5 Easy Ways to Show You Give A F--- About the Environment

In this increasingly progressive day and age, I am happy to say that I am proud of my fellow millennials. We may love our technology, but this obsession leaves us constantly exposed to new, innovative information, sometimes pertaining to the decay of our environment. I’m not saying every single one of us is environmentally and socially conscious, but for the most part, we are much more aware than former generations. If you’re lagging behind the conscious movement, don’t be ashamed, we all start somewhere and it’s never too late.

1.)    Recycle

You’d think that’d be obvious but truth be told, students are too lazy to save some oceanic life and reduce toxin emissions. I promise, most of your “trash” is either recyclable or compostable. I know composting may be a lot to ask of the non-recycler, but really, the more opportunities you get to recycle please take them i.e.; walking past the “paper only” or “plastic only” bins on campus, or the “plastic bottles only” at the park. Even if you don’t recycle at home, recycle where it is enforced and made easy for you, at least.

2.)    Reusable Water Bottle and Mug

Do you remember that catch phrase that was used to encourage kids to recycle in elementary school? You know the one I’m talking about “Recycle, Reuse, Reduce.” Well, there’s truth to it. Imagine if every person used a reusable water bottle or coffee mug? Now I know you guys are always guzzling coffee and tea. Why not show you give a f— with the simple gesture of using that silly mug your grandma got you for Christmas. One plastic bottle can take hundreds of years to decompose. Imagine how much waste you’re reducing by making the easy transition to reusing. Think of the environment people!

3.)    Turn off the Lights

I can’t say how many times my roommates leave lights on when they’re not home. I come home to a bright house in the dead of night sometimes. An easy way to reduce the amount of wasted energy in your household is to, of course, be mindful of your use. I’ve made it a habit to switch off the lights once I leave a certain room. Lamps are great for energy saving, they require less energy to function and will reduce your utility bill tremendously. Also, just because you’re done with your phone charger doesn’t mean you can leave it plugged in like that! Just because a power source isn’t directly in use, unplug it! The wires are still conducting and transferring energy, thus, costing you more money. Play hide and go seek in the dark like the good old days! Okay, I’m kidding about that last suggestion, but really, saving energy is good for the planet and your wallet. It’s a win-win and your heart grows ten times bigger!

4.)    Save Water

Shower together! Honestly! Shared showers greatly reduce water waste and the cost of your utilities bill. And they’re more fun! You can also save water by reducing bath frequency and switching to showers more often. Rather than a heavy flow of water until it fills the tub, smaller holes from which water flows from the shower head requires less energy, saves water, and time. Every two minutes you save from your shower can conserve more than ten gallons of water! I can appreciate a bath once in a while but more than once a week is just selfish. Remember, we are all privileged to have education and quite frankly, clean drinking and bathing water.

5.)    Go Veggie At Least Once A Week

I know what you’re thinking, here we go it’s time for the guilt trip of the ages. Really, this guilt trip doesn’t take much convincing because it’s so easy to do. It’s an especially great way to show you not only give a f— about the environment, but yourself and animals too! So much water is wasted in the production of beef. It requires 2,500 gallons of water to just produce one pound. With all the meat consumed in this country, try to imagine all the water that is used to produce it. Kind of scary, right? By switching to vegetarian for at least one day a week you are saving an animal’s life, improving your health, and greatly helping the environment. For each hamburger, EACH HAMBURGER, 55 square feet of trees from a rain forest are cut down. A lot of waste is produced by the meat and dairy industry; greenhouse gas emissions, water waste, and toxic chemical flows. By going vegetarian only once a week, which is incredibly easy, you can help reduce the effects of climate change, rainforest destruction, and pollution. Remember, I’m not asking you to drop your values, go vegetarian, and live off the grid; I’m saying do your part for the earth you’re a part of.

I hope you’re not rolling your eyes by now. All of these things I’ve mentioned are relatively effortless and have a HUGE impact on the environment. Rather than being imperialist, speciesistic divine rulers of the earth, let’s put our best selves forward and do what is necessary to reverse, or at least halt, what we have done to our home.