As the concluding school bells ring, the beginning of a new time for students launches: summer. Days filled with hours on the beach, reinventing hobbies, lounging around, and spending endless time with friends becomes a pattern seen over the months of June, July and August.
This time, however, holds more than just reinvented free time. For people who want to have a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle, summer is the ideal time to begin. Especially for students who are changing their everyday routines, this time period is a comfortable turning point to implement new habits that will allow them to be more viable and productive. Beyond the abilities for students, these seasonal changes in temperature will also allow the entire household to become more environmentally sustainable.
As the temperature begins to rise, many people are inclined to cool themselves artificially with AC and fans that use high amounts of energy. To reduce this act of carbon footprint, try to lean into opening more windows, letting in fresh air to decrease house temperature. Along with this increased sufficient weather, instead of using large amounts of water and energy for laundry appliances, attempt to make use of fresh breeze to naturally dry clothing, reducing these high emissions. Of course this is not possible in every scenario, but if you are also interested in decreasing household bills, this “older” and “more traditional” method may accomplish that goal as well.
In addition to household sustainability, many people are encouraged to host summer dinner parties, gatherings, and pool days. However, these events often leave large amounts of trash filled with non-disposable utensils, plates, and decorations. To remedy this, begin to implement disposable cups, plates, straws, and utensils for summer picnics or BBQs. For kids, instead of purchasing individual packaged snacks and treats, opt for full-sized portions, reducing waste of packaging.
Going off the topic of food, searching for local farmers markers to purchase fresh ingredients and fruits that can also accomplish the goal of lowering carbon footprint over importing produce. With this, it will reduce transportation emissions, as well as aid small businesses.
However, not everyone has their calendar set to stay in one spot; many use this free time to travel and move around, causing high emissions from airplane fuels. So, when you begin to look at travel efforts, try to travel by train if your voyage allows you too. If you are not set on travelling far, utilize local attractions that will also reduce your carbon footprint that will still allow for fun experiences. To reach these local activities, find outlets of decreasing gas output from switching vehicle mileage to distance covered by feet or bike.
Although some of these new habits seem difficult to achieve, only beginning to try one or two of these small practices can lead to a habit of living an eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle. Turning into a more sustainable person isn’t about doing everything perfectly, it is about taking those small steps that are a positive move forward.
