時尚雙語:7種生活方式有助於環保
Over the past few years, most people I’ve spoken to have become (or already were) environmentally conscious to some degree. What often begins simply as saving money - such as reducing the amount of electricity you use - turns out to have quite a positive impact. If, however, you want to do even more; there are several things you can do. Here are just 7 lifestyle changes which will help the environment.
1. Use the car less. This is perhaps the simplest change in this list - reduce the time you spend behind the wheel. In addition to the environmental benefits of doing this, you’ll probably find that you become slightly fitter; and have more money in your pocket at the end of the week. In short, there’s no downside. How do you do this? Here are a few suggestions :
* for short journeys, walk
* if possible, work from home (at least some of the time)
* create a car pool with workmates
* make use of public transport occasionally
* bike to work
2. Reduce your intake of red meat. Common sources of red meat such as cows and bulls produce an enormous quantity of climate-changing gases such as methane. Now, I’m certainly not suggesting that you should become vegetarian - I enjoy a good steak as much as any other omnivore - simply that a slight reduction can have a dramatic effect. As a bonus, there are a number of well-documented health benefits of a diet containing only a small amount of red meat.
3. Become a ‘green consumer‘. When shopping for any sort of product - anything from groceries to a new television - take a moment to weigh up the options. If there are alternatives, consider which product has the lowest impact on the environment. Things to look out for :
* does the item come in easily-recyclable packaging?
* have the goods been recently produced? Locally?
* is the item energy or water efficient?
By favoring the products which answer ‘yes‘ to these questions, producers and manufacturers will gradually take up ‘green‘ practices in order to remain competitive.
4. Become ‘carbon neutral‘ using offsets as necessary. This is something that nearly everyone can take advantage of. Become as close to ‘carbon neutral‘ as possible; purchasing carbon offsets as necessary. In effect, you’ll be investing in a number of sustainable energy and water schemes. NB : if you’re looking for a slightly more direct investment approach, read on.
wind farm
Photo by Jasmic
5. Invest in companies researching and producing renewable energy. Want to make some serious money, and help the environment at the same time? Invest in companies which are researching, producing and selling energy-efficient and water-efficient goods. Think wind farms, solar panels and electric cars. This is one area in which financial reward and environmental impact can have an enormous overlap.
6. Share your ‘green’ ideas with others. Over the past century or so, global communications has grown in many, many ways. This has made it possible to share ideas and discoveries at an incredible rate. Here are just a few of the ways in which you can share your thoughts with others :
* create a blog which documents the energy-conserving changes you make in your own home
* establish a not-for-profit group which teaches others how to live sustainably
* create a recycling collective with your neighbors, where each person is responsible for the collection and recycling of a particular material or product
NB : naturally there are a great many others. If you’ve developed or are aware of a scheme which is working well, be sure to leave a comment below. I’d love to hear about it.
7. Become politically active. If you’ve ever heard someone say ‘the government should do this‘ then this one’s for you. By becoming involved in politics - at any level with which you feel comfortable - you are able to help guide people to an incredible goal. Rather than sitting back and waiting for someone else to take action, make your own voice heard.
Final thoughts on lifestyle changes which will help the environment
Want more? Well, there’s one change you can make which will incorporate many of the items noted above - support those who are already making a difference. When your neighbor approaches you to discuss their own ideas for a recycling collective, or a workmate suggests a car pool; dive in. It really will make an impact.
在過去的幾年裏，大部分和我說過話的人都在一定程度上變成（或者本來就是）有環境意識的。通常我們會從簡單的開始，比如省錢，比如減少你使用的電量 -就會變成有比較積極的影響。然而，如果你想做的更多，那就還有一些你可以做的事情。以下的7種生活方式的改變將有助於改善環境。
1. 少用車。這也許是這份單子上最簡單的改變 - 減少你花在輪子後面的時間。這樣做除了對環境有利外，
你可能會發現自己也變得更健康了。並且週末的時候，會發現口袋裏多了些零錢。簡而言之，這有百利而無一害。那具體該怎麼做呢？這裏有一些建議：
·對短途而言，請步行
·如果可能的話，在家工作（至少偶爾）
·和同事拼車
·偶爾乘坐公共交通
·騎車去工作
2. 少吃紅色肉類。通常的紅肉源比如奶牛和公牛會排出大量改變氣候的氣體，比如甲烷。現在，我絕對不是建議你變成素食者 - 我同任何不偏食的人一樣喜歡吃好的牛排 - 只是稍微的減少一點食用量，就會帶來巨大的效果。並且還有額外的好處，少吃紅肉對健康的好處已經得到充分證實。
3. 成爲一個"綠色的消費者"。買任何一類產品的時候 - 從日用百貨到新式電視機 - 花一些時間來權衡你的選擇。如果有其他的選擇，請考慮那些對環境有最低影響的產品。值得留意的東西：
·這樣東西有容易回收的包裝嗎？
·這些貨物是最近生產的嗎？是當地的麼？
·這樣東西節能或者節水嗎？
人們傾向於對以上問題說“是”的產品，那麼生產商和製造商就會漸漸開始從事綠色生產從而保持他們的競爭力。
4. 成爲儘可能使用‘自然碳(碳中和)’產品。這是幾乎所有人都能利用的東西。儘可能變得靠近‘自然碳（碳中和）’：必須買碳產品。事實上，你將會投資很大數量的可持續發展的能源和水模式。注：如果你想找更直接一點點投資途徑，請讀下文。
照片由Jasmic提供
5. 投資研究和生產可持續使用的能源的公司。想在賺錢的同時改善環境嗎？投資那些正在研究，生產，銷售節省能源，省水的貨物的公司。考慮下風力農業，太陽能面板和電子汽車。這是一個經濟回報和環境影響相交的領域。
6. 與他人分享你的“綠色”想法。在過去的幾個世紀裏，全球化交流新增了許多途徑。這使人們能以不可思議的速度分享想法與發現。下面僅是一部分你可以同他人分享想法的方式。
·建立一個關於你家鄉能源存儲變化的博客
·建立一個非盈利的團體，教導他人如何可持續發展地生活
·和鄰居一起建立一個回收團體，其中的每一個成員負責收集和回收一種特殊的材料或產品。
注：自然還有很多其他的方法。如果你已經養成了或者意識到了一種也可以生效的模式，請一定在下面留下評論，我很樂意看到它們。
7. 潛意識裏變地積極。如果你曾經聽到有人說“政府需要做這個”那麼這個人就是對你有用。以任何你覺得合適的程度參與到政策中，就能夠幫助引導人們達成一個不可思議的目標。與其坐在後面等待別人採取行動，不如讓別人看到你的行動。
最後一些有助於環保的生活方式。
想要更多？好，這裏有個和以上提到的都不一樣的改變 - 支持那些已經有變化的人們。當你的鄰居呼籲你來討論他們自己有關回收的主意，或者一個同事建議搭車；加入他們。這些真的會有效果。
