Combating climate change: What you can do at home

It is not a secret that the world is facing a climate change crisis and the impact is being felt globally.  In the recently conclude COP27 Unit summit in Egypt, different nations laid out their plans to combat the climate change and committed to playing their part in combating the crisis. While this is commendable, the fight is not only to be left to government bodies. Overcoming the climate change crisis is a gradual journey that needs the participation of everyone.  It’s our duty to try to be a bit kind to mother nature and not destroy or misuse it. Interestingly, disasters like drought and famine can be avoided by changing how we treat the environment and by adopting sustainable lifestyles. Here are a few things you can do to achieve sustainability at home.

Keep your power usage in check

We’ve all heard this a million times by now but still most of our light bulbs and home appliances are still switched on even when not in use. Unfortunately, research shows that lighting contributes to about 6% of global carbon dioxide emissions. This is on top of the high power bills that we accrue. Why not make a decision to conserve power more?

The first step is to switch off all power sources when not in use especially during the day. Instead draw your curtains, open your windows and let in the natural light. Besides saving power and money, switching off power when not in use would reduce electrical home accidents.

Don’t waste food

What do you do with food leftovers in your homes? You would be surprised at the number of people who throw away food despite the fact that scientists have found that food wastage causes global warming. Collected leftovers from our homes end up at the dumpsites where they decompose and emit harmful gases like methane into the atmosphere.   Instead of throwing away food, prepare only what is enough so that you do not have leftovers.

Try kitchen gardening

Kitchen gardens have been trendy for a while and maybe it’s time you tried it out. The idea is to grow herbs, vegetables and fruits in the comfort of your home. Herbs like coriander, mint and rosemary grow well. Most people create a garden to have a constant supply of healthy food without spending too much. A little known advantage of a garden is that it helps combat the climate crisis in many ways. For instance, one can use waste water from the kitchen to water their plants thereby preventing water wastage. Moreover, organic waste from the kitchen can be composited and used as manure for the plants. The beauty with kitchen gardens is that they are really economical as they can be done in the backyard of the house and even on the balcony when space is minimal.

RELATED: Six reasons why a kitchen garden is good for you and your family

Reduce charcoal use

Charcoal is still a popular source of energy for many families globally mainly because its cheaper than cooking gas which runs out faster. Statistics by environmentalists show that 1.4 million Kenyan households (12% of the total) use charcoal as main fuel used for cooking and boiling water. Unfortunately, use of charcoal is detrimental for the environment. Not only has charcoal usage contributed to the depletion of forest cover but it also emits carbon dioxide which is harmful to the environment.  Instead of using charcoal, opt for more Eco-friendly energy sources like biogas.

 

Buy goods locally and in bulk

You may be surprised to learn that too many trips to the shops may be detrimental to the environment. How? The more trips you make, the more the need to use a means of transport. Unfortunately, vehicles use petroleum products which also release harmful emissions. Therefore, consider bulk shopping to reduce emissions from the vehicles transporting it to you. Bulk shopping will also save you a penny or two which is not unwelcome in the current state of the economy.

Have plants for décor

Other than improving the aesthetic appeal of your house, plants can act as purifiers by consuming carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen. As a result, you can invest in a few indoor plants or plant a few fruit trees in your compound. Berries are the best options as they can be grown in big vases and pots and can be placed anywhere in your compound. Passion fruit is also another fruit that can easily grow on the walls of your compound as their tendrils climb up the walls.

 

Photo credits: Unsplash