4 ways to use your home to combat climate change

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The Climate Change Collective

Welcome to the Climate Change Collective series, through which a group of environmentally minded bloggers are trying to keep climate change at the top of people’s minds! In this series, one blogger writes a topical post and the Climate Change Collective participants write a response to their post, sharing thoughts or more information on the topic.

This month, Michelle from Boomer Eco Crusader shares about the impact that microforests can have on the environment in the latest Climate Change Collective post here. As I read through Michelle’s post about the impact that microforests can have on an area, I began to think about how we all have a microcosm of the environment under our influence – our homes!

Whether you have a large or small outdoor space, there is always something you can do to make a positive impact which we’ll explore more in this post!

Learn more about our Climate Change Collective at the end of this post and find our first in the series here: Climate Change Collective–What You Can Do.

What you can do with your bit of the environment

Climate change is an urgent issue that requires all of us to take action. While governments, industries, and international organizations play a vital role in addressing this crisis, each if us can also make a significant impact. One powerful way to contribute to the fight against climate change is by using our homes to reduce our carbon footprint and advance sustainability. Here are some practical steps we can take to make a positive environmental difference:

1. Embrace Renewable Energy:

• Solar Panels: Consider installing solar panels on your roof to harness clean, renewable energy from the sun. Solar power can significantly reduce your reliance on fossil fuels and lower your electricity bills. Read more about my family’s journey with solar panels here!
• If installing renewable energy sources is not feasible, consider purchasing clean energy from renewable energy providers.

2. Rainwater Harvesting:

• If you have a yard, consider installing rain barrels or a rainwater harvesting system in your yard to collect rainwater. This water can be used for watering plants and gardens, reducing the need for tap water which is particularly helpful in dry or drought conditions.

3. Sustainable Landscaping:

• Native Plants: Choose native plants for your yard or balcony, as they require less water and maintenance than exotic species. Native plants also support local ecosystems.
• Composting: Start a compost pile or under-sink compost system to recycle kitchen scraps and / or yard waste, which reduces landfill waste and enriches your soil naturally.
• Reduce Lawn Area: Minimize the size of your lawn and replace it with eco-friendly alternatives like ground cover, vegetable gardens, or wildflower meadows. (Read more about how your lawn–or lack thereof–can help the planet here.)

4. Home Gardening and Agriculture:

• Grow Your Food: Cultivate a vegetable garden in your yard or on your balcony (see Alison’s balcony garden journey here!) to produce your fruits and vegetables. Homegrown produce has a lower carbon footprint than store-bought items and often tastes much better!
• Bee-Friendly Plants: Plant flowers that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which are crucial for ecosystem health.

By taking these steps, you can actively contribute to mitigating climate change while enjoying a more sustainable and cost-effective lifestyle. Small changes in your home and outdoor space can lead to significant positive impacts for our planet. Don’t forget to check out Michelle’s post from this month to learn all about taking action in our communities by supporting micro forests. It is true that every effort counts in the global fight against climate change!

About the Climate Change Collective

The Climate Change Collective was born out of an exchange that took place between Michelle and Jamie in the comments section of a Jamie Ad Stories blog post. Jamie and Michelle both care deeply about the impact of human activity on our planet and wanted to find a way to keep the climate change message top of mind for everyone. A tweet was sent out, bloggers responded, and we’ve all now teamed up to create the Climate Change Collective!

The idea is simple. The members of the collective will take turns writing a monthly blog post sharing their concerns and unique perspective about climate change. After the post is published, the rest of the group will keep the conversation going by sharing a link to the post on their blogs along with their thoughts and ideas. If you’re a like-minded blogger and would like to join our collective, please get in touch. The more the merrier!

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