Starting a sustainable journey on your own is a great way to entice other people to join the movement. Still, with more extensive efforts, the more significant the impact you can make. There are plenty of global actions committed to the fight against climate change; it is not only a passing trend but a proactive solution done in the name of saving the planet.
Every day, more and more pollutants destroy natural resources, but each day is also another chance you can use to reverse the damaging effects. Just like how it took billions of years to deplete natural assets, it can also take the same length of time to help the Earth heal. As long as you start now, you can make others understand your cause and draw them into your sacrifices to save the planet, even with small measures.
To make your efforts grow into a community-wide practice, here are some things you can do:
Sustainably Run Community Center
One of the things you need to know when you first embark on the eco-friendly journey is that sustainability will always be at its forefront. You don’t even have to rack your brains to find ways to become sustainable. It’s easy: replace what you use with the same amount or even more. Go over the expected number; plant three more for a single tree cut. Using solar power for your town centers will also allow you to save community funds, which you can use elsewhere and for other causes.
For instance, you can use sustainably run centers to hold free events featuring seasoned family lawyers or livelihood seminars to better the lives of the locals. There are more ways to be sustainable. When someone buys a plot of land in your neighborhood and develops it into a residential home, the trees and plants are always the first to go. You can persuade the new homeowners to spare the tree by replanting it elsewhere or going around it with a clever blueprint.
Free-for-All Garden
Plants not only beautify an area, but they are also natural air purifiers that clean the air you breathe for free. Besides cleaning the air and making every corner of your community visually appealing, having a community garden can also feed the less fortunate members of your neighborhood.
With a garden that thrives in compost from food waste and collected rainwater, you get to grow healthy crops without the added costs that often come with extensive gardening projects. After harvesting crops, you can use them for cooking food everyone can take a bowl or two of, or distribute the greens to the residents to turn them into their signature dishes and treat their family to wholesome, nutritious meals.
No Drop Wasted
Water is one of the essentials that seem to have an endless supply. Seventy-one percent of water covers the Earth’s surface, but that is not all potable. Despite the generous supply, many nations still suffer from insufficient reserves. Water scarcity is undoubtedly a crisis, given how it is imperative to plant, animal, and human life. To make your community a part of the solution, you can, once again, turn to sustainable practices to ensure that there are no drops wasted.
Simply choosing faucets with excellent WELS ratings can already help you save gallons during every wash, which goes the same for your shower and toilet. You can also install a greywater system that can turn water used for washing the dishes, laundry, and bathing fit for irrigation or cleaning your car and outdoor space.
Frequent Community Events
It’s easy to forget the reason why you’re working hard to make your town sustainable without the frequent reminders. Sustainability is a proactive act; you need to consider ways to become eco-friendly constantly, or you’ll lose your drive. Community events are a great way of keeping things aligned and ensuring that everyone works hard towards the same objective.
Tree planting and community clean-ups are only some activities members of your green club can join to achieve a cleaner neighborhood. Teaming up with schools and other clubs in your town might help turn it into a broader community effort, and it will definitely produce more massive results.
Pedestrian and Bike-friendly Roads
Vehicles are also one of the primary catalysts to greenhouse gases that destroy the ozone layer. Cars bring us convenience, and until something cleaner than burning fossil fuel to run its engine becomes more mainstream, it will continue to usher in the effects of global warming.
However, besides cars, other vehicles that run without fuel exist. Bikes are the perfect example of this. Bicycles run as long as you have durable wheels, know how to balance and pedal, and can safely ride on bike-friendly roads. What’s more, you get to exercise on your way to your engagements by cycling.
There are so many ways you can use to build a sustainably-run community. Once you choose greener practices, you elevate the health of the locals and get to do your part for the environment.
