Ecology is not only a matter for governments and companies, it also concerns us as individuals. Our lifestyles and choices have an environmental impact, and we have the opportunity to choose more sustainable behaviors, products or services. We can thus modify certain habits in order to be truly ecological in our daily life, and to participate at our scale in the fight against global warming and pollution. Here is a list of 10 tips and daily gestures to reduce our environmental impact and preserve our planet. It’s up to you to make your daily life more eco-responsible!
1. Reduce your use of single-use plastic
The use of single-use plastic is a real environmental scourge: it produces large quantities of waste that are difficult to recycle and end up in the environment. Thus, in the North Pacific Ocean, a continent of plastic with a surface area equivalent to three times the size of France (1.6 million km2) is spreading year after year. And did you know that the French are the champions of plastic pollution? Approximately 1.5 million disposable plastic bottles are used every hour, or 36 million per day, and on average, a French person consumes 180 single-use plastic bottles per year.
An eco-responsible attitude consists in reducing the consumption of plastic bottles, by opting for tap water (filtered if necessary) and a water bottle; or for glass bottles that are making a comeback. Also consider using bulk products, which avoids single-use packaging.
An alternative to plastic bottles: LaVie!
LaVie® UV-A water purifiers operate without filters or maintenance and allow you to purify your tap water in 15 minutes.
They use an innovative, patented technology exclusive to LaVie®: the photolysis of chlorine by UV-A radiation.
This treatment allows the removal of chlorine and its by-products, chemical compounds such as certain pesticides or traces of medication, tastes and odors that can be found in tap water.
The result, very qualitative, allows to draw a definitive line on the consumption of plastic bottled water.
The carbon footprint associated with the manufacture of the UV water purifier’s aluminum tube is neutralized in a few days of use compared to the equivalent consumption of water in plastic bottles.
2. Sort your waste (and compost)
Most waste, plastic or not, is polluting. It is therefore important to respect the sorting instructions. But even with maximum sorting, there are still shells, peelings, pits, and other food waste. Don’t panic, they are just waiting to be upgraded! This is where the composter comes in, which will transform all this little world into fertile and ecological soil.
3. Consume local and seasonal products
To act in an eco-responsible way, you have to pay attention to your diet. A vegetable produced out of season (often in a heated greenhouse) can emit up to 7 times more greenhouse gases than when grown at the right time. Add to this the emissions linked to transport when the food is produced abroad, and you get a very polluting plate. By consuming local and seasonal products, you can participate in the fight against global warming. Moreover, favouring short circuits is also more economical, because it eliminates intermediaries!
4. Make a vegetable garden
A piece of garden can be enough to become a market gardener! Starting a vegetable garden allows you to consume less plastic, to garden in a sustainable way (without pesticides), to fill your pantry with seasonal fruits and vegetables, and therefore in fine to be even more eco-responsible. And what a pleasure to eat the tomatoes that we saw ripen under the sun!
5. Favour soft mobility
In France, 42% of people whose workplace is located less than 1 km from their home go there by car. Transportation plays an essential role in the fight against global warming. To be eco-responsible, we must encourage soft mobility. Thus, walking, biking or public transportation are to be preferred in your daily travels for the respect of the environment. And for long trips, choose the train rather than the plane!
6. Choosing a green electricity supplier
Today, it is possible to choose the green electricity supplier that best suits your needs and your ecological convictions. More proof that your choices can allow you to participate in the ecological transition!
7. Turn down the heat
Heating is the main energy expense for French households. By lowering it by 1°C you reduce your energy consumption, and act for the ecology, while lowering your energy bill by 7% on average.
8. Limit the consumption of electrical appliances
A daily eco-responsible attitude is to turn off electrical appliances on standby. You can do this by unplugging electrical outlets or by installing an alarm system. The age of electrical appliances also has an impact on their consumption, so you can replace appliances that consume too much energy with new ones, by comparing energy labels and choosing the best-rated models (A or B).
9. Insulate your home
A well insulated house strongly reduces energy consumption. Insulating the attic of your home allows you to reduce your environmental footprint, while benefiting from financial support.
10. Better manage light
This is perhaps the easiest eco-gesture to perform, just think about it! You can place your sofas, chairs or desks near the windows, in order to benefit from natural light for longer. Don’t forget to turn off the lights, and to use LED bulbs, which consume less energy and are more ecological.
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