With the environment more and more in focus in the news, many people are thinking of going green in some way. They could be considering ditching their car, for example, or changing up their diet to be more environmentally friendly. It’s a myth that you can’t make a difference to the environment or to climate change as an individual; of course, your impact is diminished when compared to corporations, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. If you’re considering going green, then we’re here to help. Here’s a guide to going green in 2022.
Build up some funds first
Contrary to popular belief, going green doesn’t have to cost the earth (pun not intended). It does, however, necessitate some changes to your lifestyle that might mean you need a little cash, especially in the short term. If you only need quick cash at a moment’s notice, then you should consider picking up a £500 loan if you need it; the repayment terms are often favourable, and you can use that money to renovate parts of your home and make them more environmentally friendly.
Work on your diet
Your diet is one of the biggest ways that you can commit to a more green and sustainable lifestyle. Excessive meat consumption is one of the things that’s contributing most to global warming and climate change right now; even if you don’t want to give up meat entirely, switching to eating more plant-based foods every week could make a huge difference. You’ll also notice your wallet is heavier, because plant-based alternatives to meat, like beans or chickpeas, are often much, much cheaper than the meat itself.
Drop your car
If you currently use a car to travel to and from work (and other places), then you could consider getting rid of it. There’s a good chance that a public transport network could serve you just as well as a personal vehicle, and you’d be doing the environment a massive favour by driving less. Cycling is a great alternative to driving; it’s healthier, and you’ll often find that you enjoy the trip more if you cycle, because you can appreciate the wind in your hair and the physical effort required to push the bike. If you absolutely must continue driving, then consider getting an electric vehicle instead.
Grow your own food
Are you lucky enough to have a garden? Is your garden a reasonable size? If so, then you should definitely think about growing your own produce. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got absolutely no experience in growing vegetables or fruits; there are many options that are ideal for beginners and first-timers, such as lettuce, runner beans, or peas. By using the food you grow yourself in your cooking, you aren’t just helping the environment; you’re also ensuring that you know exactly where your food is coming from, thus erasing nasty pesticides or preservatives that could be damaging to your long-term health.
Switch to clean energy
Wherever possible, if you’re looking to go green in 2022, it’s a good idea to switch to clean energy. Ideally, that would mean generating your own energy, but that’s not a possibility for everyone (although, if you’re looking to do so, there are certainly ways you can achieve this, especially if you happen to have a fair amount of land). However, you can make sure that you’re using a clean energy company that makes as many green commitments as possible. Switching energy companies is easy, so don’t let the process intimidate you.
Buy second-hand goods
There are many things that you can buy second-hand without even remotely sacrificing quality. Clothing, electronics, and other goods can all be bought pre-owned; in many cases, these goods are barely even used, but they lose such a huge amount of their value once they’ve been owned by another person that you can usually get them for a steal. In turn, you should also be recycling and upcycling your own stuff. When you don’t need something anymore, ask yourself seriously whether you could give it away to someone else or sell it rather than simply throwing it away.
Switch to a paperless lifestyle
You absolutely don’t need to receive bills or other correspondence in paper form in 2022. Going paperless could be a huge way to help the environment; after all, the less paper we consume, the more trees we can save, and that means the environment is healthier and more intact as a whole. Things like bank statements, bills, and letters from various companies usually have paperless options if you visit their website, and if they don’t, then you can either write to them or call them and ask if they offer paperless solutions instead. There’s always a way to ditch the paper when it comes to these kinds of correspondences.
Try to ditch plastic
There are many consumer products that are packaged in plastic, and it’s not always easy to avoid buying or using them. However, where you can, it’s a good idea to switch to reusable containers in order to reduce your plastic usage. For example, why not buy yourself a washable water bottle so that you don’t need to keep buying water packaged in plastic bottles? You should also invest in some Tupperware containers that you can wash and reuse; that way, you can store leftovers and other things in those containers and you don’t need to keep using single-use plastics.