Going green has numerous benefits at home, in the workplace, and to the economy at large. Brands and businesses have made shifts toward greener practices – from eliminating the use of plastics in certain products and packaging to growing organic foods.
The advantages are numerous, and while it might seem like common sense – it’s worth highlighting the many changes that regular people can make right now for a greener way of living.
Some of the environment-friendly practices that we can embrace include:
- Reduce energy costs and consumption through the use of renewable energy alternatives (like wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy)
- Opt for quality appliances with low energy consumption
- Purchase eco-friendly household items
- Recycle biodegradable products and create DIY items
- Eat green, sustainably farmed, and ethically produced organic foods
- Choose a greener mode of transportation (like carpooling)
- Use green cleaning and skin products
- Use recycled materials when building or renovating a house
- When purchasing a new home consider a greener option, such as a prefabricated house
Three advantages to going green
The advantages of going green can fall into three major categories: economic, health, and environmental benefits. Let’s dive into these major categories and how you can do your part in going green.
Economic benefits of going green
A significant economic benefit of going green is that it helps lower costs and save money. The use of renewable energy helps reduce energy consumption, which in turn helps save money spent on electricity bills (which is a benefit to the individual).
Going green at home helps reduce water and power bills significantly. Avoid under-filling the washing machine, add water-saving appliances in showers and washrooms, and opt for low-flush toilets if you can – it all adds up!
Recycling is another way to go green – this can mean recycling your household items – like bedding and pillows, appliances, and even carpet – but it also means opting to buy recycled products where possible.
Buying recycled products can be cheaper, and it obviously helps save on production costs (since it would have been more costly to use virgin raw materials). Waste reduction also helps save the costs associated with waste disposal.
Another advantage of going green is that one can receive discounts and incentives for green living, for instance, some states offer incentives to those that opt to live in green homes. Green homes create ways to consume less energy, which helps reduce utility and maintenance costs.
Health benefits of going green
Going green has collective benefits for our health. It reduces dependency on fossil fuels and other depleting resources. Organic farming boosts the economy and means that we can eat local, organic, and seasonal produce which is much better for our health.
Going green by reducing or eliminating air pollutants obviously increases the quality of the air we breathe. Just like an adage goes, “prevention is better than cure,” – reducing pollutants is cheaper than trying to clear pollution from the environment if we allow it to spread.
It’s therefore essential to strive for green living!
Environmental benefits of going green
In addition to the health and economic benefits already mentioned, going green has numerous environmental benefits. Going green through organic farming leads to responsible farming practices and land use.
The cumulative effects of going green, as outlined in this article, can ultimately lead to less deforestation – which is crucial for the environment. Embracing paperless practices at home or in the workplace, for example, means there is less demand for paper, so fewer trees are cut down, and it just might mean that the rainforests have a fighting chance!
The environmental benefits of going green are almost too obvious to list here – it’s no secret that the cumulative effects of being kinder to the environment will help to preserve and protect the earth, and all those who live here.
Going green is only the way to go
It is essential to practice green living. There are many advantages of going green and, not to sound too dramatic, but if humans don’t clean up their act soon then we’ll be in serious trouble. All the things we take for granted like clean air, drinking water, and food, will no longer be available to us. It is crucial for us to improve human-environmental interaction.
When we strive for green living, then we significantly reduce the impact human beings have on the environment. All of these small changes really add up to a significant result, so the next time you buy single-use plastics, or under-fill your washing machine, spare a thought for the planet we all live on. And next time you get the opportunity, be sure to keep sustainability in mind and make a conscious effort to go green.