Environmental science is all about finding ways to live more sustainably, which means using resources today in a way that maintains their supplies for the future. Environmental sustainability doesn’t mean living without luxuries but rather being aware of your resource consumption and reducing unnecessary waste.
- Reduce household energy use
Energy conservation is itself a source of energy. Here are several simple ways to reduce your household energy use:
- Turn off appliances and lights that you’re not using.
- Install energy-efficient appliances.
- Open windows to allow breeze instead of turning on the air conditioning.
- Hang clothes to dry instead of using the dryer.
- Use an electric teakettle rather than a stovetop kettle to boil water.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
- Eat locally
A powerful way to live more sustainably is to eat locally. The convenience of supermarkets has changed how people think about food. You can stroll through aisles stocked with fruits, vegetables, and other products from all over Nigeria any time of year. But these products consume huge amounts of fossil fuel energy to get from those global locations to your corner supermarket.
- Dispose with disposables
Previous generations didn’t dream of single-use razors, forks, cups, bags, and food storage containers, but these days, you can find a plastic version of almost any object and then throw that object away after you use it.
Many of the environmental health issues today stem from toxins released into the environment by trash. Even trash that’s properly disposed of, such as that in a landfill, requires careful monitoring to ensure that dangerous chemicals don’t enter the surrounding environment.
When you make a purchase, consider the item’s life expectancy: How long can the item be used? Will it have more than one use? When you’re done with it, will it end up in the trash? Start investing in reusable products for the items you most often throw away.
- Plant seeds
Try growing your own food. Simply plant a few seeds in a corner of your yard or in a container on your porch or windowsill. You don’t need acres; along the driveway, or in a window box can provide enough space to grow edible herbs, fruits, and vegetables.
- Recycle
Recycle as much as possible! If your neighborhood or flat doesn’t offer recycling pickup, you can find a drop-off location (like Wecyclers).
For other items, such as batteries, cellphones, and electronics, find an appropriate recycler. Resell and donate items. Items that you no longer need can get an extended life through resale and donation. By extending the life of any product, you help reduce dependence on disposable or cheaply made single-use products that end up in landfills.
Try reselling clothing and children’s things through a second hand or consignment retailer or consider donating them to a non -profit resale organisation or charity organisation that will redistribute them to those in need.
- Save water
An easy way to live more sustainably is to conserve household water use. Consider installing water-efficient toilets or dual-flush toilets that let you choose whether to use a full flush (for solid waste) or half-flush (for liquid waste). Newer clothes washers can automatically sense the smallest level of water needed for each load.
Smaller changes, such as switching to water-saving shower heads and adding aerators to your sink faucets, are also effective ways to significantly reduce household water use.
- Rely less on your car
This is a difficult option for many Nigerians. But, using fossil fuels to support one person in each car on the road is clearly no longer sustainable. Investigate mass transit options in your town or city, such as a bus system, a carpool and vanpool services for commuters. When traveling close to home, walk or ride your bike.
Source
Alecia M. Spooner (2018). Ten Ways To Live Sustainably. https://www.dummies.com/education/science/environmental-science/ten-ways-to-live-sustainably/