What is the meaning of climate change for you and your home – Find what Climate Actions can help you avoid climate change In India today
Are you wondering what climate change is? Does it impact you and your usual lifestyle? The simple answer is yes. Yes, climate change in India is the same as all over the world – it is a common problem that we all face together. There is a unique thing about this. It is our mutual shared problem that comes with a standard solution – you and your home. Confusing? Allow me to explain.
Your house, at the fundamental level, is your refuge from the climate. A home is a dwelling place which protects you from the environment. It shelters us from heavy rains, scorching heat of summers, and windy winters. As your house protects you from regular climates; similarly, it will also protect you from the hazards. Better still, your home can make climate change avoidable. Let’s see how.
Whether you believe climate change is real or not is beside the point; the bottom line is, we can’t run the risk.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Climate Change
Climate change is a word used to explain the significant and long shift in our planet Earth’s weather conditions. The three most evident impacts of climate change are:
a. Global warming – constant rise in temperature
b. Extreme weather events – cyclones, tsunami, floods
c. Acidic Oceans
Yes, most probably you, and all of us, are adding to the climate change problem. In our current lifestyles, regular day-to-day activities increase carbon levels into our atmosphere- thereby causing climate change. Simple things like driving a car, overuse of ACs and refrigerators, wastage of electricity add to climate change. Thankfully, you can reduce your impact on climate change – see below for more.
Climate change is happening due to a Greenhouse effect. You see, most of our daily routine activities create carbon-di-oxide. Every day, our regular habits cause high levels of carbon-di-oxide build up in the atmosphere. Now, this CO2 capture and holds the warmth of sunlight – making our planet hotter. Higher temperatures cause a change in weather patterns. This process is the greenhouse effect – the root cause of climate change.
The best way to avoid Climate change is Climate Action – choosing environment-friendly methods today. To overcome the challenges of Climate change, we need to reduce the amounts of Carbon. We can make this happen with a couple of lifestyle changes:
a. Adapt our daily habits to make eco-friendly choices
b. Opt for flexible and future proof solutions
Together these choices are called Climate action – read more below.
Climate change at home
When we hear of climate change, global warming is the most discussed topic. Global warming is the cause of rising temperatures and rising sea levels. Now, this may not sound so, but global warming can be quite dangerous. Believe this here – our survival and the ability to lead a comfortable life depends on how we reduce the temperature rise. In a way, we are already at the start of climate change. So, let’s get together to control the situation by making few alters in our lifestyle:
Adapt your current needs and habits:
The changes in climate are going to affect everyone dwelling on earth. Some of the measures you can take includes:
- Reduce the use of electric devices
- Conserve water as much as possible.
- Promote biodiversity by preserving natural sources.
- Try to use mass transportation means, rather than going solo.
- Aim to reduce and also reuse waste.
- Avoid plastics
Opt for flexible and future proof solutions
Save for the future of your children – here; your primary intention is to conserve the resources for future generations.
- Look out for conserving natural resources, like water, land, etc.
- Switch to solar energy
- Harvest water when possible
- Recycle wastewater where possible
Avoid Climate action
Yes, Climate change is avoidable. It would be lovely to have a world that does not worry about climate and the need to alter our ways. And you and I can make this world exist, for our future and the future of our kids and grandkids. I am not showing a rosy picture here; all I am sharing are some feasible steps to create a world where reduce-reuse-recycle is the way to live, by choice. You can take the very first step right at your home. Here are a few quick and easy eco-ways to begin.
Manage climate change
Time needed: 25 days
How to manage Climate change at home?
- Install water-saving fixtures
Do you know Tap Aerators save up to 1,274 litres of water in a month? One low-flow aerator reduces water wastage up to 80%. I have been using tap aerator for almost a year now. And now whenever I open a tap at my home, it feels helpful to know I am conserving water.
- Choose energy saving electrical
Choose energy-efficient electrical appliances for home. Our daily use of refrigerators, air conditioners, water heaters, washing machine – it all consumes electricity. We can reduce our need by going for Energy Efficient Appliances; surely this can save a lot. And remember, power saved is money in your pocket.
- Switch your entire home to solar energy
Solar energy is free, literally. After you get through the base setup cost, you can employ it for all purposes at home for free. They can help run your electric devices, cooking devices and also other household equipment.
- Adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle
There are three ways you can eliminate waste and save our environment- reduce; reuse and recycle; so, do follow them. Think twice before throwing away glass bottles or paper and cloth bags – ask if you can reuse them or repurpose them as something else. In today’s world of online deliveries, I tend to get one or two large cardboard boxes at home. Instead of throwing them, I have been using these to store my kids’ toys. It’s just one way to repurpose and reuse. Another popular kind is to pot hanging plants in plastic water bottles – create a vertical garden in your balcony. I am sure you can find more ideas at your home.
Why Care for Climate Change?
Frankly, you know the answer to this question – some are annoying technical facts and rest borderline towards the scary ‘there-is-no-tomorrow.’ We all keep hearing these and are well aware of it.
Here are few:
- One planet with 1.16 billion housing units: We have already reached the threshold of destruction, and now the time has come to make positive changes. A contribution from every single house is beneficial.
- Only 1.5 deg C change is required: A temperature drop of 1.5 deg in each house can cause a considerable positive impact
My reason for Climate Action,
Now, among the many facts, I have one and only one reason that is not so popular. And the reason is you. You see, I am no scientist to speak about global warming and how it can suffocate us. Instead, I bring you a great reason to join the climate action initiative. Climate action means caring for our home, our place in the universe – it is about being kind to our environment. And being kind feels nice. So today, or maybe tomorrow, choose to do one climate action. And just with that one small gesture, you will spread your kindness to every living being on our home planet. Isn’t that awesome?
‘There is a power in being kind.’
Anonymous
Build a Climate change Home
Climate change means extreme weather conditions. A home is a shelter from the natural weather conditions; however, during severe storms, floods, or cyclones- the building unit may suffer damage. In milder cases of climate change, the durability of building materials is at stake, while in severe cases the harm is much more than expected. Today, it is an obvious choice to make our home ready for climate change. Even a small change made in a single house can make a massive impact on reducing global warming.
How to make a home ready for Climate Change?
Home is the first thing that is going to get damaged or affected by climatic variations. And hence while building a house, the designers and developers need to think about the future and then proceed.
Efficient AC and cooling units
Larger AC or cooling units are necessary to overcome the scorching heats of summers. But make sure to use eco-friendly AC technology.
Rain Protection of floors and windows
Rains can cause damage to the house at a much higher level as compared to summers. Rains tend to ruin not only the outer surface of a building, but it does cause damage to the roof, floors, doors, windows etc. We need to install durable floors that can sustain in every season. While the windows should have roofing, which can prevent the rainwater from causing damage to structures.
Water-saving devices
Rising temperatures are going to ruin up all of the water sources, and hence you need to be equipped with large water storage tanks. Efficient water-saving devices are a great help to save water in drought times.
Dedicated storage and supplies areas
The regions which are prone to Cyclones and storms should have houses with dedicated storage to use in case of emergency during Cyclones and storms. These store areas may come handy during extreme conditions.
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