Four Ways YOU Can Help the Environment

You’ve heard the news, seen the documentaries, read the articles… our planet is like a carbon dioxide, climate change, pollution time bomb just waiting to explode, and we are only accelerating that process. Maybe you see the headlines and think “ehh, what could I do that would actually matter?” Well, I’m here to tell you that there is quite a lot you can do that actually matters. So here’s a handy list of ways you can help the environment.

1. Buy a reusable water bottle: Why use a single use plastic water bottle when you can purchase a reusable water bottle? By using a reusable water bottle, you not only save money by not purchasing water bottles, but you save so much plastic. A single use bottle of water can cost anywhere from $1-$3 depending on which brand you purchase, and a Nalgene 32 ounce water bottle cost $11. After using your reusable water bottle only 11 times, you would, at the minimum, match the price of your 11 water bottles. Unless you lose it, you should get way more than 11 uses out of your water bottle! It makes sense economically and environmentally to use reusable water bottles. 

   

2. Carpool: Cars release loads Carbon Dioxide into the environment, and as very few of us can walk or bike to school, many of us drive cars to school. But there’s a simple way to reduce our CO2 emissions, save money, and have some company on the ride to school- carpool! If any of your neighbors go to AMHS, try to carpool and you’ll save gas money (so you can buy that $11 water bottle!) and reduce your CO2 emissions. And for students without cars, riding the bus is a great way to reduce CO2 emissions as well.
3. Packing Lunches/ Snacks: If you bring your own lunch to school or like to have a snack before lunch, here’s another simple and cost-effective way to help the environment: don’t use ziploc or plastic bags. Instead of plastic bags, either purchase reusable containers or better yet reuse a plastic or glass food container.  
4. Eat Local: Local food rocks!! By purchasing fruits and vegetables that are in season and grown in South Carolina, you reduce the amount of energy required to transport the food to your plate. For example, at my house right now we have a package of strawberries grown in California. Assuming the strawberries are transported to South Carolina via a truck, the journey costs $1,224.15 and burns 8,614 pounds of CO2. Here’s how: on average, one gallon of diesel costs $3.18 according to AAA’s current gas prices, and the average diesel truck gets 6.5 miles to the gallon. It’s about 2,502.2 miles from California to South Carolina, so the total cost comes to at least $1,224.15. Roughly 22.38 pounds of CO2 are burned per gallon, and the total trip burns around 8,614 pounds of CO2! What?! I’m all for the Great American Road trip, but does your produce need to experience it to? So in summation, buy local, in season food!!
   • What’s in Season now? Apples, Pears, blackberries, broccoli, cabbage, Cantaloupes, Eggplant, peaches, tomatoes, corn, and several other fruits and vegetables. Check out the whole list at: https://www.farmflavor.com/south-carolina/whats-growing-in-south-carolina/ 

Want to learn more about your ecological footprint and what you can do to help? Check out this ecological footprint survey! It takes less than five minutes and you can learn a lot about your impact on the environment.

https://www.footprintcalculator.org/