If we want a healthy environment, we need to take steps to conserve resources. Even though there is a day set aside to celebrate World Nature Conservation, we should take small steps to conserve resources each day and answer, “How can resource conservation benefit the environment?”
So, just how can resource conservation benefit the environment? By conserving resources, we can protect the air, water, and land for future generations. It doesn’t take much effort to use less water, electricity, and other resources at home and work. With small changes, you can have a significant impact on creating a more environmentally friendly world.
Ways to Reduce Water Usage
Everything that humans need to use already exists on Earth. We cannot make anything that does not already exist, including water. To make sure that there is enough clean water available, we should take steps to reduce the amount we use during our daily tasks.
Consider How You Wash Your Clothes and Dishes
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We waste a significant amount of water washing clothes and dishes. One way to reduce water usage is to run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full. It is wasteful to run these two appliances when they aren’t full. Run the washing machine with cold water as often as possible, to help reduce energy usage, too.
Change the Way Your Water Your Landscaping
Another way to reduce your water usage is to reconfigure the way you take care of your lawn and plants. Use a rain barrel to gather rainwater your plants. If you must water your grass, be sure your sprinklers only water the grass, not concrete. Only water your lawn early in the morning or late in the evening, so the water does not evaporate in the sun.
You could also replace your thirsty plants with those that require less water to thrive. If this isn’t possible, water your grass and plants only when they need it to a level that they can tolerate.
Eat Less Meat
One other way to reduce water usage is to consider what you eat. Farms that raise animals use more water than farms that grow vegetables. So, if you want to learn how can resource conservation benefit the environment, eat less meat.
Reduce Fuel Consumption
Fossil fuels are limited resources, and we use them as if they aren’t. By using less petroleum-based fuels and products, we can save the planet for future generations. It might seem like it is impossible to reduce petroleum-based products, but there are little things that can be done each day to conserve resources.
Use a Reel Mower
When you consider how many resources you use while taking care of your lawn, you might be surprised. An individual lawn mower does not use much fuel, but consider how many people use lawn mowers each day. Instead of using a gas-powered mower, try using a reel mower instead. Not only will you use less gas, but you will get a little work-out, too.
Use a Reusable Straw
Plastic straws are the bane of waterways and landfills. They are too small to be recycled, so instead of getting a new plastic straw at every restaurant, ballpark, movie theater, or convenience store, buy your own reusable straw. They have little cases that can attach to keyrings, so they are convenient and good for the environment.
Reconsider How You Get from A to B
Instead of driving your car everywhere, park your car and use public transportation. If that’s not possible, use a ride-share company or carpool with a colleague. If you do not have to go too far, you could also ride your bicycle or walk to places that are nearby. All these transportation options reduce your fuel consumption.
However, if public transportation, ride sharing, or bike riding are not realistic for you, you can still conserve fuel use by consolidating your trips. Run your errands after work instead of taking a separate trip. If you are waiting in line at a fast food restaurant, turn off your engine instead of idling.
One other way to conserve fuel is to buy an electric car or a hybrid car. Both types of vehicles use less gas than cars with combustion engines.
Reducing Electricity Use at Home
Many power plants use fossil fuels to provide energy to customers. By making a few small changes, you can reduce your electricity use at home.
Reduce Reliance on Air Conditioning
Heating and cooling your home can use more energy than you think. And, the fixes are easy to implement. First, open your windows on beautiful days and turn off the air conditioning. On warm, sunny days, close your shades to keep the house cool. Use a timer to turn off the HVAC system when you are not home.
Use Your Fireplace and Open the Shades
If you have a fireplace in your home, use that instead of turning on your furnace. You can save energy by closing vents in areas of your house that you do not use. On cold, sunny days, open the shades to let the sun in to warm your home.
Turn Off the Lights
You can also reduce electricity usage by turning off lights and unplugging small appliances. If you have exterior lights, install motion detectors, so the lights do not have to be on all the time. And, change every lightbulb to an LED because they use significantly less energy than filament bulbs.
Reduce Food Waste
The food industry uses a lot of natural resources, so when food isn’t eaten, it’s more than the comestibles that are wasted. Fortunately, you can cut back on wasting food.
Only Buy What You Will Eat
Meal planning is an excellent way to avoid wasting food. As you plan your meals, only buy what you know you will eat. Then, prepare it, and eat it. Do not be tempted to purchase products that you know you will not eat. To avoid throwing away wrappers and packaging, try to only buy food from the freshest areas of the grocery store, like the produce and meat departments.
Avoid Single Serving Packages
If you want to conservation, you should avoid buying single-serve food. For example, if you buy chips, buy one big bag rather than several smaller bags. If you have to make single servings out of the big bag, put them in reusable containers.
Buy From Local Growers
The trucks that transport food use a lot of fuel. Locally grown food that does not need to travel long distances to get to consumers. Instead of buying food that traverses hundreds of miles to get to the grocery store, buy food from local farmers. Visit your farmer’s market and buy your foodstuffs there.
Compost Your Food Scraps
Consider making a compost pile. Since there are bound to be leftovers, the best way to deal with them is to put them in a compost pile. Then, you can use the compost for growing your own garden, which is a fantastic way to cut back on food waste.
Reuse as Much as You Can
Buy everyone in your family a reusable water bottle and stop buying cases of water. If you must buy water, buy it in the big jugs rather than the small bottles. When you purchase items in the large containers, you use less packaging.
Along with reusable water bottles, stop using single-use plastic bags and containers if you pack lunches. Instead, use reusable containers. You can also use reusable containers for leftovers rather than wrapping them in single-use plastic wrap.
When you prepare meals at home, serve them with reusable plates, cups, and silverware. Clean your kitchen with reusable towels rather than paper towels, too. The fewer items you have to throw away, the better it is for the environment.
Small Lifestyle Changes Make a Big Difference
As you make changes to the way you consume natural resources, consider other small lifestyle changes that can help the environment.
Reuse, Upcycle, or Donate
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One way to conserve resources is to stop throwing away things that work. Consider your appliances, smartphones, children’s toys, and other items that might want to replace rather than repair. When you choose to repair rather than discard, you keep items out of landfills. Try to use items for as long as possible and then repair, donate, or upcycle.
Buy Used Instead of New
Instead of always buying new toys, tools, jewelry, clothing, or household items, try buying previously used items. Visit yard sales and estate sales to find things that will fill your needs rather than purchasing new items wrapped in excessive packaging from big box stores.
Put Your Yard to Use
You can also put your yard to use. An excellent way to conserve resources is to make your own. Grow your own food in your own garden. Plant fruit trees and plants that attract bees and butterflies. Instead of killing weeds, like dandelions, figure out how to use them for things like teas or compost material.
Consider the Brands You Buy
When you do need to buy new items like food, beauty items, and clothing, consider who is making them. It is best to buy from companies that care about the environment. Your wallet makes a difference in the effort to conserve.
