When I lived with my parents, we all had – and still have – a certain perspective and attitude when it comes to portraying ecological behaviors. Starting with recycling, re-using the water wasted in the shower or turning it off when we are brushing our teeth. I feel like I was well taught when it comes to being ecological and try my best, everyday, to install certain rules everywhere I live. Portugal is starting to get the drift of it and the last few years evolved when it comes to incentivizing people to be more ecological-aware. New York as well and Dubai, not so much. Even though we don’t realize the effects we have in the environment, I’m sure that small changes here and there help, even if it’s just a slight bit. So here are a few tips I swear by and, I’m hoping, you do/will too:
1. Recycling.
I recycle everything. Plastic, glass, paper and even though we live in a studio apartment, I make it a point to have different ways of doing that. For the paper I re-use paper bags from WholeFoods or other store I might have them from. For the plastic, I do the same by hanging a plastic bag in the kitchen cabinets. For glass, I just throw it in the glass disposal we have in our building.
2. Re-using bags.
This follows the same line as the first tip, re-using grocery store bags or getting those fabric ones. We can go to the supermarket and grocery store several times a week and it helps a lot to bring your bags and not take more home. In New York they give you a few cents discount for each bag you take, which I think is great, and in Portugal they charge you for each plastic bag, which is also a good initiative.
3. Turning off the water when you’re not using it.
This might be a given but trust me when I tell you that, I’ve seen so many people leave it on while they are brushing their teeth or applying shampoo. Never, ever have I done that because it’s just pure water waste. If you’re not using that water so just shut it off.
4. Re-using water.
This doesn’t happen here in New York but in my parent’s house, the water takes some time to heat up. So, we always keep a few carboy’s near our bath tube to fill them up while we wait. Then, we use that extra water to water the plants, fill the toilet flush or clean out the bathroom.
5. Turning off something when you are not using it.
Computers, televisions, heaters, chargers, lights or whatever is not being used, will surely be shut down. I never leave the lights on when I’m not there, so make sure to shut everything off if you are not using it.
I’m curious to know, what are your ecological tips?