Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources such as petrolatum (oil and gas) and coal. In addition to causing air pollution, burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and helps climate change. What's more, many fossil fuels have reached their “peak” production so that the extraction process becomes too expensive. Therefore, we should conserve, or even stop using these resources. You can do the "three R's", which are reducing, reuse, and recycle, save energy, and choose transportation smartly.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Step 1. Reduce the use of plastic
Plastics that are not marked “compostable” are made from petrolatum. This plastic will not be destroyed for hundreds of years so that it can pollute the soil and groundwater. If not disposed of properly, this plastic will kill animals that mistake it for food. You can help prevent this by doing the following:
- Buy or use reusable bags. Keep some of these bags in your car or bike so they're easy to find when shopping. Keep a small bag in your purse for emergency situations.
- Ask the store to replace plastic bags with recycled paper bags or cardboard. However, even biodegradable plastic bags can end up in landfills and not break down properly. Thus, the danger is the same as ordinary plastic.
Step 2. Reuse used plastic
Use old hummus bowls and coffee jars to store dry items. Make sure the plastic rubber identification code (the number inside the recycling arrow) is 2 or 5. Usually, this code is listed at the bottom of the container. Plastics with a code of 2 or 5 are usually safe to use for storing food. Other code numbers are not secure or strong enough to be reused.
Step 3. Avoid using plastic as much as possible
Check the product packaging before buying. We recommend that you do not buy goods with plastic packaging (including polystyrene). If you shop at a store that sells items in bulk, use your own containers to hold your groceries.
Step 4. Shop at a store near your home
Shipping food and other household goods typically consumes 1,600 km of fossil fuel, from where it originates to where it reaches the store shelves. Try to buy food from local markets, join a community that supports the green movement, or grow your own food.
Step 5. Recycle items that cannot be destroyed or reused
The manufacture of new containers and paper products will consume more fossil fuels. So it's a good idea to recycle your containers or paper. Try checking the recycling guide in your city. See what materials can and cannot be recycled, and their sorting requirements.
- For example, most recycling centers do not accept recycled tissue, wax paper, or polystyrene. If the recycling center does not support single-stream recycling, you will need to separate plastic, glass, and metal.
- In some cities, recycling centers will buy aluminum cans. Check online to see if this applies to your local recycling center, and what types of aluminum cans are accepted. For example, there are recycling centers that accept beverage cans, but reject feed cans.
Method 2 of 4: Save Energy
Step 1. Use energy-saving light bulbs
Choose a compact fluorescent light bulb (compact fluorescent or CFL) or a light-emitting diode (LED). These lamps save as much as 75% electricity (which is usually sourced from fossil fuels) and can last up to 5-20 years. Thus, you can save on electricity costs in the long run.
CFL and LED bulbs are also brighter than incandescent bulbs. This may cause problems for people who are sensitive to bright light. If so, look for a more dim light. For ceiling fittings, try to install a dimmer that is compatible with LED lighting
Step 2. Reduce the use of lights
Turn off the light in an empty room. Open the curtains during the day to let the sun in. Try using a timer or motion sensor if you need light in an unused area for safety reasons. Reduce and dim the lights at night when you are getting ready for bed. Use direct lights when reading or sewing, instead of ceiling lights.
Step 3. Unplug household appliances and electronics
Perhaps, you think that a coffee maker or a dead computer is no longer using power. However, if the plug is still in the socket, the device still consumes energy. Unplug electronic items when not in use. To be more practical, you can buy a power strip (a cable connection that has several electrical sockets) to be connected to devices that are not always used. You simply turn off the switch to disconnect electricity from the socket.
Step 4. Turn off heating and air conditioning
Central air conditioning usually uses fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas). Adjust the temperature by 1-2 degrees to save fuel. To be more comfortable, wear warm clothes or use thick blankets in cold weather. When the weather is hot, close east-facing curtains during the day, and west-facing curtains in the afternoon.
Insulate the house with weather stripping (weather stripping), putty, and environmentally friendly insulation to prevent winter and summer air from entering the house and reduce your comfort
Step 5. Stop using the clothes dryer
Most clothes dryers are very wasteful of electricity. You can dry clothes by airing them on a clothesline. When the weather is hot, dry clothes outside the house. If the weather is quite cold, it rains, or you are drying your underwear, dry it indoors using a clothes rack. While it may take some time for your clothes to dry, the amount of energy saved is not insignificant.
Step 6. Use cold water
Try to use cold water when showering, washing dishes, and washing clothes. Cold water will reduce fossil fuel consumption by as much as 90 percent. For users of washing machines, cold water will also keep clothes last longer than hot water. As long as you use soap for bathing or washing, germs will still die.
Step 7. Take advantage of renewable resources
Today, many places provide electricity powered by sunlight and wind. In many countries in Europe and the US that have stopped subsidizing renewable energy taxes, some local governments still provide tax breaks for solar panels and/or wind turbines. Check your city/province to see if this option works for you.
- Solar panels are available in various sizes for roofs and yards. You can buy or build a turbine small enough to fit in the yard if you choose wind power.
- If you are a resident of an apartment/condo or are renting a place to live, try to find a way to swap the energy sources used. Try to find an electric company on the internet that can supply your energy needs with clean power. You can still use the services of a utility company at this time, and the registration process will only take a moment.
Method 3 of 4: Choosing Transportation Wisely
Step 1. Choose transportation that doesn't emit carbon
Try to get into the habit of cycling or walking to reach your destination. Both are the most environmentally friendly transportation options because they do not use fossil fuels. Try to use the bicycle path, if there is one. Bike lanes allow you to ride safely without the danger of the presence and exhaust fumes of other vehicles. If not, contact your city council and create a campaign to add bike lanes to your city's streets.
Step 2. Use public transportation
Many cities are starting to turn to clean energy to power their mass public transportation. Even so, fossil fuel public transportation still saves a lot of energy because it can load many passengers at once. This means that every passenger who uses public transportation saves the energy of one fossil-fueled vehicle.
If your city doesn't have mass transportation, try arranging car rides with your neighbors. This method can reduce the consumption of fossil root materials by as much as 15 vehicles on the highway
Step 3. Try not to start your car when it is idle
Unless you're on the road, turn off the engine if it's going to be idle for more than 10 seconds. Otherwise, you'll be wasting fuel, adding to pollution, and putting people with respiratory problems at risk. In some cities, this is illegal and you can be fined.
Step 4. Switch to a hybrid or electric car
Depending on where you live, this can drastically reduce fossil fuel emissions. An electric car (electric car or EV) is powered entirely by electricity. Hybrid cars use a gas-powered engine as a backup when the battery loses charge. A plug-in hybrid car is recharged via a wall socket, while a traditional hybrid car is powered by an in-car generator.
If you live in an area that relies on coal-fired electricity, your car still uses fossil fuels indirectly when it's charging. However, you can reduce the impact by charging at night when the power generation load is not too heavy
Step 5. Reduce the frequency of traveling by plane
Airplanes burn fuel at very high altitudes, which causes chemical reactions and exacerbates climate change. Make a list of places that really must be visited by plane, for example for business trips or important family events. On the other hand, try to choose a tourist location that can be reached without boarding an airplane.
- For business trips, try asking your boss if you can work via the internet or by telephone (telecommute), instead of taking a plane. This can save on travel costs and reduce your carbon footprint.
- If you have family members who live thousands of kilometers from you, try installing video chat software like Skype. If your family also has this program, you can talk for hours without spending money and fossil fuels.
Method 4 of 4: Spread the Word
Step 1. Announce it to your friends and neighbors
Educate them about the benefits of recycling, saving energy, and green transportation options. Take advantage of their worries as a parent, sibling, or uncle/aunt. If they are reluctant to become environmentalists, persuade them to do so for the sake of their children's future.
Step 2. Contact the elected council in your city
It only takes two minutes to send an email to the local government office. However, why stop there? You can go to town hall, city council, or a school meeting to have your say. Ask why the oil drilling expansion is still going on. Say that your city needs a more adequate public transport system. Ask your school board to implement an anti-idling policy (leaving machines idle) on the school premises.
Step 3. Join the divestment movement
Look for organizations on the internet that encourage companies to divest from oil companies and other companies involved in the exploitation of fossil fuels, including banks, credit companies, and pension fund watchdogs. If your bank or credit company is funding this project, say that if the company doesn't withdraw funds from the fossil fuel project, you will turn to a company that cares more about the environment.
Tips
- Try not to drive during rush hour. This way, you can drive smoother, faster and save on fossil fuels.
- Keep an eye on news related to innovations in airplane fuel that are more environmentally friendly by airlines for flight efficiency. Send a message that you support the airline's business. The airline needs its passengers to care about this issue.
