[climatechangekills]

Simple Things You Can Do To Fight Climate Change

1. Use more public transport or preferably walk places instead of driving when possible
2. Save energy by drying clothes outdoors when you can (depending on weather etc.)
3. Unplug things when you’re not using them! This one is so easy but can save lots of energy
4. Try to lower how much food you’re wasting, and whenever you’re able to buy foods locally and keep an eye out for organic foods
5. Reuse plastic bags, bottles etc. OR even better buying reusable items instead of plastic ones you’ll throw out the same day
6. This one isn’t very simple for most people, but if you think you’re up for trying out being vegetarian or even vegan it can really help reduce greenhouse gas emissions - If you don’t want to go all out for this though, even cutting back on how much meat and dairy you buy can make a huge difference
7. Turning off the tap when you’re not using it - I think we’re all guilty of leaving the tap running while you’re brushing your teeth, but simply remembering to turn taps of when you’re not using them can be a huge help!
8. Instead of always going for brand-new clothes, consider getting your clothes second hand every now and again
9. Replace your light bulbs with energy-efficient light bulbs
10. Get active! - Getting involved in raising awareness is one of the biggest helps you can do. All around the world there are strikes and marches being done, and it is one of the best feelings to go and feel truly part of something bigger than yourself, so get out there and start planning how you could contribute! :)

[lionowlonao3]

regarding #2 — if you can’t hang your clothes outside for whatever reason, that doesn’t mean you have to use a tumble-drier! you can buy an airer to hang your clothes on indoors (or if you need something quickly you can put it on a radiator if you’ll have those on anyway) though if you do this often, make sure to open the window in the room/s where you keep the airer so it doesn’t get damp

[ladyvean]

That is an excellent point.  Can’t believe I didn’t think of it, as I own one and use it regularly. XD

[nerdfishgirl]

also regarding #2 - if you have a loft bed and a clothes rail in your closet (or two other such attachment points) you can string up clothes lines inside. If you have either air conditioning or its winter, either the air conditioning will take the water out of the air, or if the heat is on the air will be so dry that the wetness from the clothes will be an improvement. Putting your airer or lines under a ceiling fan will really speed drying times btw. Also, line drying your clothes will SUBSTANTIALLY improve their longevity, particularly if you have any printed t-shirts.

regarding #4 - it is usually more important to buy local than to buy organic, as many large organic producers are more concerned with following the letter of the regulations only to make more money - and such food often has to be shipped a long distance. Also local food can often be cheaper whereas organic food is almost always more expensive. However, in some instances, local food (bc of economies of scale) can actually cost more carbon than food shipped halfway around the world. It is complicated, so don’t worry it too much.

 regarding #6 - of meat and animal products, beef generates the most emissions, so just switching to chicken (which is also cheaper) would help. Also, agriculture (both crop - fertilizer generates a LOT of emissions too and animal) only accounts for 9% of US greenhouse emissions so don’t beat yourself up about it if you choose to still eat meat. If you’re a normal US consumer (aka - not buying brazilian steaks), you probably aren’t consuming meat that is causing rainforest deforestation. Outside of the US, you should probably check the origin of your beef to see if your consumption could be aiding deforestation in Brazil.

1. is probably the most important bc the majority of emissions are from transportation and electricity usage

Other Ways to Help

-do you really need your home to be super warm in the winter or super cold in the summer? If you don’t have health or super important lifestyle needs, then your thermostat doesn’t need to be set super low in the summer or super high in the winter! Sweaters and blankets will help in the winter (a heater in the bathroom will keep it warm for showers) - in the summer, a shower before bed and fans will help you keep cool. In addition, in much of the US (everywhere in the Appalachians, most of the southwest, much of the northeast), a whole house fan is a much cheaper and less energetically costly alternative to air conditioning. Basically, if it feels cool and nice outside at night in the summer - get urself a whole house fan (unless you have severe allergies to pollen).