15 simple things you can do to protect the planet

Our planet is being polluted more and more every day. A great deal of money is spent trying to reduce the effects of pollution on the planet, yet the improvements are minimal.

However, each of us can do small things every day to limit pollution. The 15 things you will read below are easy to do and should become part of your daily routine.

1. Use energy-saving bulbs (fluorescent or LED)

Traditional incandescent bulbs use less than 20% of the energy they consume to produce light, with the rest lost as heat. Energy-saving bulbs (fluorescent/LED) use 7-8 times less energy and generate very little heat. Also, turn off the light when you leave the room.

2. Turn off your computer when you're not using it

People who turn off their computer at night or when not in use for an extended period save up to 40 Wh. Saving energy means less fuel consumed (coal, oil, etc.).

3. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth

Doing this will save you approximately 20 litres of water every day. Keep in mind that energy was consumed to filter, treat and pump that water. Plus, in addition to protecting the planet, you'll also protect your wallet.

4. Print documents only when necessary and on both sides

Millions of tons of office paper are thrown away every year. Simply by printing on both sides, paper consumption will be cut in half. Additionally, if documents don't need to be printed, keep them digital only. Less paper means less waste, more money saved and fewer trees cut down.

5. One meat-free day per week

Choose one day a week to eat vegetables and fruit. Not only will you help protect the planet, but you'll also help your body stay healthy. Moreover, for every kilogram of beef, thousands of litres of water are consumed and a significant amount of carbon dioxide is produced.

6. Don't consume bottled water

Over 90% of PET bottles are not recycled. They remain in the soil and take hundreds of years to decompose. Buy a kitchen water filter or a whole-house filter. You'll save a lot of money and make a major contribution to saving the planet.

7. Wash your clothes in cold or lukewarm water

Only heavily soiled clothes need to be washed in hot water. Everything else washes perfectly well even at 30 degrees. Also, use detergent responsibly. A water softening unit reduces detergent consumption by up to 30%.

8. Use fewer paper napkins and less paper

On average, a person uses 6 napkins per day (2,200 per year). Just imagine how many napkins people use every single day.

9. Recycle glass

Every day we consume drinks and food in glass packaging (beer, wine, pickles, preserves, etc.). Each product leaves behind perfectly reusable packaging. We recommend reusing those containers or, if you don't wish to do so, collecting them all and handing them in at a collection centre. Recycled glass reduces air pollution by 20% and water pollution by over 50%. An unrecycled glass bottle takes millions of years to decompose.

10. Recycle paper

Collect all unwanted paper in one place and take it to a collection centre. You'll save many trees from being cut down.

11. Shower together with your partner

Showering together with your partner means spending less time in the shower, so you'll save not only water but also the energy used to heat it. To stay protected, you can use a shower head with a filter that removes harmful chlorine.

12. Buy second-hand products

There are plenty of products you can buy from second-hand shops or from other people. Think about all the things you own that you've used very little or not at all, and which are still in excellent condition. You can sell them at half price, even though they are practically new.

13. Buy locally produced food

This way you support local businesses while also helping to protect the planet by eliminating the emissions released by transport trucks.

14. Donate good items instead of throwing them away

Instead of throwing away things that are still in good condition, clean them up and donate them to people who need them.

15. Use rechargeable batteries

Every year, billions of batteries are thrown in the bin instead of being recycled. Most of them contain substances that are harmful to people. These substances seep into the soil and then into the water we drink. F

Bonus: Share your knowledge with others

Everyone should be informed about how they can protect the planet. If you've learned how, share it on Facebook or other social networks.