We believe that each one of our students is equipped with the knowledge and passion to change the world. We teach students to respect the world around them, and they learn to value, protect, and treasure God’s creation. By living an eco-friendly lifestyle at home, you can help your child practice ecological awareness, and show them how we have the ability to positively impact the future of our planet and its inhabitants.
Be Aware of Resources
It sounds simple, but being aware of the resources you use throughout the day can inspire you and your children to make more eco-friendly choices. Remind your child that the water they use to brush their teeth or take a shower is precious, and not everyone in the world has access to clean water. Acknowledge that heating or cooling your house uses energy and that turning on lights uses electricity. Knowing what resources you consume makes you realize that small things, like turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth or taking shorter showers, can make a big difference.
Drink From the Tap
Bottled water may be convenient, but making enough bottles to meet American demand uses 17 million barrels of oil annually — which is enough to fuel 1.3 million cars a year. The energy we waste using bottled water would be enough to power 190,000 homes. Not only that, but the U.S.’s recycling rate is only 23 percent, which means 38 billion water bottles are wasted each year.
Instead, choose to drink straight from the tap. If you don’t like the taste of your tap water, try a filtered water pitcher! Fill a reusable bottle before you leave home, and refill it at public water fountains while you’re out and about.
Buy Local
When you support large chain stores, your money goes to out-of-state businesses and corporations that have to transport goods long distances, which only further consumes more natural resources. By shopping locally when you can, every dollar you spend stays in the community. This helps local businesses grow and thrive. When you do shop, make sure to bring your own reusable bags!
Recycle and Compost
Encourage your family to separate recyclable waste and compost organic waste. In general, make it a rule to reduce what you buy, reuse what you have, and recycle what’s left over.
Create Less Trash
After you’ve talked to your child about recycling, talk about how much of our trash typically goes to a landfill. In 2015, the EPA estimated that landfills were responsible for nearly a fifth of the world’s methane emissions, and these emissions trap 28 to 36 times more heat in the atmosphere than CO2 over a 100-year period.
Explain that in order to preserve our environment, we need to be intentional about creating less trash each day. Consider making DIY toiletries — or buying solid bars of shampoo or conditioner — to avoid buying hair care bottles. You can also search for places near you that sell products in bulk with minimal packaging, and bring your own to-go containers at restaurants.
Pick up Trash
Set a positive example for your child by picking up litter when you see it. For example, every time you take a family day at the beach, challenge each family member to pick up at least 5 pieces of trash. Whether you spot a soda can at the beach or wrappers on the sidewalk, every little bit helps!
Start the Conversation
Start a conversation with your children about conserving resources, how we’re called to be the Earth’s caretakers, and that it’s a responsibility that we have to take seriously. Talk about living in harmony with nature and how they can use their knowledge and passion to make a difference. Teach your child to care for the Earth, care for others, and to dream big.
At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, the faculty, staff, and families work as a team. Our service-oriented approach builds Christian leaders who think deeply, choose wisely, create beauty, and use their dreams to solve problems. Want to learn more about what makes us different? Contact us today.