I know, I know. You already recycle and avoid straws, and still, saving the world sounds like a whole lotta pressure! I mean, we’ve all got a lot of other stuff to worry about — like building our careers and figuring out which restaurant to book tonight. But still, as caring people we def want to help. We just don’t want it to use up too much of our already tight schedule. Is that really too much to ask??
For those of us who are (currently) too busy to carve out volunteer-time, here are 5 effective ways to help save the planet, and give the next generation a better future:
GET CLEAN
US electrical power is largely generated by fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas — all terrible polluters and big contributors to climate change). Thankfully, most people have the option of switching from dirty energy to clean, renewable sources. It’s easy! Just check out Arcadia Power. We used them to switch from dirty to clean energy and with 5 minutes of effort it dramatically reduced our carbon footprint while keeping our bills roughly the same.
FREE MONEY!
Ok, I thought that’d get your attention. I’ll tell you how to get free coin, but it’s not for you to spend on another pair of pumps. It’s for you to donate. Here’s how it works: Sign up for a free hybrid checking/savings account at Radius Bank, and start earning interest on the money in your bank account. Unlike most other banks, which slowly drain your accounts via this-and-that fees, Radius puts money into your account by paying you 17x the national interest rate on checking accounts. At the end of the year, you can see how much interest you’ve earned and donate that amount to a charity aimed at helping save the planet.
MAKE A QUICK PHONE CALL (OR THREE)
One of the most effective ways to create change is to call politicians. They assume that for every phone call they receive, there are hundreds of their constituents who feel the same way but didn’t take the time to call. They know that getting re-elected means that they need to listen to what people like you want. Call and tell them!
Bringing change to environmental policies may require regulation combined with proper enforcement, or economic incentives like rewarding companies that focus on sustainability and organic products, instead of giving taxpayer subsidies to high-polluting corporations in oil and factory-farmed agriculture. Either way, widespread support is essential to get these politicians to act.
THINK BEFORE YOU BUY
Do you really need that extra pair of black boots? Probably not. Would the veggie burger be a better option than the beef burger? Definitely. After all, eating one less burger a week is the same as taking your car off of the road for 320 miles, and skipping steak for a week is the equivalent of not driving for almost 3 months! Forgoing meat also saves all of the resources that go into maintaining livestock. The world’s cows eat enough to feed 9 billion people. Approximately, 70% of deforestation of the Amazon is to provide land for cattle ranches and producing an 8 oz steak requires 900 gallons of water.
The biggest intervention people could make towards reducing their carbon footprints would not be to abandon cars, but to eat significantly less meat and dairy.
Every purchase you make has a cost to the planet, animals, and other people (including your future children!) Making the responsible choice gets easier the more you do it. Here are 5 ways to make ethical fashion choices, and this is why what you eat matters to the future of this planet. And since the oceans will have no fish left in them by 2050 if we don’t start making more sustainable choices, bust out the Seafood Watch app before you order to get a handle on which are the most responsible choices.
SELL OR DONATE, DON’T TOSS
Way too much furniture, clothing and appliances are tossed out in favor of something new. That’s all stuff that could be repaired or could prevent someone else from buying something new. Not to mention, well, the landfills (ie. the ocean!)
When my husband and I decided to try life in Europe, we donated all our furniture to charity. It saved us a lot of time and gave us a nice tax write-off. When I clean out my closet, I give the stuff I don’t want to charity. It takes a little more effort, but not much, and it makes me feel good to know that it’ll have another life with someone else.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but the most important thing to remember is that every choice you make has a direct impact on the planet and its inhabitants.
I make it a habit that I conduct a garage sale every 6 months. I’m a little bit of a hoarder, so it makes our home look cluttered. I also encourage my little ones to declutter their toys and clothes too. I even tell them that they could keep the money that they earn if it gets sold. I also keep a separate box for things that should be up for donation instead of selling. This box usually contains things that the kids are feeling sentimental about, such as an old teddy bear that they feel needs “re-homing” instead of being sold. Or a favorite blanket that meant so much to them but growing up forces them to “re-home” their blankie. It gives them a sense of purpose.
Arcadia Power seems to be very interesting. I can’t believe that I can really lessen my carbon footprint.
I’m honestly worried about the future of my children. The environment is getting worse every second. Calamities are everywhere and it’s all happening because of global warming. We need to work together in order to at least reverse the damage we’ve done.
Not to discourage anyone, but our planet is really damaged to the point that extremely bigger steps are needed in order to fix it.
I’ve become more budget conscious after I registered with Radius (thanks to your recommendation in a previous article, Hilary). I’ve always had problems visualizing and assessing my income and savings back then but when I started to use Radius, I was able to handle my expenses better. It’s a great way to plan your future.
I checked Arcadia Power out and I was slightly confused about how it works. So basically, it’s just an app that helps you monitor your consumption, right? It also does the bidding for you and stuff… Sounds easy but a little tricky. I know how apps work and they thrive in advertisements or sponsorships from other companies and brands. I’m not sure about this because it’s a little too good to be true. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I really hope that it doesn’t lean towards companies and brands just because they’re sponsored.
I haven’t checked it out but I did read details on the website. It doesn’t sound like that though!
I didn’t know that my purchases really impact the environment. Honestly, I rarely mind and I forget about how these things affect the planet in such a big way. I’m so sorry!! ?
It’s never too late to start being responsible with your choices.?
Now that you’ve mentioned it, it does sound easier to help the environment even with our busy schedules. I guess there’s no excuse not to do a thing about it.
Radius has been stepping their game up lately. Glad to know that there are companies like you who really want to work for the greater good! Bless you people x ?
Every month, I make sure to put old clothes/things in my donation pile. Not only does it help me declutter my home, but it also makes me feel better as a person that I’m helping other people by giving them not-so-old stuff. I don’t like donating things that are too worn already. I know that I have things at home that I no longer want to use but I still keep them just because I feel like I didn’t get my money’s worth just yet, so I try to tell myself that maybe keeping it again for a year or two would make me feel better about letting it go. That was my old mindset. Now, I make sure that I don’t get too sentimental with stuff and I tell myself that other people would benefit from my old stuff that still looks new.
Thanks for also linking the articles about ethical fashion. Most of your readers are female and we all know how excited we all are when we shop. However, most of the choices that we have are not always ethical. It’s not about how pretty the dress is, but how eco-friendly it is.?