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"It really makes me sick to see people come out of the market with 20 double plastic bags," she said. "I always bring my own bags, I have bags in my car and a zillion at home."
When she, her husband and two teenagers leave the house, she closes everything. And she is trying to buy local food and is worried about the number of car trips she's doing during the day, of "not going back and forth with four races to my house … to minimize emissions from my car. "
What can I do? It's just me
Many people feel overwhelmed trying to make changes that help the planet. Conservation psychologist Janet Swim says that people often think that their actions will not have enough impact to be taken into account. "It's like: What can I do? It's just me."
But it is important. A lot. It's like voting, says the professor at Pennsylvania State University. "I vote, I am only one person, this unique action is an important action to take, we work together to do things," she said.
And there is the multiplier effect. "Small behaviors are especially important when they are accumulated over time and people," Swim said.
Most of this potential comes from adopting energy-saving behaviors. Their research lists 17 steps that every American can take, including car pooling, homeization of homes and driving fuel-efficient vehicles. According to these researchers, if every American takes these measures, he will reduce the total emissions of US households by 20% over ten years – an amount equal to the total emissions of France.
The effect of training
Swim says that people need to feel motivated by the changes they make to help the environment.
"If you think the only thing you can do is recycle and change the bulbs (to the LEDs), it's not very stimulating." It's a feeling that it's just me who do a little thing, "she said.
But Swim also says that psychologists call a "training effect" from one behavior to the other. "Start with your plastics, but do not stop there, start to enlarge, the more people say," I'm doing this for the environment, "the more they will look for other products," he said. she declared.
The faults of the users are the plastic bulbs and the electric light bulbs, added Swim, adding "but there is also the transports, the food, the heating and the air conditioning of your house".
Your food choices
"We use a lot of energy to produce food and then we waste it if we throw it away," she said.
Think about the miles of food – How far has your fishing traveled to get to your plate since its origin? Try to eat locally.
Do not be obsessed with buying the nice product – much of what is thrown into grocery stores is a bruised fruit that no one wants to pick up.
Eat a more herbal diet.
According to Swim, with respect to beef, "all the energy used to produce food to feed the cows" is part of the problem. "If we ate food directly, it would be a more efficient use of energy."
Your transport choices
Which car do you drive? If you're looking for a car, "buy one that's good mileage and do not drive it everywhere," said Swim.
Consider using another means of transportation to get to work – light rail or light rail. Walking can also be beneficial for your mental health.
"Walk down a tree-lined street, leaving you a space between work and home, work is intense or stressful, and when you get home you've worked on some tasks," said Swim. .
Heating and cooling your home, other appliances
Remember to turn down your thermostat a few degrees so that you use less energy. Use a fan in the room you want to cool.
"This can give you the impression that you have two degrees less and you do not have to cool your whole house," Swim said.
Make sure you have energy-efficient appliances when replacing your HVAC system, your washer / dryer or your dishwasher. And, says Swim, you do not need to set your washer on "hot" or even "hot". Dipping in cold water and soap does the trick, she says.
If your state offers you the ability to choose the type of energy you want to use to heat or cool your home, always choose a renewable energy instead of coal, Swim said.
Spread the word
Businesses and policy makers have the greatest influence to help slow climate change. But you can influence the people around you – a friend, a neighbor at a time.
"If you belong to a religious congregation, what does your congregation do, is there a neighborhood association, a committee, a meeting in your apartment complex, you can talk to them and talk to them", says Swim. "Try to get information, get feedback, find out, ask how much energy do we use in this building, who controls the temperature?"
Swim tells you to talk about your beautiful home or this electric car you just rented.
We influence ourselves. You begin to understand, "The members of my group eat plant-based foods, they do not throw things out and walk when they can," said Swim.
Do not fight and other tricks
Many grocery stores and department stores still have plastic in their purchases. Well, take it. But make a plan to do better.
This is what Bridge does conscientiously.
"It's often happened to me to go to the market and I realize I do not have a bag," Bridge said. Now, she keeps many of these reusable bags in her car and at home at all times, so as not to get by.
Think about the hundreds of years that it took Earth to dissolve this bag in a landfill – and the impact of plastic on wildlife, which will become a priority for you.
"Do not worry, I do my best, when I learn something, I try to put it into practice," said Bridge.
Her two teenage sons can throw empty shampoo bottles in the garbage bin, but she picks them up.
"Sometimes I have resistance (from my family), I drive the boat a little bit, my family is doing well."
Bridge has not always been environmentally conscious.
"I come from a big family of consumers, that's what I knew, I'm just trying to consume less."
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