10 Small, But Helpful Ways To Help Our Planet | Healthy Living slideshows | Well Being center

Plant A Tree

Yes, it only takes you a seed (of anything) to start saving your planet! How does planting a tree contribute to the well-being of the planet Earth? Well, for starters, trees help to decrease global warming by maintaining the climate cool. The carbon dioxide that trees absorb for photosynthesis reduces greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, thus decreasing the temperature. Moreover, in tropical regions the water that evaporates from trees causes cloudiness and rain, which also contributes to keeping the climate cool. Trees also prevent soil erosion. As trees continuously feed from the soil, their presence causes a continuous underground activity that keeps the soil alive and fresh.

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Photo courtesy of Tim Redpath by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/97797311@N00/145209143/
www.50waystohelp.com/

Recycle

Finally, practice the habit of recycling. When you recycle used products, they are re-used to make new resources, which contributes in saving both energy and resources, simply because it takes less energy to produce new products from used materials than from raw materials. Additionally, recycling helps to reduce landfill, maintain the climate and decrease global warming. Recycled products can be used to make the same products or even more interestingly, something completely different! Here is a list of commonly used recyclable products: glass, paper, food cans, organic garden wastes, kitchen wastes, woods, textiles, cardboard and even books! So go green, recycle and save the planet!

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Photo courtesy of Michael Fawcett by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/teachernz/5098767341/
www.recap.co.uk/recycling-at-home/

Save The Water

How does saving water helps in preserving the environment? First and foremost, most (if not all) humans, plants and animal beings need water to survive. That is why water is called the "Source of Life". In addition, water aliments seas, lakes, bays, estuaries and rivers; which all nurture the development of aquatic species (fishes, marine plants, etc.) If these water sources are all depleted from their water, those aquatic species will perish. Additionally, water helps to cool down the atmosphere, thus decreasing the effects of global warming. Lastly, saving water decreases wastewater treatment costs and the amount of energy needed to treat and purify water: the less water you use, the less energy is required to purify water, and the lower the air pollution from industrial sites. Now, how can you save water? There are some few tricks that can help you with this, without interfering with the quality of your life. For instance, you can decide to use less water when you wash your car, take smaller showers, don't leave the water on while brushing your teeth, fix any water leak, etc.

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Photo courtesy of stuartpilbrow by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/stuartpilbrow/3623978121/
http://guides.wikinut.com/10-Small-Tips-To-Save-Our-Earth!/x6j.vd.7/#Tip-%236-Save-Water http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_protect_water_supplies

...Or Use Your Fridge More Efficiently

The more efficient your fridge is, the less energy it tends to consume. This is the rationale behind this trick. Fridges are the household appliances that consume the most electricity, according to climate and air scientist Lisa Moore. And we'll realize that it is in fact true: We keep the fridge on everyday, morning and night, don't we? The other thing is, the older the fridge gets, the more energy it needs to keep our foods cool. Simple tricks to make your fridge more efficient and lower your electricity bills include setting the fridge between 38-40 degrees, and the freezer between 0-5 degrees (temperature range where it is the most efficient). Additionally, consider cleaning your fridge's coils at least once a year (every six months), with a vacuum attachment or a bottle brush.

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Photo courtesy of Jason Tester Guerrilla Futures by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/streamishmc/237332983/
www.babycenter.com/0_20-small-steps-that-make-a-big-difference-to-the-planet_1682233.bc

Print On Both Sides

This might seem weird, as some of us could be wondering: "how could printing on both sides possibly help me saving the planet?" Well, the answer is double-sided printing helps you save paper, and saving paper = saving the planet. How is paper made? First, workers harvest trees from tree farms, and plant new trees in lieu of those that have been cut. Next, trees are transported into paper companies where they are washed, rinsed and cut into small chips of woods. Next, those pieces of wood need to be "pulped". During the pulping process, individual wood fibers from the chips are separated, and the resulting "pulp" (a watery, mushy solution) is used to make paper through specific processes. Henceforth, the more paper is needed, the more trees are cut from forests. That is why it is important to save paper by developing habits such as printing on both sides, reusing envelopes and even using recycled paper.

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Photo courtesy of Matthew Stevens by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/krazykritter/3741326178/
http://www.tappi.org/paperu/all_about_paper/paperMade.htm http://legacy.forestprod.org/cdromdemo/pf/pf8.html

Use Energy-Saving Bulbs

These types of light bulbs are really a 3-in-1: they save you energy, the save the planet and they save you money! Energy-saving bulbs are thought to use up to 80% less electricity than regular bulbs,and are still able to produce the same amount of light! Furthermore, they tend to last ten times longer than the normal bulbs, which means that even though they are more expensive, they are there for the long run and thus are definitely worth your while. Moving on to the "energy-saving" part, this is how those special light bulbs help you save the environment: because they use less energy, they produce less carbon dioxide in return, and thus cause less pollution compared to regular light bulbs.

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Photo courtesy of Anthony DeRobertis by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/derobert/79079795/
www.ecogiggle.com/information/energy-saving-light-bulbs.html

Keep Your Car In Shape

Keeping your car in shape is also a great way for you to contribute to a healthy planet. By doing so, you will decrease the overall gas emission of your car, which contribute to both global warming and denaturation of the atmospheric ozone layer. Simple habits to keep your car in shape include checking your car oil frequently, replacing your car cooling system at least once a year, regularly lubricate your car parts that require such care (your u-joints for example). And during the winter, should you need to warm your car before hitting the road, do so for less than 30 seconds in order to lower your fuel emission.

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Photo courtesy of Rutger Middendorp by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/gemengdbedrijf/44710401/
http://www.kbb.com/car-advice/articles/top-ten-car-care-tips/ http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/4-simple-ways-save-planet?_ami_l

Don't Throw Away Your Old Stuff: Donate It

Are there any items of your wardrobe that you are not using anymore? Instead of throwing it away, donate it! You will not only be accomplishing an act of charity, you will also be saving your planet! Think about it: if you throw away all the stuff that you don't need anymore, that will be a whole lot of work to break all those things down, wouldn't it? Instead, give it away to someone else who might need it, because there is always someone else in need of our help out there! This could be your chance to do a good deed and save the planet at the same time!

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Photo courtesy of Jon Masters by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/jonmasters/901382564/

Use Paper Bags Instead Of Plastics

The reason for this recommendation is that paper bags are more eco-friendly than plastic bags, and this is why. When thrown in the soil, paper bags can easily be degraded by soil bacteria into re-usable organic compounds healthy for the soil, soil bacteria, the plants and the trees. Plastic bags however cannot be broken down by bacteria, as they are essentially made of chemicals. Thus, the only real way to break down plastic is through photo-degradation. The problem with that is, a plastic bag buried deep in the soil can barely be touched by light. And what does that leave us with? The plastic bags that are thrown in the sea! When UV light hits the plastic material, it breaks the chemical bonds that hold its particles together, eventually breaking it into small pieces of plastic. But then again, the chemical released are poisonous for the aquatic fauna and for the humans that will end up eating them. So, opt for paper bags or why not, plant-based biodegradable plastic bags for all your grocery needs!

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Photo courtesy of tomatoes and friends by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/tomatoesandfriends/4882385919/
science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/how-long-does-it-take-for-plastics-to-biodegrade.htm

Use Rechargable Batteries

The advantage that rechargeable batteries have over the usual everyday batteries is the fact that they are reusable and not readily disposed of. Batteries are synthetic products that are not easily biodegraded. Additionally, because they are made of harmful chemicals, the breakdown of batteries releases toxins that can poison the soil and its microfauna. Henceforth, the less you dispose of used batteries, the more you are saving your environment. And this is how rechargeable batteries come in place. You can simply charge them over and over again and reuse them as needed. Moreover, they are a huge money saver because they are a one-time investment only.