Posted on: Jun 6, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

World Environment Day: Ways To Keep Your Environment Clean & Healthy

World Environment Day 2024

Thanks to deforestation, industrialisation, urbanisation, and misuse of natural resources, the environment we live in is deteriorating by the day. Therefore, it is important that we act mindfully and use the available resources wisely to combat climate change and reduce our carbon footprint.

To raise awareness about environmental issues and protect the world we live in from further harm, the UN General Assembly designated 5th June as World Environment Day. The day was first commemorated in 1973 to educate people about the growing problems, such as overpopulation, global warming, and pollution. With 5th June just around the corner, let’s talk about some simple ways that can enable us to keep the environment healthy.

Tips to keep your environment healthy

Be it your home, office, or neighbourhood, it is important to be mindful of your actions and activities and do your bit to keep the environment healthy.

Tips to conserve the environment at home

The following are some tips that can help you conserve the environment from home —

1. Use water wisely:

Be careful when using water for bathing or washing. For example, instead of using the shower, you can use a bucket and mug to bathe. This will help reduce the wastage of water and help the environment.

2. Limit the use of gadgets:

Use gadgets only when necessary and unplug them when not in use to reduce energy consumption.

3. Power down the TV:

Your television can use a high percentage of power even when it is turned off. Therefore, power down the TV and unplug it when not in use.

4. Switch off lights:

Make it a habit to switch off lights when not in use. You can also swap regular light bulbs with energy-saving ones.

5. Use heaters and air conditioners wisely:

While using the air conditioner or heater, remember to close the doors and windows to prevent energy wastage.

6. Make your home energy efficient:

Caulk or fill the gaps around doors and windows to retain the air conditioner’s cooling during summer and room heaters in winter. This will put less pressure on these devices and help reduce energy wastage.

7. Limit the use of washing machines:

Make sure you use the washing machine with full loads of laundry to check energy wastage.

8. Air-dry clothes:

Instead of drying clothes in a dryer, air-dry them to save energy and keep them smelling fresher.

9. Limit the use of disposable products:

Avoid using disposable cups, plates, and cutlery to reduce the accumulation of waste. Reusable ones made of glass or steel are better for your health and the environment.

10. Avoid using plastic products:

Avoid single-use plastic products, like straws, shopping bags, and plastic containers. The production of plastic releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Moreover, only about 10% of the plastic produced gets recycled.

Tips to be environmentally friendly in the office

The following are some tips that can make you eco-friendly and efficient in the office —

1. Conserve energy:

The following tips can help you conserve energy in the office.

• Switch off lights when not in use.

• Turn off devices and unplug them when you are not using them.

• Set devices on energy or power-saving mode to reduce power consumption.

• Replace regular bulbs with LED ones to reduce power usage.

2. Use environment-friendly paper:

You can help the environment by doing the following —

• Use eco-friendly paper at the office. Papers made of bamboo, hemp, and organic cotton are some good options.

• Use paper wisely and print on both sides.

• Print only when necessary; use paperless options like email and cloud storage instead.

3. Use eco-friendly modes of commuting:

If your office is near, you can use a bike to commute to work. Public transport or carpooling are also economical and eco-friendly options.

Tips to make your neighbourhood eco-friendly

You can consider the following to make your vicinity sustainable —

1. Plant more trees:

Trees give off oxygen, reduce soil erosion and pollution, lower temperatures, and help fight climate change. Therefore, planting trees is one of the best ways to make your neighbourhood eco-friendly.

2. Keep the surroundings clean:

Make sure you dispose of waste carefully, especially hazardous items like oil and pesticides. Do not throw trash anywhere but the dustbins to keep the neighbourhood clean.

3. Use your car less:

Instead of using the car every time you go out, walk to nearby places or use public transport to reduce your carbon footprint. If you have a bicycle/bike, you can use it for short distances.

Conclusion

An unhealthy environment poses a range of physical and mental health issues and degrades quality of life. Therefore, it is important that you be environmentally conscious and use the available resources wisely. Since high pollution levels, climate change, and other environmental factors can also affect your health, you must keep adequate individual or family health insurance handy for medical emergencies. Healthcare costs are increasing rapidly, so having health insurance can ease your worries, especially during expensive medical procedures.


Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.


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