The current environmental crisis has meant that self-sustainability issues and decreasing our impact on the environment have taken centre stage across the globe. The real problem is that there are too many households globally living excessive lifestyles.

Lower your fuel consumption

This could include organising a lift club or car-pool system in your area so that you share fuel with those in your area travelling to the same places at the same time. Take a walk to the local shops from time to time as we all could do with the exercise. And consider your next car purchase to be one of the new hybrid or electric car models that will be coming out in the near future.

Wood Fires

Although wood is a natural resource that needs to be looked after, using wood fires to heat your house in winter could be a good thing in that instead of cutting down indigenous trees, households could cut down unnatural trees in their area which are already hazardous to the natural environment in the area. In addition, there is a lot of dead wood in forests that could be collected and used for fires without cutting down trees. Also, the smoke and hazardous gas emissions from wood fires is not as bad as that released by coal-fired power stations or fossil fuels used in transport.

Solar and Wind Power

Solar and Wind power are growing sources of energy as the world strives to find alternatives to fossil fuel power. Although at this stage the initial outlay will be quite pricey, in the long run, these forms of power run off natural forces that we do not pay for. Living in sunny South Africa solar power is a good alternative to traditional electricity sources to power appliances, lights and to heat water.

Recycling

Recycling is a small thing that each family can do which can result in turning waste into a valuable resource. Instead of letting your waste go into the ground in landfill site where it will never decompose as there is no oxygen in there, you can take the time to separate your waste at home and drop it off where it can be processed and used again. You will be saving trees, petroleum and metals from the earth and preventing your waste having a negative effect on the environment.

Make it yourself

There are many things that we buy that we could actually make ourselves. Most of what you buy today is full of colourants, additives, preserving agents and other unhealthy additions. Making things yourself means that you are assured of what went into the product and that it is all natural and healthy for you, your family and the environment. Things you can make yourself at home include cheese, biltong, soap, bread, preserves, pasta and yoghurt. All these recipes are widely available on the internet and as always, home-made always tastes better.

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