Earth Hour: 6 Things You Can Do from Home To Save the Planet

1- Save energy
We all know conserving energy is one of the most important ways to protect the planet. That’s because burning coal and natural gas, the energy sources that become electricity, is a major factor in world air pollution.

You’ve obviously heard of the basic ways to help save energy like buying compact fluorescent light bulbs, trying solar energy and turning off lights and appliances when you’re not using them (a candle-lit dinner is never a bad idea). But there are lots of other small, yet effective ways, including setting a programmable thermostat that suits your daily routine. Go one step further by turning it up a notch in the summer and lower in the winter. If you have central air conditioning, try not to close the vents in the unused rooms. Energy efficient appliances are also helpful of course, but when it comes to the dryer, try and avoid it all together or clean the lint filter after every load so that it uses less energy. In the kitchen, make sure the back of your fridge is clean as dusty coils can increase energy consumption considerably. And when you’re baking, try not to open the oven door too frequently as the temperature is significantly reduced every time you do.

Even when decorating, there are some energy saving tricks you can use. While blinds are pretty, heavy curtains keep in more heat during the winter. Additionally, go for lighter paint colours so you need less artificial light. Well-planned landscaping doesn’t just have to be about aesthetics; properly placed trees around the house are effective energy savers.

Fast fact: A compact fluorescent light bulb uses 75 percent less energy than a regular bulb and it can last up to four years.

2- Conserve water
Wasting water has a seriously negative impact on the health of the planet. The good news is there are some quick and easy measures we can start applying to use less water right away. Checking and fixing any water leaks is an important way to stop wasting lots of water, while another is installing water-saving devices, like a low-flow showerhead. Talking of showers, try taking a nippy one instead of a leisurely bath. Then there’s the knack of finding a way to avoid keeping the water running continuously when you’re washing dishes (the same goes for teeth). Kids have a maddening tendency of throwing clothes in the laundry basket when they’ve only worn them for a few hours, but it’s important to be judicious about laundry.  When you do wash, put full loads in as half-loads are excessive, and do so in cold water. Also try and cut down on toilet flushing, and if you happen to be redecorating, add in a new toilet as they use a lot less water.

Fast fact: If you have a standard washing machine, you’re using up to 40 gallons of water per each load you put in.

3- Reuse and reduce
There are lots of ways we can cut down on using manmade materials that have a pernicious impact on our world. Aluminium is harmful to the environment when it is made, then there’s all that plastic, with Styrofoam being of particular concern, that ends up in landfills and our planet’s seas, polluting and harming marine life.

If you’re off to work, start the day right by taking your own travel cup when you walk into your favourite coffee shop. If you take your lunch with you, or pack your kids’ lunches, remember food containers can be reused, while sandwich bags and clingfilm can’t. You can also make a difference when ordering food by asking the restaurant not to include napkins, utensils or condiments with your order, anyway who enjoys eating with a plastic fork? Plus, it may seem easier to just toss takeout containers and empty jars, but they can be reused, just make sure it’s safe to do so. While using disposable aluminium to bake might save you some washing up, there’s the downside of food packaging waste. If you’re looking for a fun project to do with your kids how about finding a way to use that bubble wrap or Styrofoam before binning it?

We have the opportunity to stop seeing more plastic than fish in our seas during those inescapable trips to the supermarket as well. Buying foods and cleaning items that have long lives in bulk means using less plastic. Also look at the way things are packaged, for example go for loose fruits and vegetables, choose a cereal that’s in a bag only rather than a bag and box and pick items that have recycled packaging. Last but not least, take a cloth bag with you to avoid using plastic carrier ones; there are lots of cute ones around.

Fast fact: Humans have made enough plastic since World War II to coat the Earth entirely in clingfilm, according to research published in “Anthropocene.”

4- Curb chemicals
The chemicals we use to wash our bodies, clean our homes and just about everything, get washed down the drain or absorbed in the grass, eventually ending up in the water supply. Heavy-duty use of hazardous chemicals is damaging for waterways, the sea creatures and us.

One of the best ways to start cutting down on chemicals is to look for natural, alternative household cleaning products. For example, mixing equal amounts of white vinegar and water works wonders when doing basic cleaning jobs. Baking soda and salt are some of the other cheap, nontoxic cleansers, but moderation is the name of the game. Try and find natural solutions for getting rid of pests and gardening jobs as well. If an alternative isn’t possible, try using the least amount possible of the product you need, which also helps to cut down the credit card bill. When buying washing up liquid and washing powder, opt for a low-phosphate brand as phosphates stimulate algal growth when freed into the water supply. Additionally, when you’re walking up and down the supermarket aisles, keep a lookout for the least chemical-laden shampoos and soaps too.

5- Buy local goods
Buying items that are produced locally helps crush air pollution since you’re reducing the use of fossil fuels needed in transporting produce all over the world. You don't have to travel as far to get what you need, plus the products don't have to travel as far to get to you, consequently reducing your carbon footprint.

It really helps to pay attention to where your clothes, electronics, home goods and other possessions were made. Whenever you can, cherry-pick items produced in your region. Even when you're online shopping, pay attention to how far the items you order have to travel before they arrive and try to find items that won't have to make long distances.

When you’re food shopping, skip the produce section in the supermarket and meander through the local farmer’s market instead. As well as cutting down on air pollution and supporting local farmers, it’s probably more nutritious and there’s less packaging involved. It can also help you save some money. An additional easy and tasty way to support locally grown produce is to eat what’s in season.

6- Cut food waste
​Lots of food which could be used to feed the nearly 1 billion hungry people in the world ends up in landfills and eventually turns into a destructive greenhouse gas called methane. What’s more, resources like water and energy that go into the production of the food are squandered.

Luckily, restaurants and supermarkets are becoming more and more conscious of food waste, and there are many easy ways for us to reduce the amount of food we fritter away at home. One of these is to hit the supermarket with a weekly menu and the ingredients required in your hand. This stops you from buying randomly, curbing the amount of food you waste. It’s also a good idea to take note of what you’re throwing away the most so you can shop more wisely.

While leftovers might not leave your family too excited, there are ways of getting creative, like experimentally adding some ingredients to what’s left. You can also freeze leftovers. Did you know you could freeze certain fruits and veggies for up to a year and a half? If you don’t have the space, there will always be people in need of food wherever you live, so find a local food bank and you’ll feel socially as well as environmentally responsible. Composting, which recycles nutrients back into the ecosystem, enriching soil and keeping it out of landfills and waterways, is another effective method.

Fast fact: According to the Feedback website, ten percent of rich countries’ green house gas emissions come from growing food that is never eaten.