How to honour Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual event held on April 22 that aims to create support for greater environmental protection. There are many ways to support the cause – many of which can be incorporated into everyday routines that can help create more long-lasting change.

Also read: Mayor and Miss Earth join hands in planting trees at local schools

For those hoping to support that cause on the day, RE/MAX of Southern Africa shared a few ideas for homeowners who want to adopt greener habits:

• Start a compost heap
Creating your own compost heaps at home can reduce CO2 emissions at landfill sites. To reduce the amount of food waste your household creates, start a compost heap in your garden. When correctly implemented, compost heaps will provide great nutrition for your soil which can then be used as compost to help you grow your own vegetable and herb gardens. This will allow you to reduce the amount of packaging waste created by purchasing groceries at the store. You could also support the Earth Day organization by signing their Global Plastics Treaty petition that aims to implement a global policy around containing the problem of plastic pollution.

Also read: This Earth Day, teach your child to protect the environment

• Clean out your wardrobe
One of the Earth Day organisation’s aims for 2023 is to raise awareness around sustainable fashion. Rather than throwing unwanted clothing into the bin, see what can be reused and repurposed into something else – perhaps a decorative scatter cushion or throw for your home. Instead of buying new clothing to fill your wardrobes, visit a local thrift shop or find sustainable clothing stores at which to shop.

• Plant a tree
The Earth Day organisation states that “planting billions of trees across the world is one of the biggest and cheapest ways of taking CO2 out of the atmosphere to tackle the climate crisis.” To do your bit, plant a tree in your backyard. Those without garden space could add a few pot plants to their homes – every bit counts.

• Invest in the environment by investing in your home
Those who have the budget for it could also consider adding green upgrades to their homes. Some of these upgrades could include adding solar panels, boreholes, insulation, energy-saving lightbulbs, dual flush cisterns, and water flow restrictors on taps.

“Going green is not only the right thing to do, but it can also help you save on monthly utility bills and could end up resulting in a higher resale value for your home,” concluded Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.