17. Drink Arabica

The plantations of the Arabian coffee tree (Arabica coffee) growing in the shade, according to research, are home to about 150 species of birds. If coffee trees are grown in the bright sun, the number of its inhabitants is reduced to 20-50 species. Due to the demand for cheap coffee, many producers have switched to growing “sunny” varieties, for which they use more pesticides and fertilizers. You can protect birds as well as reduce the use of chemicals by opting for Arabica.

18. Be a vegetarian once a week.

To get 500 g of meat, you need about 10,000 liters of water: 20 times more than for the production of potatoes of the same weight. In addition, animals such as cows produce huge amounts of methane, the number 2 gas on the list of greenhouse gases.

19. Buy fish with the MSC certification

MSC certification benefits fishermen who operate legally. The certification program itself aims to recognize sustainable fishing.

20. Support domestic producers

The goods from the supermarket have come a long way to get closer to you. To reduce the carbon footprint of all trucks, ships, and planes that deliver goods to your store, buy more local produce. And you will help the farmers at the same time.

21. Do not preheat the oven

Cookbooks tell you to preheat the oven. This requirement can often be ignored. If you are not going to bake pies, turn on the oven when you put the dish in it. And unnecessary manipulations with the oven door are not good even for baked goods – so always first evaluate the degree of doneness through the glass.

22. Avoid plastic bags

The world uses from 500 million to 1 billion plastic bags annually. There is no reason not to believe studies that claim that small particles of polyethylene trapped in the ocean are already beginning to destroy the food chain! When shopping, take a canvas bag with you.

12. Master internet banking

By paying your bills online, you will not only save time, but also save the tree. And if instead of paper receipts, extracts, printouts you start using electronic ones, the number of trees saved will be in the thousands.

13. Don’t print letters

Experts estimate that approximately 700 billion unnecessary pages are printed in Europe every year. Try to print only those documents that you really need. And, if possible, use both sides of the sheet.

14. Save on packaging

Everyone loves to receive beautifully packaged gifts. But in most cases, you can not violently tear the paper, but carefully unfold the gift and reuse the packaging.

15. Plant a tree

For the next New Year, buy a small Christmas tree in a pot (from 149 rubles), dress it up, water it for several months, and plant it in the garden in the spring.

16. Leave the world green

There is an alternative to wooden coffins: rattan coffins. And you can even arrange a funeral using only a shroud. Coffins made of wood-based panels containing formaldehyde, when burned, emit poisonous gases, and while in the ground, they harm the ecological system – the same formaldehyde and glue get into groundwater. Certified coffins for sustainable incineration already exist, and in some countries there are green burials in the forest or meadow.

1. Take a shower

By changing some of the rules of life, for example, the habit of basking in the bathroom, and getting under the shower, you will dramatically reduce your water consumption (up to 100 liters per day). If you turn off the water while soaping your hair, you will save another 50. Use the dishwasher. Where a machine needs 6.5 liters of water, when you wash the dishes by hand, you use all 49.

2. Pause

Leaving the water on while you brush your teeth is wasting nearly 500 liters of water a month. For those who like to shave to the “water accompaniment”, this also applies.

3. Maintain your plumbing

A current tap can “cost” 20 liters of water per day, and poor tank insulation – up to 400 liters!

4. Don’t ignore hotel flyers

How many times have you seen a sign in your room’s bathroom urging you to think twice about changing your towels to save water? Follow the call! Since 2010, Hilton hotels have been able to save enough water for 1,000 Olympic swimming pools.

5. Turn off electronic equipment

TV, DVD-player, computer, even in sleep mode, waste energy. Pedantic Germans have calculated that in Germany alone, this way, the amount of energy consumed per week corresponds to the production of two power plants in the same week. Therefore, either be more careful and do not forget to press the Off button, or connect the devices to sockets with timers that regulate the supply of electricity themselves.

6. Unplug the charger

Most chargers for phones, tablets, cameras, electronic toys consume energy even when the device is not connected to them – on average 5 W per hour, that is, 40 kW per year.

7. Use natural light

This is the easiest way to save energy. Often we deprive ourselves of sunlight by covering our windows with too thick curtains, blocking furniture or painting the walls in a color that absorbs light.

8. Add fixtures

Chandeliers, floor lamps, table lamps, sconces … – it has been proven that the more light sources in the house, the more likely it is that you will turn on only those lamps that you really need at that moment.

9. Dress warmly at home

If you are cold, put on a sweater, and then think about whether to turn on the heater. An increase in the room temperature by just 1 ° C increases energy consumption by up to 10%.

10. Don’t skimp on household appliances

An old refrigerator needs twice as much electricity as a modern, energy efficient one. When buying household appliances, pay attention to the marking: the inscription “A ++” indicates that the device consumes a minimum of electricity. Defrost your refrigerator regularly: the more ice, the more energy it needs.

11. Arrange a large wash

An energy efficient washing machine saves both electricity and water. Don’t run it for one pair of jeans (or at least wash them in the express mode or with less water). And remember, the most sustainable way to dry your laundry is with a string. Yes, the way they do it in Naples.

23. Hand over the bottles

In general, this simple procedure reduces air pollution by 20% and halves water pollution. You can find out where the reception points are located on the website.

24. Do not throw away used batteries

Batteries contain a variety of metals, including mercury, lead, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, magnesium and lithium. If we throw them away with ordinary rubbish, they all end up in the soil. One battery pollutes 20 m² of land. Place a trash can at home for batteries, and when it is full, hand them over.

25. Dispose of equipment

In your pursuit of technical innovations, do not forget to properly dispose of obsolete models. If, for example, you cannot sell your old phone, hand it over to a specialized collection point.

26. Go digital

Don’t buy movies on DVDs: discs are made of plastic, which is not easily biodegradable. But there is no need to give up entertainment at all: you can legally watch a movie in good quality on the Internet. ITunes and many Internet cinemas will help you.

27. Buy recyclable goods

This saves both raw materials and energy, and also reduces the amount of waste on the planet. Look for the appropriate mark on the packaging.

28. Save dishes

At picnics, for example, disposable tableware helps out, but it’s still preferable to use paper over plastic cups and plates. In addition, try to save them. Remember how often you took a clean glass at a party because you don’t know where you put yours.

29. Potty train your child

One baby takes five to eight thousand diapers, which corresponds to 3.5 tons of garbage, which is very poorly processed. Don’t give up on them – just speed up the process of potty training.

30. Decide on the size

In a city with a speed limit of 60 km / h, a racing car looks as out of place as a Smart in the sands of the Sahara.

31. Forget about the car for just one day

In spring and summer, walking or cycling is especially pleasant and will benefit both the environment and you. You should not take a taxi or rent a car while in a new city for yourself – walking, you will learn much more about it than if you rush through it in a car.

32. Buy a hybrid car

Thanks to the combination of a gasoline and an electric motor, up to a third of gasoline is saved, which will also have a positive effect on the condition of your wallet. In the world of electric cars, there are more and more (when renting a car, give preference to them if possible) – alas, in Russia the infrastructure necessary for them has not yet been created.