Due to the Coronavirus pandemic that has affected the world, thousands of people are now continuing to work from home. Since we have turned our homes into offices, do we know what we can do in terms of environmental impact?
Adopting a green lifestyle and being environmentally friendly is not a difficult thing to do, and it doesn't require you to make significant sacrifices based on your living conditions. So here are 7 steps to make your home office eco-friendly!
1- Recycle
You may prefer to order ready-made food and drinks from outside during your home working process. You can contribute to recycling by separating food and drink packaging. However, you can still make an effort to use sustainable materials such as glass, ceramics, porcelain, etc.
2- Reduce Paper Usage
We can significantly reduce paper usage, if not completely. For example, if you need to write or print something on paper, you can use recycled paper or scrap paper.
3- Choose Eco-Friendly Paint
Make your paint choice eco-friendly. You can prefer low VOC or VOC-free paints to minimize exposure to chemicals. This way, you can prevent respiratory problems or headaches.
4- Take Advantage of Natural Light
If we position our working environment to take advantage of natural light, we can save energy and feel more comfortable psychologically. Of course, if this is not possible, you can use eco-friendly LED lighting.
5- Turn Your Food Waste into Compost
During our time at home, you can revitalize your soil with natural fertilizer by composting your food waste. You can compost your fruit and vegetable scraps in your garden or on your balcony.
6- Reduce Carbon Emissions
While we stay at home, many of us are holding meetings through online platforms. In this case, you can reduce fuel consumption related to carbon emissions without going to the office or using transportation.
By reducing carbon emissions, we are making a significant contribution to nature. When people withdraw from nature, it takes a deep breath, and we see examples of this in countries like Italy and China, as well as in Turkey.At the same time, it is also beneficial to pay attention to carbon emissions within the home. You can reduce your carbon footprint through quite simple methods, such as turning off unused devices, avoiding electricity use as much as possible, and keeping electric water heaters off during unused times.**7- Pay Attention to Water Consumption**With the hygiene measures we have taken against the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in tap water consumption. During these days of #StayHome, it is crucial to pay attention to water consumption, which is one of the environmental issues. I have a few suggestions for this. Keep shower times short, turn off the tap while washing hands with soap, and avoid running water while brushing teeth. It may seem simple, but believe me, these are effective solutions.The development of individual awareness and practices is one of the main requirements for the recovery of nature and a sustainable future. Now is the perfect time to improve and change your perspective on sustainable living.
