Preserving the Environment in a Sustainable Manner
Eating and drinking, living, and traveling: our consumption has consequences for the environment.
Suggestions and tips for everyday life
Groceries: Buy Correctly!
If you plan your shopping, buy regionally and seasonally, store food properly, do not throw anything away, and also cook yourself, you protect the climate and save real money. By the way, the best-before date is not an expiration date! It is better to try carefully than to throw it away. Be careful with meat products, there is a use-by date here.
Energy consumption: switch off unused devices
A lot of energy is wasted in private households: unused rooms are illuminated, the stand-by function also consumes electricity or the refrigerator cools at the highest level. This not only has a negative impact on the environment and the climate but also increases personal cost. Further tips: switch off devices completely, remove chargers from the socket, and only switch on the washing machine or dishwasher when it is fully loaded.
Digital usage – the price is high
Worldwide data transfer is responsible for almost four percent of all C02 emissions. In comparison, the share of air traffic is around 2.5 percent. Moving images are simply the power guzzler, up to 60 percent of all data transfers are videos on demand. In 2018 they caused around 300 million tons of CO2, as much as all of Spain emits in a year. Deleting emails, emptying the digital recycle bin, deactivating apps and services that are not used, not sending every photo: If you regularly tidy up your digital cupboards, drawers, and basements, you also save electricity and protect the climate!
Without plastic: buy cosmetics consciously
Buying plastic-free cosmetics is a challenge. But it works, for example with solid soap, which replaces shower lotion or shampoo in plastic bottles. In addition, the manufacture and disposal of packaging use energy and generate CO2 emissions. In addition, the oceans cannot save themselves from plastic waste and their inhabitants die.
Drive a car defensively and with foresight
If you can’t do without the car: it pays to change gear in good time, from speed 30 to third, from 40 to fourth, and from 50 to fifth. This driving style can save up to 25 percent in costs. Driving defensively and with foresight also produces less CO2 and is easy on the nerves. Regularly checking the tire pressure and switching off the air conditioning system also saves energy.
The paper consumption increases
We use 250 kilograms of paper annually, of which up to 19 kilograms are used for hygiene paper such as toilet paper, handkerchiefs, or kitchen rolls. Only 46 percent of this comes from recycled material. The production of fresh fiber paper is complex and pollutes the environment in several ways: Trees are felled, bleach is used and water is consumed. Recycled paper is a good alternative, even for toilet paper, as it is not reused but ends up in the sewer system. Further tips: unsubscribe from catalogs that you do not need, preset the printer for double-sided printing, and use the waste paper bin.
Consumption: share, swap, borrow or give away
Perhaps a neighbor has the cordless screwdriver that is needed for a project. Or she is happy about a colorful summer dress that has not been worn for a long time. Those who share, repair, or give away protect the environment and use resources sensibly. This is good for the climate – also in the neighborhood.
