9 tips for a sustainable summer

Summer is finally here, and with the current rising temperatures comes the promise of a hot weather ahead. As you prepare for the coming months, there are many ways to reduce your environmental impact, in personal and professional life.

We’ve compiled a list of tips to make this summer, sustainable.

1. Get a few indoor plants

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we spend nearly 90% of our time indoors, whether sleeping, binge-watching Netflix, or working in an office. And all of that time spent indoors exposes us to pollutants. Indoor plants as a natural air purifier. They'll brighten up your house while also assisting in the fight against indoor air pollution, which is frequently worse than you think.

2. Carry a reusable water bottle.

As the temperature increases, it’s better to keep yourself hydrated at all times. With 8 million metric tonnes of single-use plastic entering our seas each year, single-use plastic is a major contributor to ocean pollution. Reduce your water use by refilling a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the summer.

3. Use the shade to keep cool

Before turning on the air conditioner, save energy by blocking the sun's heat using shades, thick drapes, and tree shadows. Set the thermostat a few degrees higher than normal when you turn on the air conditioner. This will help your AC perform more efficiently by slowing the flow of heat into your home.

4. Conduct a waste audit

Conduct a waste audit to find out what you're throwing out and how you might better eliminate, reduce, reuse, or recycle it. More information about this procedure may be found here.

5. Resist the sales

Summer sales may be quite enticing... But, before you give over your cash, think about whether you actually need more items or are just looking for a dopamine rush. Purchasing fewer new items slows the consumerism hamster wheel, which contributes to climate change and pollution. Do you still need to buy something? Consider purchasing products from thrift stores and online marketplaces.

6. Plan a staycation.

If you're on the fence about where you want to go on vacation, consider an eco-tour: outdoor adventures that don't harm the environment and teach travelers about preservation and conservation efforts in the world around them.

Better still, save some money and remain at home. Stay in your hometown but experience it like a visitor: visit a museum you've never visited, stand in line at that tourist trap restaurant you've always avoided, or attend a summer baseball game. Traveling to a nearby site will have just a little influence on the environment.

And if you do have to travel a long way from home, Here are some tips to lessen your environmental impact.

7. Start your own terrace garden.

Start your own terrace garden to grow fresh fruits and vegetables. They are organic and taste better. More plants on your terrace equal less heat falling on your roof. Terrace gardens minimize heat gain by shading the roof from solar radiation, cooling the air through evapotranspiration, and providing insulating properties to the building.

Here are some tips to get you started.

8. Quit Idling

A simple key turn can help to keep the air cleaner while also saving money and gasoline. Instead of idling, every time you turn off your automobile engine, you'll make the air healthier and save money and fuel.

9. Use eco-friendly sunscreen

Sunscreens aren't all made similarly.  Because some of them include substances that are harmful to our environment and marine life. it has led Hawaii and a few other islands to ban their usage. Avoid oxybenzone and octinoxate-containing sunscreens in favor of zinc oxide.