Even
just a few years ago, the trend to be more friendly to the planet was something
that was considered more of a hobby. Not everyone was into it because the
effects of man-made actions on the earth weren’t widely known to the general
public.
Now,
being green is a commonly found lifestyle. Everyone wants to know how they can
help fight climate change, but how to do that can be confusing.
If
you’re wondering if your actions are truly making an impact towards helping the
planet, check out these easy ways you can test how “climate-proof”
you really are.
Do Your Research
The
start of any lifestyle change begins with good research. What do you consider
to be part of your green lifestyle? Maybe you use less electricity every day or
walk around town whenever you can.
That
is a great place to start, but some deeper research will reveal how
climate-proof more of your daily activities are.
Maybe
you decided to only buy household cleaning products that claim to be friendly
to the earth. That’s a great start, but have you read about what those
companies actually do?
Research
the brands and companies you buy from to ensure that they have green business
practices. A brand may produce household cleaners that won’t pollute the
environment, but they may make other products by using old business practices
that hurt the earth. The same goes for brands that produce food, which often
get forgotten in the rush of daily life.
Take
ground beef for example. One pound of ground beef requires 1,800 gallons of water. Smaller brands or eco-friendly
ones will have posted on their website or in the news about how they
climate-proof their business.
Try a Climate Calculator
Maybe
you don’t have a lot of time to research what you do and who you buy from. You
may even be at the beginning of your green journey and not know where to start
or how green your efforts need to be.
A
great place to start testing your lifestyle is by trying a climate calculator. By answering a few simple
questions, you’ll find out the size of your carbon footprint. Depending on how
big it is, you’ll know how much effort needs to be put into climate-proofing
your life.
Test Your Car Emissions
When
people talk about climate change, CO2 is often brought up. It’s a major player
in why the earth’s atmosphere is warming, and it’s emitted by everyone. Large
corporations and every day individuals all take part in adding to the rising
CO2 levels.
So
how much CO2 do you put into the atmosphere every day? The main way people do
this is by using their cars and by buying cars that don’t run on eco-friendly
fuel.
Thankfully,
it’s not difficult to find out your CO2 output. Just go get your car tested at a mechanics shop. It will
only take a minute out of your day, but you’ll leave with paperwork that shows
how much your car adds to CO2 in the atmosphere.
The
best ways to reduce this amount once you discover it is to either drive your
car as little as possible or trade it in for an eco-friendly car. Even riding
public transportation will decrease this amount while still getting you where
you need to go.
Read About Your City’s Efforts
The
more people learn about climate change, the more it becomes evident that
businesses and corporations have an even greater role to play in reversing
climate change.
Take
the time to read about your city’s efforts to discover how climate-proof it is.
This means look at local laws that have been passed to combat climate change,
as well as investigating businesses in your area.
Even
the businesses that don’t appear to be adding to climate change can still help
out. You might think that construction companies should just keep an eye on how
much petrol their machines use at work sites, but efforts can go even further.
They should test and evaluate their materials to ensure that they’re safe to
use.
As
the climate warms, bigger and more frequent weather events like wildfires will
occur. If businesses take steps such as evaluating their materials, much more
progress will be accomplished towards preventing climate disasters.
Never Stop Learning
Climate
change continues to be an issue, but there are changes made every day to make
it easier for people and businesses to climate-proof their actions. Never stop
learning about what’s going on with the earth and how you can help. It’s the
best way to stay ahead of climate change and ultimately reverse it.
Green Jobs
How to Apply for a Green Job With the demand for green jobs skyrocketing so far in 2017, giving yourself a unique edge can be difficult—yet absolutely necessary—in order for you to become a proud worker for Mother Earth. Follow these steps to successfully claim your next environmentally friendly employment opportunity. 1. Resume: Make sure … Continue reading..
