - and lignite-fired power plants are overexploiting nature. And we use them even though renewable energies are available. So if your electricity comes from renewable, infinitely available sources such as wind, solar or hydroelectric power, you are protecting the environment.
8. travel environmentally friendly
If possible, avoid the plane and take the train on vacation. There are great destinations in Europe too - you don't have to fly halfway around the world to escape the daily grind. You don't have to give up flying altogether. But think about whether your travel purpose (e.g. relaxation or adventure) could be fulfilled without an expensive flight. Here are a few further articles:
That's why you're protecting the environment: Through environmentally friendly travel for example, you ensure that fewer greenhouse gases are released into our environment and that the global warming reinforce.
9. environmentally friendly ventilation
Do not leave your window permanently ajar, but rather ventilate for a few minutes at a time. It is better to only open the window wide for a short time and let in plenty of fresh air.
That's why you're protecting the environment: If the window is permanently tilted open, heat is constantly escaping from your home, which not only costs money but also - to generate heat energy - costs natural resources.
10. avoid waste
The Zero Waste Lifestyle is now an integral part of our society and aims to ensure that we no longer produce any waste at all. But there is still a long way to go until then, and we have to take it step by step. For example, use a reusable Stainless steel drinking bottle and tap water instead of buying overpriced mineral water from a plastic bottle again and again. Or buy fruit and vegetables loose with a Fruit and vegetable net instead of in the free, thin plastic bags. In the article Zero waste for beginners you will get a few more tips for getting started.
That's why you're protecting the environment: Waste in the environment is a massive challenge for our global society - and at the same time it is a natural resource. With basic rules such as "repair", "reuse" or "do it yourself", we can avoid a lot of waste, but also new purchases and unnecessary costs. But it is also about setting an example for others with your own behavior.
Tip: Maybe my Plastic-free book for beginners something for you. It comes to you without the plastic wrap that is often used for books 🙂
Protecting the environment in everyday life is easy!
Isn't that right? Everyone can make a small contribution in their everyday life and protect the environment. This is neither "totally eco" nor "unmanly" or whatever other meaningless arguments are used to avoid responsibility. Environmental protection in everyday life is human and, above all, shows that you think long-term and not just short-term. I hope you can take a lot of inspiration for good deeds for the environment from this article.
How do you protect the environment? And what tips do you have for those who want to change their everyday behavior? Simply write a comment below this post.
Stay clean,
PS: Take a look at my blog about sustainable living. There you will learn, for example, how you can also as a "poor" student quite simply live environmentally friendly simply by following your heart.
References:
₁ Federal Environment Agency (2017): Hidden water (as of 22.03.2017). https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/verstecktes-wasser. [09.08.2019].
