Let's play a game: reduce consumption

To celebrate Earth Day, let's take a moment to reflect on how many resources we exploit and how we could reduce consumption. We therefore propose a game for you. Below is a list of the simplest good practices to consume a little less: how many have you put in or put into practice? Anyone missing yet? Here, you have found your good purpose for Earth Day.

• Replace all incandescent bulbs with low-consumption fluorescent bulbs; if we like the spotlights, we choose the led ones;
• Total shutdown of all standby devices in the evening.
• Use of class A or higher home appliances : it is not necessary for those who own old appliances to replace them all together (it would not be convenient), the important thing is to remember to check the energy consumption class the next time you buy one.
• Limit meat consumption.
• Focus on zero-kilometer products ; it benefits the environment, the local economy and even health. The vegetables and fruits that you buy at the supermarket and have traveled hundreds of kilometers before reaching their destination have lost most of their vitamins on the way. Seasonal vegetables from the farm two steps away from home, fresh and fragrant, it is tastier and richer in nutrients.
• Choose cars that consume little: a small car is enough to get around.
• When possible, travel by public transport .
• Make a habit of walking on foot, when the distance to go allows it: the heart will also thank you.

Produce less waste

On average, each of us produces a pound and a half of waste a day: too many. The Earth will not be able to sustain this weight for a long time. A more critical consumption can help reduce the weight of garbage. For example:

• Avoid disposable products as much as possible.
• Use less detergents. For hygiene in the kitchen, for washing the floor, steel, dishes, the oven, the refrigerator (and the list could go on and on) water and vinegar are enough. In any case, better on tap detergents. Plastic cans can be used for a very long time, why throw them? Reusing them, filling them with detergent again, is certainly better. It is always convenient, indeed almost always: it is not convenient, in fact, if to find a store that sells detergents on tap you have to travel many kilometers by car.
• Reward companies that use recyclable packaging that is not too large compared to the content.
• Always carry your shopping bag with you. Ok, now the bags are biodegradable, but they are still potential waste.
• Reuse and recycle . Before throwing an object let's ask ourselves if it can have a different use. Fantasy will certainly suggest a new use. Let's take a few examples: an old toothbrush is perfect for cleaning the joints between the tiles; from a flannel sheet you can get many useful rags to clean the wood, but also to wash the floors; the old cotton t-shirts are ideal for polishing glass and mirrors; glass jars can be used in a thousand different ways, for example for home preserves, but also to create fun make-up containers, or to keep hair clips in order; the coffee ground is an excellent fertilizer for flowers ... And we could go on forever.
• Before buying an item let us ask ourselves the question: do I really need it?
• Before throwing an object that we don't like anymore, let's ask ourselves if it can be useful to someone else or if it can be transformed . An old sideboard can take on a whole new appeal with a touch of color; a dress that no longer goes out of fashion can be reworked as a model (as our grandmothers did); a shabby sofa can be upholstered again; from a jeans you can get a bag, and even in this case the list could be endless.
• Finally, first of all we differentiate . We always differentiate.

And this is only the minimum that each of us should do to preserve our home.

Good Earth Day.