March 2020 will forever be a date we’re not likely to forget. Lockdown hit New Zealand (and most of the world) and life changed significantly for many of us. Chaos of normal life was replaced with a simpler version. Racing around trying to get the kids to daycare/school/sports practises were replaced with moving from the kitchen to the living room and back to the kitchen again…for another cup of tea. Air pollution dramatically decreased, and we started to see fog clear from some of the largest cities around the world.
This is when we started to really see the benefits of what lockdown could do for our planet. It got me thinking, I really wanted this to continue so my children reap the benefits of a greener, cleaner world for years to come. I am an avid recycler and try to use as little plastic as possible (I do know I could always do better though). But what are some of the less obvious ways we can change our habits to help save the planet? With just a few creative ideas, and some small changes in our lives, we can all contribute in some way.
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Wash laundry in cold water
Many people think their clothes won’t be cleaned properly if not washed in hot water, but the reality is that your clothes will be washed through the santisary process. Roughly 75 percent of the energy required to do a load of laundry goes into heating the water. Using cold water saves energy, putting less pressure on electricity grids. Also, cold water can make your clothes last longer. Heat can break down dyes in the clothes and cause shrinkage. It’s a win win. -
Create your own compost pile
You don’t need to live on a farm, or even have a big backyard to try this eco-friendly disposal method. Composting means recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem, which keeps food out of landfills and waterways while making the garden greener. Learn more at Wikipedia's Compost page. -
Make new habits
For one day, afternoon or even an hour a week, don't buy anything, don't use machines, don't switch on anything electric, don't cook, don't answer your phone and, in general, don't use any resources. -
Support your local community
Instead of shopping at the supermarket, try your local Farmers Market and local retailers for food and household necessities. More than likely, you will be buying goods that have been grown or made locally and therefore the carbon footprint will be much smaller. -
Freeze food
Use your freezer to freeze fruits and veggies you might not have time to get to before they turn. Bananas, berries or spinach (to name a few) are perfect for this and then using them in smoothies or cakes is a great way to save on throwing away food. -
Work from home
When the COVID-19 lockdown hit, we were all uncertain how we would cope. But many people soon realised working from home is very do-able. When working from home there is no need to commute to work, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Not only that, you will be reducing fuel usage, there will be less office waste and less energy usage. All of this with the added bonus of getting some extra time in bed in the morning.