Slowing Climate Change: What Regular People Can Do
- Minimize the Usage of Private Vehicles
- Cut Down on Electricity Usage
- Participate in Recycling
- Become More Energy Efficient
- Reduce Water Usage
One thing that many ordinary citizens often ask is what steps they can take to help slow the rate of climate change. Small actions can mean a big difference when a large number of people are involved. And the good news is that it is surprisingly easy to help with climate change if people choose to participate in one or more of the following ways.
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1. Minimize the Usage of Private Vehicles
One step that ordinary citizens can take to slow climate change is to minimize the usage of private vehicles. Vehicles emit a harmful gas known as Greenhouse emissions. This gas can be particularly harmful to the environment, especially when one takes into consideration the sheer volume of vehicles that are driven every day. Some great ways to help prevent this include carpooling, using public transportation when possible, and walking or riding a bike when commuting short distances. If it is financially possible, switching to an energy-efficient vehicle can help as well.
2. Cut Down on Electricity Usage
Another thing that regular citizens can do to help slow the rate of climate change is to cut down on their electricity usage. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the average person powers about 65 appliances and other devices during a typical day. And what is more alarming is that many of these things continue to use power even when they are turned off. People can change this by unplugging things that they are not using, using power strips, using timers for various electrical devices, and adjusting computer settings to power down when not in use.
3. Participate in Recycling
Participating in recycling is another step that ordinary people can take to help with climate change. Manufacturing plants release a large amount of Greenhouse emissions every year. Choosing to recycle and purchase products that are packaged with recycled materials can help change this. There are many items that can be recycled including, but not limited to, aluminum, glass, plastic, cardboard, newspapers, computers, and old cell phones. In some areas, various utility companies will pick up old appliances for the purpose of recycling as well.
4. Become More Energy Efficient
Unplugging appliances and other devices when not in use is just one way to become more energy efficient. There are many other things that regular citizens can do to become more energy-efficient and help slow climate change. Replacing regular light bulbs with energy-efficient ones, purchasing energy-efficient appliances, setting thermostats to 65 degrees, washing clothes in warm water rather than hot, hanging clothes out to dry, taking warm rather than hot showers, and weather-proofing windows and doors can all help conserve energy and slow climate change.
5. Reduce Water Usage
Making a point to reduce water usage not only helps to conserve water supplies, but it can help to reduce energy as well. Pumping, heating, and treating water can take a lot of energy. Some steps that ordinary people can take to reduce their water usage include taking shorter showers, turning the tap off while washing dishes and brushing teeth, checking for leaks regularly, repairing leaky faucets and pipes promptly, switching to low-flow toilets, hand washing dishes rather than using a dishwasher, and watering lawns and gardens in the early morning.
People who are concerned with the climate may think that there is little that they can do to help. But the truth is that there are many steps that ordinary citizens can take to help slow climate change, and five of the most helpful things they can do are described in the preceding passages.