MRS Hayet Chaaben

Lesson 5 :ecodriving

We talk about saving our environment and how important it is to conserve natural resources. We
read about the importance of a healthy environment to survive. Environmental education has made
us realize the need to preserve natural wealth. But just knowing and talking doesn't help. When was
the last time you did something towards saving the environment? Forget doing, when was the last
time you even felt like doing something to save nature? Now don't say you always knew there's a
need to save the environment. Everyone knows and says. Sadly no one does. Do something that
can help save the environment - even a small step counts.

When we think about doing something to save the environment, we think of depleting natural
resources, we think of environmental pollution, we think of deforestation, endangered plant and
animal species and we wonder how to contribute to saving nature. We think of these as very big
problems and solving them, we think, is beyond human capacity. Big problems - yes, they are. They
are grave problems in fact. But thinking it's impossible to solve them is where we go wrong. We
hardly bother to do anything in that regard. There are so many simple ways to save the
environment. We just don't pay attention to them. We just don't think we can do anything or that
we should.

Easy Ways to Save the Environment

Plant more trees. Plant a tree every month, encourage your friends and colleagues to join you.
Have more and more trees planted and there will come a day when you have a green stretch of
land thanks to your effort.

Walk more, drive less. Choose to walk short distances instead of taking your car every time. Go
walking to the gym, to work (if it's not very far), go walking to run errands. Or use a bicycle. Both
cycling and walking are good exercises. And each time you avoid using your car, you are
contributing to reducing air pollution. You are saving fuel, saving money and getting a good
workout too.

Maintain your vehicles in good condition. Give your car a regular servicing. Clean the exhaust
pipes. Check for pollutants emitted. Check air pressure in tires as under-inflated tires lead to
greater fuel consumption. Check engine oil levels regularly.

Change the way you drive. Take the shortest route to the venue, you are saving fuel and thereby
reducing air pollution this way. Share a car whenever possible.
Save water. Water is a very important natural resource. It's we who waste it, pollute it. The
simplest ways to save water - turn off water taps after use. Use only as much water as necessary..
When you visit a beach, see that you don't spill food or dump waste around. Do not pollute rivers by
dumping garbage, sewage or other waste material in them. This pollutes water bodies. There are
laws prohibiting you from doing this. But then it has to come from within - the awareness and the
awakening. Water is so precious, we can't waste or pollute it.

Save energy. There are so many electrical gadgets you must be using daily - the air conditioner,
heater, refrigerator and oven among many more. Then, there are lights and fans. Do you maintain
the appliances in good condition? Do you keep a check on their power consumption? Replace the
air filters for your air conditioning unit once a month. Turn off the AC when not in use. Refrigerators
and water heaters consume a lot of power.. Switch off the lights and fans in your room before
leaving it. Make sure the electrical appliances are not left on (unless necessary), when leaving the
house. Make it a point to switch off the television set or music system after use. Don't keep them on
when there's no one using them. Your computer is one of the most used gadgets in the house. Do
not keep it switched on when no one's using it. Now weren't these very simple ways of saving the
environment?

Recycle and reuse - whatever and whenever you can. This is the best measure to save the
environment. A simple way to do this is to reduce the use of rubber and plastic. Instead, use paper
bags and cardboard containers. Even the practice of buying in bulk can help save a lot of packaging
material, thus contributing to saving the environment. Buy products that you can reuse. You can
reuse daily-use items like old wood, scrap paper to make wood and paper articles and old clothes
(you can donate them to the needy or make other cloth items from them).

Use renewable sources of energy as much as possible. Resort to the use of renewable sources like
solar, wind and hydro power. Start from your own house. Get a solar panel installed and start using
solar power for water and room heaters. Small wind turbines are available for home use. Resort to
their use for power generation. Even geothermal and ground source heat pumps are available for
household use. The added benefit of harnessing alternative energy sources is that the Government
offers you incentives for that.

Change habits. Some simple habits at the workplace can let you contribute towards saving the
environment. Remember to switch your computer off when leaving for the day. Don't keep the
computer monitor on when you are away from the desk. Do not keep the lights of your cabin/office
on when you are away. Avoid overuse of air conditioners. Do not use disposable plastic cups and
plates when you have the option of using ceramic.

Save animals. Minimize the use of animal products. Animal fur and ivory are excessively used
animal products. Animals are poached for their skin. They are used in scientific research. Animals
are being killed in large numbers and are under the threat of extinction. Resolve not to hunt
animals. Discourage those who do so for amusement. Discourage animal poaching. Make yourself
and those around you, aware of the effects of animal extinction. Do your bit towards saving them.
Donate to animal welfare schemes, work for animal shelters, adopt pets only if you are going to be
able to take good care of them.

Go green when gardening or farming. Avoid excessive use of chemical fertilizers and synthetic
nutrients. Natural manures are a better option for farms and gardens. Avoid using chemical
pesticides for plants.
Create Awareness. This is one way in which anyone of us can help save the environment. Read
up and encourage those around you to read about the importance of saving nature. Put up posters
or banners in the neighborhood, in your school, college or place of work. Organize an environmental
awareness campaign. Get t-shirts or caps made with environmental awareness slogans written.
Have everyone in your locality, class, school or workplace wear them and spread the word. These
things help create an awakening in the masses about how grave environmental problems are and
what we can do to solve them. Organize small activities like planting trees, cleaning an area in the
locality, visiting an animal shelter or volunteer for an organization which works towards creating
environmental awareness. Seek prior permission from concerned authorities for doing any of these
things.

Though we don't realize it, it's actually in our hands to save the environment. Little changes in our
habits and way of thinking can go a long way in saving nature. It's time we take steps to create
environmental awareness and resort to simple means like these, to save the environment.