The road toward climate neutrality within 2050 will not be easy. According to Bill Gates, it would be humanity’s biggest achievement. Let’s find out the reasons together.

Currently, we release in the atmosphere 51 billion tons of CO2 per year; the goal is 0 emissions. In his book “How to avoid a climate disaster” Microsoft’s founder tries to outline the road toward this ambitious target, regarded from the author as much harder compared to eradicating COVID-19, in which there are some commons points: both those targets need international cooperation and science’s contribution. But, differently from COVID-19, climate change depends on multiple factors and a vaccine will not be enough to bring emissions to zero.

©Free-Photos via pixabay

The five main fields responsible of greenhouse gases are:

• industrial production (cement, iron, plastics – cause of 31% of global emissions),
• electric energy production (27%), agriculture and fostering (19%),
• transports (16%),
• heating and conditioning (7%).

For each of those fields, there are ecologic alternatives that are currently developing or not as cheap as the techniques or materials used at the present. Mr. Gates talks about Green Premium which is the additional charge to pay to use those non-polluting technologies.

It is necessary to invest more in the research & development of those innovations to produce them on a large scale so that, followed by a large demand, they can close the price gap with their pollutant substitutes.

To let it happen, governmental policies play a crucial role because they have to possibility to introduce a pollutant tax and incentives for the zero-emissions alternative.

Have a clear goal

Be careful, we are talking about non-polluting alternatives and not less polluting.

The target is to bring the greenhouse emissions to zero and to reach that we need to focus our efforts on technologies and products with zero emissions.

Some energy sources alternative to fossil fuels – like natural gasses – even if able to reduce emissions, cannot zero them. This could even be against the climate neutrality target: some technologies require huge machinery that needs decades to obtain the return of investments made and so, if built today, they will still be active in 2050.

Energetic transition

Considering our current addiction to fossil fuels, a transition like this has never been made in only 30 years.

In fact, it is known that adopting new energy sources takes a lot of time, as it is possible to see in the following graph showing the major energy sources’ share of global supply.

In the past, we got past a source to another because it was cheaper and more powerful, but now the transition is imposed from climate needs. That means that if on one hand we are moved from environmental, ethical, and social reasons in doing this transition as fast as possible, on the other hand the market prevents it.

Do not leave anyone behind

Photo by Free-Photos via Pixabay

And once again, even in climate change, the developing countries and in particular Africa and South Asia are the more penalized: even if they are not at fault, they are the ones that are suffering and, in the future, will suffer most. Those countries are close to the equator and, because of that, more sensible to the increasing temperatures, considering that almost everyone there doesn’t have any way to cool themselves.

Also, extreme temperatures have a great impact on their main source of food: farming.

Moreover, for economic and social development, they will need more energy, and the cheapest sources currently available are fossil fuels. It will be the duty of the more developed countries to lead the ecological transition so that developing countries will be able to grow using zero-emission energies,
techniques, and materials without paying an additional charge.

The zero-emission target, considering that the five fields already mentioned are fundamental in our daily life, seems to be overly ambitious, but it is the only way to stop climate change which is influenced by every single greenhouse gas emission. That, followed by the increasing population and consumption generated by the global economic growth, gives us an idea of the complexity of the task we are facing.

How to contribute

Photo by Anemone123 da Pixabay

Innovation, technologies, and governmental politics will be our greatest allies in this battle. What can we do?

In Gates’ book he praises the newer generation which, thanks to their activism, has been able to put climate change as a main argument in the political debate. Climate change is a real and serious problem and that’s why we have to act now.

Reduce consumption, shift the demand towards products and technologies with zero impact and support politics that care about climate change can be a good start, giving a clear message of support to the activities focused on reaching this common goal.

Cover image: Photo by Appolinary Kalashnikova on Unsplash

Author: Andrea Incarnato. I’m a passionate admirer of life in all its shapes, I like to travel the world and discover it far and wide; therefore, I strongly believe that we must safeguard our planet and be responsible towards all forms of life.

The article The Path Toward Zero Emissions According To Bill Gates was originally posted on Ecobnb.

Unless you live as a hermit with no access to the outside world you cannot be unaware of the climate emergency that we all face. In response governments, states, regions, businesses, and diverse sections of civic society have declared a climate emergency. The tourism industry, wonderful as it is, contributes to the problem of climate change with approximately 8% of global greenhouse gasses.

Science says that we need to half our emissions by 2030.

Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency is a global community of hundreds of people, organizations, and companies who have declared a climate emergency and are coming together to find common solutions. The main goal is to enable all tourism sectors to acknowledge our responsibilities and develop appropriate climate action plans, reducing CO2 emissions in line with what science says is needed.

Why We Are Declaring Climate Emergency, And Why You Should Too

Photo via Canva Pro

We are declaring a climate emergency because we want to publicly state our commitment to the issue and implement workable solutions. We know that around the world there is increasing awareness of climate change. At the same time there is a growing traveller demand for a solutions-led approach from accommodation providers like us

The tourism sector needs to more or less halve its carbon impact by 2030. The only way to achieve this goal is to work together, sharing lessons learnt and advocating for the innovation needed.

This declaration essentially means that you want to be part of the solution. The change can only start with acknowledging both the climate emergency and the need to cut emissions, together with a commitment to reduce the CO2 impact on the planet.

The importance of getting involved

Tourism is changing and so are the expectations of guests. They too are learning about climate change and are trying to reduce their carbon footprint and make their next holiday greener.

Travellers come to Ecobnb because they are seeking sustainable accommodation, eco-friendly ideas, and tips to live a greener life. But increasingly they will also be seeking out eco hosts who have made a commitment to continue to reduce their emissions and make a guest stay even more sustainable.

By joining the Tourism Declares you can demonstrate that you acknowledge the climate crisis in our industry and commit to playing your part in tackling the issue.

What follows then might include taking some actions to reduce your CO2 impact and become more eco-friendly.

You might be interested in some of the things we are doing at Casal dei Fichi.

I have found that being a member of Tourism Declares has enabled me to double down on what my business can easily achieve and to learn from others facing similar challenges to me. I have also differentiated myself from many of my competitors.

Joining Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency is free of charge and you will have access to a significant online community – useful content and expertise from a network of other organizations on a similar green journey.

How do I sign up? Signing up takes only a few minutes. You can sign up here or please just message me if you need some help.

This is a really crucial time in the climate emergency debate, and I believe that it is vital that our movement is strong in representing all sections of our wonderfully diverse industry.

Author: Bob Garner and his husband, Ian, own and run Casal dei Fichi 6 luxurious environmentally friendly holiday apartments in Le Marche, Italy. Bob is passionate about helping vacation rental owners see the possibilities and opportunities in being environmentally sustainable. Check out their website to see what they have done and the business benefits that can accrue from baking environmental sustainability into a vacation rental business.

The article Tourism Declare Climate Emergency: It’s Time To Take Action! was originally posted on Ecobnb.

Sometimes the most effective new home is an older house. Consider the quantity of building materials and fuel saved by buying an existing home instead of building a replacement one. An honest quality older home is renovated and retrofitted to form it more environmentally friendly, at a lower cost than if you were ranging from scratch.

Photo by Bruno Martins on Unsplash

Higher housing density means more efficient utilities and shorter commutes, so consider that living in a populated area could also be the greener choice. Significantly, by choosing an existing home, you’re not transforming wild habitat or agricultural land and contributing to further landscape fragmentation.

Small Is Big

Tiny house, photo via Wikimedia Commons

A smaller home needs fewer building materials and requires less energy to cool down and warmth. When planning a replacement home, ensure to honestly assess your needs, both in terms of the amount of rooms needed, and therefore the size of these rooms. Tiny homes, currently very fashionable on television shows, are attractive and have clear environmental and energetic advantages.

While most people would have a tough time living permanently in these small spaces, they’re a form of laboratory which might provide important lessons about energy efficiency, space use, and general frugality. Your indulgence for these TV shows can provide you with great ideas applicable on a more livable scale.

Build with Sustainable Materials

Photo by Martin Dufosset on Unsplash

Today many options exist when selecting environmentally responsible building materials. the alternatives are vast, including sustainability-certified wood products, reclaimed or salvaged wood, and insulation made up of recycled materials.

Another advantage to carefully selecting building materials is best indoor air quality. many sorts of carpeting, wall coverings, stains, and paints release volatile organic compounds and other air pollutants. Healthier alternatives exist, like low-VOC paints and hard-wax oil for floors. Given the amount of hours you spend in your house daily, minimizing your exposure to those toxic components is extremely important.

Make it a Passive House

Passivhaus cross-section, English annotation, photo via Wikimedia

The passive house concept consists during a series of standards aimed toward maximizing energy efficiency. The concept relies on design elements that target reducing the wants for heating and cooling. the planning elements include:

• Extremely effective wall insulation. The surface shell of the structure must include enough insulation materials to supply a really high R-value.
• Windows have to be made from glass that limits heat transfer, with well insulated frames. In northern climates, this may mean triple-pane windows.
• Heat recovery through a device inbuilt the ventilating system further limits heating needs.
• The house envelope (walls, windows, and roof) has to provide a high degree of airtightness. It doesn’t mean the house will feel stuffy, as air change needs are handled by the ventilation and warmth exchanger systems.
• The orientation of the house and its windows allows for passive solar heating, and for the entry of natural light, limiting further electricity needs.

Passive house designs bring a home with low energy requirements, high indoor air quality, even and steady indoor temperature, and therefore the ability to stay comfortable during power outages. Typically, the upper construction costs of the materials involved within the building of a passive house are offset by simpler architectural elements and smaller heating, cooling, and electric systems. Furthermore, occupants incur substantially lower energy costs.

Conserve Water

Photo by Sasikan Ulevik on Unsplash

Residents of the USA and Canada have the unfortunate distinction of using the best amount of water per person, per day. Giving our increasing population, pervasive pollution, ongoing droughts, and changes caused by warming, our water use habits have to change. Building a replacement house offers many opportunities to save lots of on water. Low volume bathroom and kitchen fixtures are essential, including low flow, dual flush toilets.

Makes Energy Savings Easy

Right from the beginning, experts recommend integrating renewable energy systems into the planning of a replacement home, whether it’s solar panels, residential wind turbines, or micro-hydroelectric generation. If the initial investment is just too steep to contemplate at the time of construction, planning during the planning phase for an eventual change by reversal to renewable energy will save the owner considerable trouble (and money) later.

However, even as important because the source of the energy you employ is what proportion of it you employ. A well-designed home should allow you to attenuate your energy needs. this may be accomplished by, as an example, choosing efficient appliances, installing LED lights, and using programmable thermostats which can provide you with the cooling and heating you wish only someone’s home. And don’t forget the low-tech solutions: an easy clothesline for drying laundry will further impede on energy needs.

Thoughtfully Landscaped

Photo by Jules Bss on Unsplash

The work of building an environmentally friendly home continues outside. Landscaping should be done to attenuate the house’s impact on the landscape:

• Manage rainwater. Collect water runoff from the roof into rain barrels, to be used for watering landscaping plants.
• Minimize impervious surfaces. Make it easier for rainwater to penetrate the soil rather than running off, which allows it to hold nutrients, sediment, and other styles of pollution into nearby waterways. For your driveway and parking areas, choose a permeable material like open-cell pavers or pervious pavers, which can allow water to percolate into the bottom underneath.
• Carefully choose landscaping plant species which require little energy-intensive maintenance like mowing. Favor the choice of native plants with low watering needs. To block water runoff, plant water-loving plants near gutter downspouts, if you’re not already collecting roof runoff.
• Small is best: a tiny low yard is simpler to keep up and diminishes your home’s impact on the encircling habitat. ensure you discuss with your local code officer for minimum vegetation clearances if you reside in a region vulnerable to wildfires.
• Make your backyard wildlife friendly by providing food, water, and canopy for your wilder neighbors.

Cover image: photo by Unsplash

About the author: Diane H. Wong is a copywriter at DoMyWriting. Besides, she is a professional nutritionist. So she is going to start writing her own blog. It can help her share her knowledge with others.

The article Building Your Eco-Friendly House was originally posted on Ecobnb.

Throughout history, women have been at the forefront of social movements. Maybe it is because of their caring nature and need to nurture, whether it be people or the earth itself. In modern times, one of the most unlikely forces that is causing harm to our planet is travel.

The iron maidens of today have taken it upon themselves to curb the negative effects of traveling and have found ways to make travel more sustainable. They explore everything from choosing an eco hotel to finding more ecologically friendly ways of getting from A to B. Here, we are going to look at how sustainable traveling inspires women.

Traveling for a difference

Sustainable traveling has changed the focus of the reason for travel from self-indulgence to self-fulfillment through education. Sustainable traveling has inspired women all over the world to share their experiences with an educational twist.

In their blogs, they now write about conservation to responsible hiking. They emphasize enjoying travel but doing it in such a way that it doesn’t harm the environment. The aim of their blogs and traveling notes now focuses on living compassionately through travel and exploration.

Photo by Rowan Chestnut on Unsplash

Eco travel and fashion

There once was a saying that it is painful to be beautiful, but the eco traveling women have dropped that saying in the bin. These ladies have changed the saying to “it’s beautiful to be natural.”

No one said that you have to look like a hag when you travel. That is why sustainable traveling has also appealed to the fashion sense in women. They seek natural alternatives to everything from clothing material to designs. They are the ones that make travel fashion something to covet by ladies all over the world.

Photo by Anton Mislawsky on Unsplash

Looking for a greenhouse

One of the biggest contributors to traveling pollution is boarding and lodging pollution. Thanks to the sustainable traveling ladies, more and more hotels and self-catering establishments have moved over to green building and eco-friendly architecture.

Older hotels have incorporated green building principles in their designs and the materials that they use. Several blogs now play a big role in the travel industry as these sustainable travel blogs focus on eco hotels. They make sure that the word gets out and that people experience traveling on another level.

Ortenia Appartments in Natur, Slovenia

Luxury can be sustainable

Throughout history, luxury has been associated with an over-indulgence of resources. In many cases, this is not far from the truth. Sustainable traveling has inspired women to seek out luxury in sustainable ways.
Luxury, glamour and an eco-friendly lifestyle go hand in hand. No longer do you have to feel guilty about your luxurious lifestyle or travel habits. Sustainable traveling women are showing us how our hunger for luxury is good for the environment as they uncover ways to relax in bliss while being kind to the environment.

The Hideout – Koh Yao Noi eco-hotel in Thailand

Growing sustainability through family

Mothers will be mothers and they will always seek out the best for their family. In this case, they have inspired women across the globe to take their families in sustainable getaways. Sustainable traveling has inspired many women out there to educate their children from a young age on what it is to live a sustainable life.
They are teaching their families the joys of living eco-friendly lives and enjoying nature and traveling sustainably. Without these ladies of inspiration, our children will have less of a chance to experience the world in all its beauty.

Photo by Simon Rae on Unsplash

Keeping our furry friends happy

Sustainable traveling has appealed to the heart of women to look to ones who cannot defend themselves. The animal kingdom is at risk and sustainable traveling is opening the eyes of people as a result. As the human race advances, the natural world seems to crumble.
Unfortunately, our ventures of expansion and development come with casualties. Never before in history has there been such a sharp increase in endangered species than today. Many animals are at risk due to pollution and that is where sustainable traveling has inspired many to look to eco-friendly ways of waste disposal.

Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

Making the adventure last forever

The adventurous traveler wants to experience an area for all its worth. Part of the experience is going on some grand adventure. Sustainable traveling has put the spotlight on companies who arrange travel parties and how they operate.

Through sustainable traveling, the ladies at the heads of these companies have reevaluated their practices and they are now actively seeking ways in which to make their tours more sustainable. Everything from accommodation to food is being looked at, not to mention the activities that the adventurers take on.

Photo by roya ann miller on Unsplash

Putting it all together

There are so many aspects of sustainable traveling that one has to take into consideration that it can become a bit overwhelming. Planning a sustainable trip takes a bit more effort, but the juice is worth the squeeze.
This is where more travelers have been inspired to pool their resources together and to create spaces where every aspect of a sustainable trip is put into one location. The internet is a powerful source of information and the women who travel sustainably have used the internet and blogs to collect all manner of tips to make our planning a bit easier.

Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash

Traveling and food

One of the greatest treats of visiting another country or culture is to immerse yourself in their cuisine. Unfortunately, there are many unsustainable practices out there and many vendors who exploit certain resources to the point of exhaustion.

Sustainable traveling has inspired women to spend time on researching an area’s foodie hotspots and looking for sources of sustainable local cuisine.

Photo by Mike Kenneally on Unsplash

Looking out for the little people

It is a sad reality that there are cultures and people groups who just don’t know any better. It’s not that they deliberately destroy the environment, but they don’t know of better ways to look after their environment.
Sustainable traveling has inspired women who have the knowledge to reach out to these communities. They spend their travels in education the marginalized and giving them the tools to look after their immediate environment on which they rely.

image via unsplash

Conclusion

Sustainable traveling has spoken to the hearts of women all over the world and they are changing the traveling industry for the better. Instead of indulging and exploiting an area’s beauty, they are on a mission to preserve the beauty of our planet for generations to come. If you loved traveling before, you’d fall in love with this new flavor all over again.

Cover image: Photo by Jude Beck on Unsplash

Author: Tiffany Harper is an academic writer with an online assignment service that provides thesis and dissertation help to research students. She provides help with dissertations and also writing and editing assistance to those who buy custom essay papers. She covers a wide variety of subjects and is very popular among students.

The article 10 Ways How Sustainable Traveling Inspires Women was originally posted on Ecobnb.

This world is so big and so beautiful! It’s not a big surprise that we find it challenging to choose one specific travel destination and one green hotel from a great variety. Are you about to start planning your next trip? We’ve crafted a list of eco-friendly hotels from all over the world. Take a look at our top selection of overseas accommodations, and maybe you find a perfect spot for your upcoming vacation.

Silky Oaks Lodge, Queensland, Australia

Silky Oaks Eco-Lodge, Australia

If you want to immerse yourself in the natural tropical environment, visit Silky Oaks Lodge. This eco-luxury lodge is situated on the Mossman Gorge River, close to Daintree National Park and the Great Barrier Reef. Stay at this place, and you will get the real excitement of the closeness of the wildlife.

Sarna Residence San Quirico d’Orcia, Siena, Italy

Have you seen the movie Under the Tuscan Sun? If you’ve seen it, the chances you have added Tuscan to your bucket list. Here is an eco-friendly hotel right for you.
Sarna Residence San Quirico d’Orcia is an antique Tuscan farmhouse in the heart of Val d’Orcia. It’s a perfect place to enjoy the silence, tranquility, and privacy.
If you live in a big city and feel busy all the time, come to visit this small eco-hotel. Let your mind unwind, and let your soul shine.

Maso Azzurro Charming B&B, Trento, Italy

If you do love Italy, here is one more fabulous option for you. Maso Azzurro Charming B&B is an eco-friendly farm surrounded by the Adamello Brenta Natural Park. It’s just a perfect spot for a weekend getaway.
There is a lovely terrace where you can have your breakfast or practice yoga. And there is a cozy fireplace area where you can spend your evening enjoying local organic wine and a good company.

Bambu Indah, Ubud, Indonesia

There are lots of eco-friendly hotels in Ubud, but Bambu Indah is a special one. All its buildings are 100% green and stylish. Most of the furniture made of wood, and it looks authentic and finely finished.
If you choose to stay at Bambu Indah, you will get a chance to try the best Balinese meals made of fresh homegrown ingredients. Also, you will get an opportunity to enjoy a morning rice paddy walk and to experience a unique Balinese massage.

Macaw Lodge, Costa Rica

Macaw Lodge is the “greenest” hotel on our list. It has green buildings, uses 100% renewable energy, recycles more than 80% of total wastes, and reuse rainwater.
And most importantly, Macaw Lodge produces enough food to be self-sufficient. Onsite farm yields various fruits, vegetables, herbs, and cocoa that are later used in meals served to guests and staff.
Macaw Lodge is located in a peaceful place, in the Central Pacific of Costa Rica. If you choose to stay here, you will be able to easily get to the Carara National Park, Turrubares Hills Forest Reserve and Wildlife Refuge Fernando Castro Cervantes.

Levendis Estate, Ionian Islands, Greece

If you are fond of Greek culture and are interested in visiting the island of Ithaca, take a closer look at Levendis Estate. This eco-friendly hotel surrounded by a beautiful Mediterranean forest and private farmyard can be a perfect spot for your family vacation.
Here you can try organic homegrown fruits and vegetables, swim in a salt-water endless pool, and practice yoga in a peaceful environment. If you travel with kids, you can visit the local farm to feed sheep and other animals.

Jungle Bay Eco Lodge, Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Ecotourism is not an expensive thing. And here is proof. Jungle Bay Eco Lodge is a 100% sustainable hotel that offers affordable bungalows.
If you are looking for a place to escape civilization, the eco-friendly lodge is the best choice for you. Here you will find neither fancy pool with infinity view nor luxury wellness center. Jungle Bay Eco Lodge is a place where you can be closer to nature and enjoy simple yet meaningful things.

Cover image: Bambu Indah in Bali

In conclusion

Today, eco-friendly hotels are available all over the world. So wherever you go next, you can travel responsibly. Choose green hotels over unsustainable hospitality businesses, and you will make a significant contribution to environmental protection and local community improvements.

Autor: Elisa Abbott is a freelance translator, writer, and content creator. Currently, she works at pickwriters as a translation service reviewer. Elisa is a passionate traveler and an environmental activist.

The article Eco-Friendly Hotels Worth Visiting Around The World was originally posted on Ecobnb.

Someday, our children will be independent decision-makers, educators, and, who knows, maybe your child will once become a worldwide known policy-maker. What we are teaching them today will undoubtedly affect their future day-to-day life choices and eco friendly habits. Plus, teaching them how to lead a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle will learn them to take responsibility for their actions and maintain a healthier planet.

Recently, everybody has been crazy with following “go green” and it’s a good thing to follow, actually, despite you’re probably annoyed with hearing it from every corner. Given the circumstances when populations are numbering quickly into the billions and fossil fuels burning have reached the alarming rates, it is important to learn and develop, but the same important thing is to pass these concerns to our children.

But what are the most efficient and easy-to-apply ways to teach the next generation eco-friendly living? Here are 8 ideas on how to keep the fun flow while building a strong foundation for future ecologically friendly behavior of your kid:

1. Spend more time hanging outside in nature together

This simple trick will teach your children respect for outdoors. Florida’s unique environment offers a wealth of trails to choose from. Whether you head to the local park or a nature preserve, finding an easy walk to make with your child helps you both appreciate the beauty found in a flourishing ecosystem. Also, you get in some fun, healthy exercise.

Photo by Liana Mikah on Unsplash

2. Reduce, reuse, recycle

Following “the three R’s” rule is very easy; in some communities, it’s a mandatory lifestyle. While some communities allow co-mingling (which means that all recyclables can be placed in one container), others prefer sorting into containers separated for plastic, glass, paper, and cans. Kids are easily learned to sort items and place them in the correct bins. After the bins have been emptied, ask your kids to rinse them out and bring them back into the house or garage – they will quickly develop this useful habit for their future.

Photo by Townsquare.media

3. Compost

Despite composting sounds so scary to many families, there’s actually nothing complicated about adopting this rule into your household. Not only composting is great for the environment, but it’s also a wonderful way to teach children about what should be put in the garbage versus what they can reuse. Another great idea would be to make lower water usage at your home your family’s rule of thumb.

4. Consider giving your child to an eco-friendly educational institution

Finding a reputable school with any environmental programs is probably one of the best ways to help your child at the start of his/her eco-conscious journey. This way, you will be sure that the next time your child asks to write my research paper for me, he/she is moving in the right direction in their ecologic school program.

5. Teach and encourage your children to use environmentally friendly means of transport

As a family, try to choose a mode of transportation with the least amount of damage to the environment whenever possible. Further recommendations on this point would also include taking public transit, riding your bikes when spending free time with your family, and, of course, walking instead of driving. Teaching your children to prefer public transit to environmentally-harmful means of transport from an early age will also benefit your child’s attitudes in the future.
In a nutshell, all these efforts will lead to a healthy and physically fit grown-up. Plus, you’ll save money usually spent on petrol – so why don’t you spend those spending another great weekend with your family?

Photo by Bogdan Dada on Unsplash

6. Make gardening your free-time obsession

Even the best preschools cannot keep your child engaged all year round. During the crucial summer months, kids need responsible activities that continue to encourage both education and environmental consciousness. Help your child flourish by growing together. Whether it is a home garden or a new tree in the yard, you can teach the importance of purposeful cultivation early while building an understanding of fundamental life sciences, like plant biology and ecology, giving your young one a head start when school starts.

Photo by Anna Earl on Unsplash

7. DIY

Adopting DIY projects to involve recycling or reusing things like cardboard boxes, toilet rolls, plastic and glass bottles, etc. won’t take a lot of your time. You’re free to find a plethora of ideas on the web while these would probably be the funniest way to keep kids busy at the same time showing them that not everything should be put in the trash right after its usage and, quite frequently, there’s a way to reuse something before throwing it out.

photo by nasa.gov

8. Take part in community efforts and projects

Involving your family, as well as other parents in your neighborhood, into go-green activities would be another great idea to give the uprising generation an idea of eco-friendly society. Your kids’ brains will assimilate information faster, especially during fun activities. For instance, you can manage gardening exercises that would involve bringing your children together and teach them about the importance of eco-friendly living.

Photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash

Bottom line

These are only a few ways to grow up an eco-conscious kid. Understanding that the next generation will basically design our future, as well as the future of a whole planet, can make you reconsider things you create to your child’s daily routine. So, maybe it’s the perfect time to focus on preparing them for the changing world and environment.

Author: Emily Henderson is a professional writer, blogger, and proofreader working with some of the best online writing companies in the business. She also works as a mentor for college students who want to become good writers and editors. When she’s not busy writing or mentoring, she likes to spend time in the garden taking care of his plants, reading books and cooking.

The article Why Is It Important to Teach Children About Eco-Friendly Living was originally posted on Ecobnb.

Every day we do things that damage the environment, we are unaware of these activities, and continues doing it without a single thought. Now coming to the primary concern of how to save the environment, effective steps policymaker has taken like Organic farming, veganism, and sustainable house are the popular concepts nowadays. Organic farming increases the health of the soil and reduces the chemical consumption in food, whereas veganism is purely based on saving animals’ welfare. Sustainable houses mean tiny and modern homes that are eco-friendly and avoid negative impacts on the environment. It saves natural resources and consumes less energy.

Why Organic Farming Is Good For The Environment?

Photo by Arnaldo Aldana on Unsplash

Farming, as we know, well-known occupation and that has been followed since long-standing time. But the concept of organic agriculture rising gradually in the farming community. If we see a graph of farming since many years ago, we have observed that the farmers always been ultimately organically leaning. We can’t deny the fact that the usage of pesticides and fertilizers is a common practice to follow. In contrast, organic farming stands for the negligible usage of pesticides, fertilizers, and animal plants. Organic farming means the natural production of crops, which is safer and healthier for the environment & human beings.

The primary object behind organic farming is to establish a green and carbon-free environment. Excessive use of the chemical is hazardous for human being as well as for the environment; some crops require a high chemical process which releases carbon at the time of manufacturing. Thus organic farming is profitable and productive.

A Britain Based research team has stated that organic farming can feed the entire world and enhanced ecosystem services.

Organic farming offers some remarkable benefits like:

• It cleans water by disposing of chemicals from soil.
• Reduce the use of non-renewable energy.
• It reduces greenhouse emissions.
• It assures a balanced utilization of natural resources; we can save for the upcoming generation.
• Organic foods have a more extended shelf because it processed differently.

Why More People Are Going Vegan?

Photo by Nadine Primeau on Unsplash

The term “vegan” was discovered in 1944 by Donald Watson, Veganism is popular nowadays, as several celebs have chosen to be vegan & begun vegan diet plan.

Going vegan for animal welfare is an old-time story. Turning to be a vegan includes consumption of plants such as green vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Vegan doesn’t eat something made from animals & excludes meat, honey, eggs, and other dairy products. If all turns vegan, we can save thousands of animals, and we can change the climate.

Apart from saving animals, we can reduce up to 50% carbon emission and greenhouse impact by protecting crops. It also cut down the ratio of deforestation and offers other valuable benefits.

For example, animal farming has a vast footprint on the environment; it results in acid rain, deforestation, water degradation, etc. it also causes additional animal suffering.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated that livestock farming releases 65% of global nitrous oxide emission, 30% of methane, and 10% of carbon emission in the environment. These chemical releases are the reason for the greenhouse effect and climate-changing. That is higher than the fuel effect.

Veganism is a popular movement that brings a world together where creatures are not exploited for food or any other purpose. It’s beneficial for both the environment as well as for health. Grains, vegetables, fruits contain low fat and rich in vitamins.

There are many poor and underdeveloped areas in the world; they don’t have clean water to access. They face water scarcity because of the livestock system and sometimes draught. Livestock gulps more water than anything else, & pollutes existing water.

Why Sustainable Homes Are Good?

Photo by Christopher Harris on Unsplash

“Go Green” is a well known saying, and we probably thinking about making earth green and reducing carbon impact on the planet. We prefer to walk in the garden or some green area so that we can breathe fresh. This is a gentle and essential thing to consider how much our environment has tolerated.

Thus, eco-friendly and sustainable homes are a better option to save the planet from adverse effects. It also improves the quality of life automatically.
Sustainable homes are the process of housing that reduces environmental damage during and after construction. We have lots of benefits in building a sustainable house such as:

• Green and healthier environment around us. It reduces the greenhouse effect and making earth prosperous.
•  Sustainable homes refer to the holistic approach that minimizes environmental damage and improving citizen’s lifestyles.

Modern construction includes amenities & build with less material that saves energy, and it is more feasible than ever. Our small step can change the climate and have a considerable impact on the environment.

Signing off

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

We all want to save the environment but not specific about that. Small groups, corporations, and government institutions are taking initiatives to protect the earth. Recycling is an ideal option that reduces the usage of plastics. Organic farming and food should be encouraged to remove toxic from the soil. Veganism is not that bad as we tend to think; it saves animals and the environment both at the same time.

Creating a better environment means making yourself better in terms of healthy living. It seems challenging but not impossible. Building eco-homes, eating organic food is both environmentally friendly and it will pay back in every possible manner in the future. We are facing technological advancement; various applications make life easy, and we use that for practical purposes. Smart home technology devices connected to the Internet of Things(IoT) that are connected and programmed to collect and share data using remote technologies.

This environment-friendly technology has increased connectivity to the internet that results in more wifi zones, smart sensors in urban areas; this makes smart and efficient cities shortly. We must take little effort to spread awareness in the society for making green earth & beautiful place for living.

The earth is volatile and can be improved if only we would work and think about these alternatives vigorously rather then acting.

Cover image: Photo by Karsten Würth on Unsplash

Author: Divyang Metaliya is a Business Consultant at FactoHR, an India based HR and factoHR solution provider. He is a creative business strategist with more than 8 years of experience.

The article Organic Farming, Veganism, Sustainable Housing: Back To The Lost Future was originally posted on Ecobnb.

The earth is our home and yet we exploit its resources, disorganizing the natural ecosystem. Anthropogenic activities have caused major environmental disasters like global warming and desertification. If we continue with our current ways, we will never succeed in replenishing natural assets, because we have already surpassed our planet’s sustainability.

We are responsible for ruining the natural balance, and only we can reverse it. Not all of us can initiate large-scale environmental movements, so we can play our part by making greener choices in our routine affairs. ‘Reduce’, ‘Reuse’, and ‘Recycle’ are the three major pillars of an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Photo by VanveenJF on Unsplash

Air and Water are the most fundamental aspects of human life, as our survival depends upon them. We have polluted most of our water bodies and harmed aquatic life in the process. As a result, we do not have enough clean drinking water to fulfill everyone’s needs. Many people living in poverty-stricken areas only have access to contaminated and murky waters. While we waste gallons of purified water each day, they are dying of thirst and water-borne diseases.

If we all save some water every day, together we can make a huge difference. We can start by withdrawing the habit of leaving the water running while we brush our teeth and shower. We should avoid hosing floors or cars, and switch to buckets of water for a controlled supply. If your area receives a lot of rainfall, collect it and use it for activities like washing and gardening.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

If you live near the sea, a river, or a lake, restrain from polluting it with waste products and tell others to do the same. Volunteer to clean beaches and land surrounding water bodies; request your community leaders to install waste/recycling bins all over the place. Plastic trash is the most hazardous type of waste as it is non-biodegradable. Abandon the use of plastic shopping bags and condemn products that come in plastic wrappers/packaging.

Photo by Shrey Gupta on Unsplash

Use containers made from recycled paper and buy cloth bags, which are more durable and environmentally friendly. Go green by consuming organic products, which are fresh and beneficial for your health. Avoid processed food that is imported or transferred from distant places; their transportation and preservation are both a burden on our natural resources.

Our vehicles and utilities are powered by burning fossil fuels, which produce harmful gases polluting our atmosphere. We cannot give up electricity and transport facilities, but we can minimize the total impact. Carpooling and making use of public transport is a great way to reduce our carbon footprint. We must also consider walking and cycling to cover shorter distances.

Photo by David Marcu on Unsplash

We shall switch off lights, air conditioning, T.V, and other electric appliances when not in use, or when we are leaving the room for a while. A shift towards green technology like energy-saving bulbs and automatic water heaters are great for the environment and save us money by cutting down utility bills. Stop littering around, recycle your garbage, and reuse stuff instead of disposing of it.

Going green will not only conserve the environment but also help make the world a better place for future generations.

Cover image: buying organic food and using a cloth bag, photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Author Bio: John Adams writes about social issues, environmental disasters, and civil rights. He encourages readers to improve their quality of life by incorporating positivity in their thoughts and actions.

The article How to be Eco-friendly with your Daily Choices was originally posted on Ecobnb.

College students are stereotypically considered to be the most politically and socially active group in society. Because they dedicate time and effort to pursuing knowledge and expanding their critical thinking skills, it’s no wonder they are likely to become aware of the world’s issues and challenges.

One of the biggest ones that we’re facing today is the environmental danger to our planet. From the waste issue to climate change, we are being increasingly alarmed about the harmful effects some of our actions have on Mother Earth.

So, is it possible to make your contribution to saving the planet as a college student? Absolutely! Here are some of the things you can start doing today to help the environment.

1. Ditch Single-Use Plastic

This is one of the main steps that you can take to take off some of the burden for the environment caused by plastics. Single-use utensils, plates, boxes and containers are all around us, especially if you’re a college student.

Source: LessPlastic.co.uk

For students, many companies produce containers and bags that are meant to be used on-the-go and dispensed immediately. This is why you will find single-use plastics all over the place when you’re on campus.
While you’re in your home, you can replace single-use plastic products with their reusable equivalents. For example, you can avoid plastic utensils and drinking glasses and make sure you get “real” ones as soon as possible.
As for single-use plastic bags, you can either use the same one many times or opt for linen bags that you can use for years.

Photo by Yue Iris on Unsplash

2. Try to Go Zero Waste

If you’re serious about saving the planet, you can try to participate in the zero waste movement. Basically, it’s a lifestyle that aims to first decrease the total amount of trash and waste that we produce in everyday life, and then reduce it to zero.
However, as soon as you start trying to practice it, you will see that it can be incredibly hard. Waste is often something that goes unnoticed in our households. When you start paying attention for the first time, you will see that it can be quite complicated to go without it.
Nowadays, it’s easier to follow the zero waste discipline because there are more products on the market that allow you to reduce your waste. You can purchase them to start with or begin by crafting your own.

Homemade soaps, Photo by Kristina Balić on Unsplash

3. Mind Your Transport

Transportation is considered to be one of the main contributors to climate change and carbon emissions. That’s why you can choose to use environment-friendly transportation means as a college student.
Of course, the best thing you can do is walk from point A to point B. However, this is not always appropriate if your classes are far away from where you live. There are also many situations where you will need to get to your destination much faster than by walking.
In these situations, riding a bike is perfect. The only minus side to biking is that it’s not appropriate for cold days. So, if you’re unable to walk or bike, use public transportation and try to avoid driving as much as possible.

Photo by Owen Vachell on Unsplash

4. Recycle and Reuse

Recycling is the cornerstone of caring for the environment through a daily habit. If you already don’t, you can set up a recycling system that will separate your waste according to different materials.
“We are also seeing a huge popularity increase of DIY, reusing and repurposing everyday objects. If you’re not sure how to start, there are numerous websites, blogs and forums where you can pick up interesting ideas for breathing new life into your old, used objects”, says Nellie Johnson, a DIY and recycling enthusiast and blogger.

Photo by Jagoda Kondratiuk on Unsplash

Conclusion

No matter what anyone tells you, there is a lot that you can do to save the planet as a college student. From small steps like introducing changes to your daily routine to huge lifestyle changes, the sky’s the limit when it comes to your motivation and ambition to help the environmentalist movement.

If you want to spread the word and motivate many others to take action, you can also promote sustainable living on your college campus.

Cover image: Photo by Vadim Fomenok on Unsplash

Author’s bio. Daniela McVicker is a contributor to TopWritersReview and the chief editor at StudyClerk. She has a master’s degree in English Literature, and she is truly passionate about learning foreign languages and teaching. Daniela works with the students helping them to reveal the writing talent and find one true calling.

The article 4 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet as a College Student was originally posted on Ecobnb.

The popularity of implementing eco-friendly lifestyle increasing among different social groups. Especially, it concerns youth: high school, college, and university students. Perhaps, in your college, this behavior becomes popular as well, and many students are writing essays about climate changes, such as on particular college essays service EssayShark. This helps scientists to look through this issue and find solutions worldwide. And how does it concern people’s behavior in ordinary life? Let’s have a look at these exciting challenges that people face in converting to an eco-friendly lifestyle.

1) Hug a Tree

In the 21st century, the rate of deforestation doubled: more than six million hectares of forest disappear annually. However, in many developing countries, between 50 and 80 percent of logging is illegal. The problem of deforestation has become so serious that since 2013 March 21, the UN has celebrated World Forest Day. On this day, many countries of the world participate in the challenge, “Hug a tree.” The meaning of the action is evident from its name. This challenge demonstrates the act of love to the trees as to the lungs of our planet.
The tradition of hugging trees refers to the history of Chipko – the movement of the Indian Uttar Pradesh state’s residents who protested against deforestation in the Garhwal Himalayas. Local women hugged trees and tied around them to protect the trees from loggers. In the 1980s, the Hug a Tree movement spread throughout India, and in the 1990s went beyond the Hindustan Peninsula. Now, hugging trees as part of a challenge, activists not only express their love for the forests but also pay tribute to the women who came to their defense.

hugging a tree, photo by Sea D Brown via pixabay

2) Recycling Trap

One of the most prevalent challenges that various environmental organizations, television shows, and initiative groups regularly host is the so-called ecological trap or recycling trap. The meaning is that activists leave a plastic bottle or a paper box in a prominent place, and observing the passers’ acts. Those who pick it up and throw it into recycling trash located nearby, the volunteers will hug them, applause them, or play a solemn march on musical instruments.
Similar challenges take place in different countries in Europe, in the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Quebec television even made a story about the problem of abandoned trash.
Such actions created to demonstrate to the society how important even the smallest efforts for the environment, and humanity has a long way to go in creating environmental responsibility.

photo via pxabay

3) Earth Hour

The most important and massive action in humanity’s history was invented in 2005 by the Australian branch in the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to draw the attention of Australians to the problem of global climate change. It was initially called the Big Click, but a year later, the name was changed to Earth Hour. The idea of turning off electricity for an hour became so popular that it quickly went beyond Australia and became a worldwide initiative.
Three years after the first Big Click 35 countries and more than 400 cities supported the Earth Hour already in 2008. The illumination of many famous monuments was turned off, popular websites, including Google, changed their design in support of the action. In 2018, 2 billion people in 188 countries took part in this challenge: electric lighting was turned off at 18,000 architectural monuments around the world.

photo by saveourclimate, via wikimedia

4) Trashtag Challenge

Flashmob called Trashtag Challenge gain crazy popularity at social networks from February 2019. This challenge encourages people to clean up in forests, beaches, and various places. Thousands of Internet users have already joined it.
The necessary mechanism of this act is to take a picture of any place that is in a derelict state, clean all trash up, and then upload two photos before and after cleaning.
You can already find many pictures of clean beaches and parks after this challenge in social media. The participants hope that the popularity of Trashtag will only grow further.
Trashtag members believe that this challenge was launched in 2015 by UCO Gear, becomes part of a wildlife campaign.
Currently, there are over 25,000 posts on Instagram alone with the hashtag #trashtag and variations of it: #trashtagchallenge and #trashchallenge. Other versions of the flashmob have already appeared among Spanish-speaking participants, that call it #BasuraChallenge.

Photo via Navy Live

5) 20 Days of Green

Through the international exhibition EXPO-2017, the US Embassy in Kazakhstan launched the environmental challenge #20daysofgreen in 2017. As part of the competition, participants completed tasks within 20 days and helped to make the environment cleaner and safer. So the idea came to launch the challenge #20daysofgreen, where for 20 days, people needed to complete 1 task per day, took a photo and sent it in social media.
In America, this is a common practice when colleagues or students participate in eco-challenges together. Such an event was for the first time in Kazakhstan. Each step described in this challenge has a direct impact on the environment: the rational use of water or the replacement of a conventional light bulb with an energy-saving one.
All participants who completed at least ten steps received great prizes, and those who completed 20 won a special award!
As a diplomatic mission, countries are always looking for ways of cooperation not only between the governments of the USA and Kazakhstan but also worldwide through which people solve climate problems.

photo via unsplash

We hope that some of these six challenges give you an idea, how to improve your lifestyle and help to stop the climate crisis on our planet. “Save the Earth!” is not only a famous slogan today, but it is also the mission of modern humanity.

Author: Thornie Longmuir

Cover image: photo by Daniel Frank on Unsplash

The article Challenges People Face in Converting to an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle was originally posted on Ecobnb.