People across the globe are now focusing on going green since it positively impacts the planet. Going green means embracing a way of life that helps preserve the environment. This concept involves, but is not limited to reducing, reusing, and recycling items. It is about decreasing our footprint. The idea is to embrace learning and practicing an environmentally mindful lifestyle that contributes to protecting the environment.
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What Does “Going Green” Means?
Going green is about adopting a behavior that reduces our footprint on the environment while also encouraging others to follow our example. It’s about making small changes in our everyday life to create a sustainable lifestyle.
The aim of going green is to:
- Reduce pollution.
- Reduce resources consumption and eliminate wastes.
- Conserve natural resources and forests.
- Maintain the natural ecological balance on earth so that all living things can survive and thrive in their habitat.
Benefits of Going Green
The advantages of a green lifestyle have economic, health and environmental aspects.
- Health
Going green has enormous effects on our body, mind, relationships, and the world around us. Our environment can either increase or reduce stress; hence impact the body. The things we see, experience or hear can change our mood and how our immune, endocrine, and nervous system function.
A stressful environment causes anxiety which in turn elevates blood pressure, muscle tension, and heart rate and going green reverses these impacts. A natural environment is a stress reliever; it heals and makes you feel better emotionally and contributes to your physical well-being. It helps us cope with pain.
A green environment helps us to connect with others. People who have green space around their homes build more relationships and are concerned about supporting each other. Being in a natural environment also lowers aggression, violence, and street crime levels as people gain the capacity to cope better with stress. Going green equals is in tune with nature, and that is the best protection we can get.
- Environment
By not polluting our environment, we are letting the ecosystems function properly. Each of those ecosystems plays a vital role in the life we know. Even a mosquito has its role on this planet. Our current lifestyle has already led to several extinctions. Also, eradicating any organism has severe consequences for ecosystems.
Moreover, by purchasing an eco-friendly vehicle and home, you can decrease the number of pollutants that are emitted into the air. This makes both the indoors and outdoors have cleaner air for you and others to breathe. It is an investment for a cleaner future. However, by breathing clean air, you are also enhancing your health. With polluted air, you are inhaling toxic chemicals that can potentially affect your body’s immune system and weaken its defenses that fight off viruses and bacteria.
- Economic
You can significantly increase the value of your home by making it more appealing to potential buyers with eco-friendly investments. You can install solar panels or a water-saving shower. If you are lucky to live in a country which supports green homes, you might even be in for a subsidy. However, even without it, these investments will bring you massive savings in energy costs. Purchasing Energy Star appliances will consistently save you hundreds of dollars on your water bill on an annual basis. These appliances create a more permanent home. Sustainable investments will also make you less reliable on fuels and other harmful toxins.
Green alternatives like CFLs, LEDs, and energy-saving door and window fixtures use less energy, and by replacing traditional bulbs with these, you can save energy and money in the long run. However, just by running your washing machine full loads, you can reduce a significant amount of water and power during each cycle. Along with adopting such eco habits, make sure to find an electric company whose rate suits your usage best as there are countless providers and deals out there.
Simple Green Lifestyle Tips
Adopting eco habits can seem tricky at first. However, just by paying more attention to our choices, we can make a big difference. For example, suppose one individual chooses to throw a recyclable plastic bottle in the garbage instead of recycling it. In that case, it might not be a big deal; however, when millions of people do the same, it makes a big difference.
As human beings, we have the power to make our choices. Moreover, those choices affect the world around us. You get to choose what you eat, and in the same, you can choose to do things that benefit the environment, such as:
1. Buy more locally grown products
2. Buy recyclable products
3. Support local green initiatives
4. Take a bicycle when you don’t have to drive
5. Switch as much as you can to renewable energy sources
6. Increase your awareness of your spirit usage
7. Adopt eco-usage habits such as drying out your laundry outside and using sunshine as opposed to artificial lighting
Nature Took Care of Us so Well – It’s Time to Repay the Favor The world is not going to be around forever. The longer that we take care of it, the longer it will last. Taking small steps like recycling and adopting energy-efficient habits can go a long way. By going green, we build a healthier environment for all living creatures and a better world for future generations. It does not take much time, just a little awareness and effort. Every small action counts. Embrace these sustainable and healthy habits to make the world a better place for you and your loved ones.