Be Earth-friendly at Home in 5 Easy Steps

1) Lessen the use of paper

As we all know, paper is made through a series of rigorous processes but begins with cutting trees that clean the air around us. Let's do our part in saving the trees by lessening our paper consumption. With today's classes or work done at home via online means, make sure to type your notes on your computers, tablets, or smartphones, or jot them down in reused scrap paper to reduce its usage.

Also, did you know that going with digital transactions is one of the keys to lessening paper usage? Not only does going digital with our payments provide us with a safer and contactless solution for managing our affairs amid these times, but it also helps decrease the manufacture and use of more standard paper bills.

2) Practice the three Rs at home

Reduce, reuse, and recycle — the three Rs continue to be fool-proof ways to help Mother Earth and keep your home sustainable.

Reduce the amount of waste you produce, such as minimizing the throwing of food waste, practicing giving gifts without using excess packaging materials, using rechargeable batteries, and using an eco-bag to lessen the usage of plastic bags, among others.

Reuse materials for another purpose to lessen the need to buy more items; for example, using plastic bottles as makeshift pots for plants, repairing broken essentials rather than purchasing another one, and donating unwanted items to other people who would benefit from it.

Lastly, practice proper recycling rather than simply throwing away any waste. You can observe recycling by turning your food waste into useable compost for your plants, collecting paper, glass, and plastic trash, and hand it over to your nearest recycling service to repurpose them into new items.

3) Save water and energy

Water and energy have become essentials in our daily lives, and we must not waste these before all of them become difficult to find. Not only will conserving water and energy help save our monthly utility bills, but it is also part taking care of our valuable resources.

Always make a drop of water count and we can do this through simple means—from using a pail and bucket instead of running the shower when we take a bath, regularly checking the faucet for possible leaks, to turning off the water while we brush or shave.

As for saving our energy resources, you can start with drying clothes in the open air instead of using mechanical dryers that consume lots of electricity, making sure that all switches are turned off and plugs pulled when an appliance or device is not being used, walking or biking while traveling short distances instead of using a car, to using hand-operated tools.

4) Be a plant parent

Join the indoor trend of becoming a plantita/tito. Aside from its benefits of having green spaces to our mental wellbeing, caring for plants keeps our surroundings fresh and clean. Also, join online tree-planting campaigns to help restore the beauty of our forests for a healthier ecosystem and to combat the dangers of climate change.

5) Enlighten your loved ones on sustainable efforts

It all begins with oneself, and we have to promote this lifestyle to our friends and family to propagate these planet-saving initiatives. Enlighten your loved ones by watching with them meaningful documentaries on the harsh effects of climate change and pollution and discuss how we could solve these problems. Search for more insightful tips to maintain a sustainable environment through the internet, or begin your online campaign to spread awareness on these pressing matters. Use your voice and reason to save Mother Earth.