With pollution levels increasing and the climate change crisis looming over us, most of us often think of ways to improve the planet’s health. There are some simple measures one can employ to improve environmental health. These include saving electricity, finding ways to cut down on waste generation, and reducing energy consumption.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that 99 per cent of the people in the world breathe unhealthy air mainly from burning fossil fuels. Even as the temperature across the globe rises, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said that to avert catastrophic health impacts and millions of climate change-related deaths, the world must limit the rise in temperature to 1.5°C.
Ways to adopt green living
Real change requires action at the source. By taking responsibility to cut down on waste at an individual level, we can help reduce the waste that is produced. Roshni Ali, a filmmaker and activist who had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Calcutta High Court in 2021 to ban the use of firecrackers, says each one of us can adopt green living through our lifestyle.
“Green living isn’t just trendy. It’s the future. Having a green corner, terrace or garden dedicated to plants makes an incredible zone to relax and rejuvenate. Green zones help calm the mind. The easiest way to start is to create a Zen Garden. Even if it’s one plant with a small candle. Candle gazing and meditating are the first steps to unlock your mind.”
Reshma Singh, entrepreneur and founder of Sapphire Botanics, a plant-based skincare brand based in Chennai, suggests giving earth-friendly brands a shot.
“Small changes in our lifestyle can cut out a lot of our non-recyclable waste. For example, by choosing to use recyclable products and trying to reuse them for as long as possible, we can cut out most of our waste,” she says.
Naman Sharma from Jaipur, founder of GoingZero, a zero-waste online store (based in Jaipur) says that it is important to change one’s perspective on waste.
He visits Himachal Pradesh often and organises cleaning drives, meet-ups and educates children about waste management and segregation. To reduce waste, Sharma recommends the following pocket-friendly habits:
- Take a pledge to avoid use-and-throw products
- Consume mindfully, buy only what is needed
- Carry one’s own bag, cutlery, and stashers
How to cool the house naturally
The air conditioner (AC) is a major source of pollution in our homes. With temperatures soaring, it may be wise to go for eco-friendly options that can do the same job – keep indoor plants and use sunblock curtains. These will keep your house cool naturally, suggests Singh.
Sharma suggests some other ways to cool the house without using ACs:
- Try to get one’s house painted white as dark colours absorb heat
- Plant more trees around one’s house and have indoor plants
- Keep one’s house decluttered; a sleek minimal house is always cool
- Unplug appliances that are not in use and opt for non-heating bulbs
- Ensure there is good cross ventilation which will keep one’s house fresh and airy
Some of the indoor plants that will help keep your house cool include:
- Snake plant, which is easily available and helps improve oxygen levels in the room
- Aloe vera, which helps remove toxins from the air and cuts down on heat
- Money plant, which helps filter pollutants
- Weeping fig, which moistens the air
- Rubber plant, which draws water from the soil and releases the moisture in the air
- Areca/fern palms, which absorb carbon-dioxide and release oxygen
Some other ways of green living
Living consciously means taking charge of your life. This is the first step towards sustainable living. Here are some tips by Naman Sharma that can be adopted to have a green lifestyle without much effort:
- Join a green living community and seek the right information
- Buying more than one needs is always bad for the planet, even if one is buying eco-friendly products
- Calculate one’s digital footprint and try to reduce it
- Take public transport often and cut down on animal product consumption
- Be more creative with fashion; try exploring a balanced and slow lifestyle
- Segregate waste, compost wet waste, and grow one’s own vegetables in it
- Keep learning and keep educating people
