Man Environment and Society
Man Environment and Society
Man Environment and Society
Man and environment are inter-related. The environment influences the life of human beings and
also human beings modify their environment as a result of their growth, dispersal, activities,
death and decay etc. Thus, human beings (society) and environment are interdependent.
2. Global Warming: Climate changes like global warming is the result of human practices like
emission of Greenhouse gases. Global warming leads to rising temperatures of the oceans and
the earth’ surface causing melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also unnatural patterns
of precipitation such as flash floods, excessive snow or desertification.
5. Waste Disposal: The over consumption of resources and creation of plastics are creating a
global crisis of waste disposal. Plastic, fast food, packaging and cheap electronic wastes threaten
the well being of humans. Waste disposal is one of urgent current environmental problem.
6. Climate Change: Climate change is yet another environmental problem that has surfaced in
last couple of decades. It occurs due to rise in global warming which occurs due to increase in
temperature of atmosphere by burning of fossil fuels and release of harmful gases by industries.
Climate change has various harmful effects but not limited to melting of polar ice, change in
seasons, occurrence of new diseases, frequent occurrence of floods and change in overall
weather scenario.
7. Deforestation: Our forests are natural sinks of carbon dioxide and produce fresh oxygen as
well as helps in regulating temperature and rainfall. At present forests cover 30% of the land but
every year tree cover is lost amounting to the country of Panama due to growing population
demand for more food, shelter and cloth. Deforestation simply means clearing of green cover and
make that land available for residential, industrial or commercial purpose.
8. Water Pollution: Clean drinking water is becoming a rare commodity. Water is becoming an
economic and political issue as the human population fights for this resource. One of the options
suggested is using the process of desalinization. Industrial development is filling our rivers seas
and oceans with toxic pollutants which are a major threat to human health.
To improve environmental standard and to maintain ecological balance, the followings are
some issues before the present civilized society.
1. Rapid population explosion: Puts tremendous pressure on the natural resources and
environmental quality. This is due to the fact that population growth leads to poverty which
directly or indirectly declines the environmental standard.
2. Rational use of non polluted water resources: The restoration of water quality of our water
bodies and their optimum uses are the challenges before the present society.
3. To sustain and increase agricultural growth: Without damaging environment. The over
cultivation of soil, results in nutrient deficiency, lack of organic matter, soil salinity and damage
to physical structure of the soil.
4. To check soil erosion: The soil erosion can be prevented by the restoration of land or soil
resources which are directly or indirectly related to strategies for the management of land, water
and forest.
5. Restoration of forest resources: The forest resources are depleting at a very faster rate in
order to meet growing need of timber and farmland for the increased population. Vast forest
areas have been converted into barren waste lands. So it is the need of the present society to
restore our forest resources possibly through social forestry and afforestation programmes.
Some possible ways of tackling the problems and maintaining environmental standard are:
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Add house plants to your home:
Start your day early:
Conserve electricity:
Kitchen waste management:
It seems disgusting to do kitchen waste management; but the advanced products in the market
have made it quite easy. A stainless steel kitchen composter with carbon filters is readily
available in the market which makes the whole process odorless. The compost generated acts a
fertilizer that can be used for house plants.
Use Public transportation:
According to studies, 30 per cent of carbon-dioxide is added to the environment by private
transportation. We understand that using public transportation is not convenient at all times; but
one can always car pool. Try the option of walking if you have to pick bread from the grocery
store or travel a small distance. Your little effort will help in reducing the demand for petrol,
thereby reducing congestion on roads. It will also improve your physical health.
Save trees by reducing the use of paper:
If you are still used to buying the old fashioned newspaper, it’s high time you switch to the
internet for news. Try to reuse one side printed paper by cutting it into two halves, to use them
for writing your grocery list or making other notes. Replace the use of paper tissues by using
hand towels.
Want to help save the environment? Taking steps to conserve and reuse is easier
than you might think. You can do your part to help save the environment just by
changing your daily habits. For starters, try decreasing your energy and water
consumption, changing your eating and transportation habits, and adapting your
home and yard to be more environmentally friendly.
1.
Switch off anything that uses electricity when not in use. If you're not
using it, turn it off. This goes for lights, televisions, computers, printers,
and so on.
o Put timers on lamps and use them to turn off lamps at the same time
each day. Timers like these can be found in hardware stores and
they can be plugged into outlets, then control the power to your
lamp.
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o Use a power strip to turn lots of things off with the flip of a single
switch. You can plug all your devices in one area—say, your
computer—into a power strip. When you're done, simply turn the
power strip off with the switch.
o Measure the energy your devices use, or look up typical energy use.
To measure usage yourself, use a Kill-a-Watt. You plug an
appliance in through the Kill-A-Watt, and it measures the power
use. This tool can also tell you whether a particular appliance or
device draws power when it is turned off.
3.
Run your air conditioner sparingly or not at all. Air conditioners use a
great deal of electricity. Use natural ventilation or a fan to keep cool, as
much as possible.
Close the heating and air conditioning vents in your home. If you are
not using certain rooms in your house, close the vents in these rooms, and
close the doors. Doing this consistently will reduce the amount of energy
squandered by heating or cooling seldom occupied spaces.
1.
Conserve water. The average family of four in the U.S. uses about 400
gallons of water every day.[3] Make conscious choices to lower your
consumption of water.
Recycle all you can. If you have curbside recycling, use it. Be sure to
separate your recycling into glass, metal, paper and so on.
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Avoid using disposable items. Anything you use only a few times and
throw away consumes resources only to spend centuries in a landfill.
o Carry your own reusable cup or water bottle, eating utensils, and
cloth shopping bags with you. Pack a waste-free lunch.
o Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable batteries. They also
can leak acid into the Earth.
o Dispose properly of hazardous waste. Many materials, including
batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, e-waste (most anything with
batteries or a plug), cleaning products, pharmaceuticals, pesticides,
automotive fluids, and paint, should never be disposed in a landfill,
sanitary sewer, or storm sewer. Instead, contact your city for proper
disposal opportunities.
4.
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Use only as much toilet paper as you need. Don't unwind a mile of it for
one little wipe. Be reasonable. Go easy on the paper towels, too, and use a
washable cloth or sponge for most of your kitchen cleanup.
5.
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Consider using cloth diapers. Cloth diapers have come a long way from
the things with pins and plastic covers. You will save a fortune (especially
if you have more than one child), keep potentially dangerous chemicals
away from your baby's skin, and do a good thing for the planet while
you're at it.
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Stop your junk mail from coming. If you get several catalogs which you
do not need, call and ask them to stop sending then to you.
7.
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o Do not buy what you do not need. Besides saving money, you'll
save resources if you don't purchase a lot of excess stuff.
o Buy for durability. For items you do buy, look for things which will
last a lifetime.
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Eat less meat and dairy. Meat and dairy production is highly resource-
intensive and inefficient. Attempting vegetarianism or veganism is
definitely one of the best things you can do for the environment and also
for your health.[4]
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Don't waste food. Plan your meals so that you don’t cook more than you
will eat. Store your leftovers and use them up at your next meal. If you do
have an overrun of food, such as after a party, share it with friends.
6.
Use reusable bottles for water. Most tap water in developed countries is
safe to drink, which means that buying bottled water is unnecessary. Buy
a glass or metal bottle and fill it with water.
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Walk or bike for local trips. Walk or ride a bicycle when your
destination is close to home. Short trips are generally the hardest on your
car and on the environment, so swap out your car for your feet or bike.
2. Always wear a helmet and safety reflective gear when riding a bicycle.
3.
Plan out your errands and combine trips. Make errand trips more
efficient by planning out where you will go and hitting all your stops in
one trip. Group outings into fewer, longer trips, and plan them out so that
you’re not driving the same path multiple times.
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Telecommute or work from home, if your job permits you to do so.
One day per week reduces your commute transportation by 20%.
7.
Drive a hybrid car. If you have been looking for a new vehicle, consider
buying a hybrid car. These kinds of cars, which run on both gasoline and
electric motors, are rapidly becoming more popular and available in
different models.[9] They not only give off less emissions into the air, but
they also can save you money with fewer trips to the gas station.
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Maintain your car. If you do have a car, keep it in good repair by
changing the oil and air filter on schedule, repairing fluid leaks promptly,
keeping the tires properly inflated.
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Track your fuel economy and do all you can to improve it.
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Take fewer airplane flights. Whether for work or vacation, lower the
number of flights you take. Airplanes emit vast quantities of carbon
dioxide and other polluting materials, which increases annually due to
increased numbers of flights around the world. [11] Do your part by taking
fewer flights.[12]
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Install skylights and solar tubes. Skylights and solar tubes are installed
in your ceiling and are designed to let in more light. This will reduce the
electricity you need to light your house. Some types can even convert
sunlight into electricity.
2.
Seal all air infiltration points and leaks. Locate places where air can
seep into or out of your house. These might be around doors and
windows, around flues and chimneys, around recessed lights, among other
places. Use caulking for thin gaps, and insulation or polyurethane foam
for larger gaps.[13]
o Repair leaks in your basement by first removing the insulation and
sealing leaks. Use caulk or sheetrock mud to do so. Take care when
you replace the insulation to ensure that it is not compressed and
fully covers the space between the joists. Sealing all points of air
leakage will also cut down on the number of insects and rodents
entering your house.
o Seal around light switches and power outlets, especially on outer
walls. Turn off the power at the breaker box and test to ensure that
the circuit is not live, then remove the covers and spray a low
expansion polyurethane foam into the spaces on the outside of the
junction box.
o Check exterior door and window gaskets to ensure that they are
sealing properly. If you feel a draft on cold, windy days, they need
to be adjusted or replaced.
o A smoke pen or a stick of incense can show you where your home
leaks.
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Check for leaks. If your faucets drip, get them fixed, or, if you can't fix it
right away, at least put a container under the dripping faucet and use the
water elsewhere, such as in your garden to water plants.
o To check your toilets, put a few drops of food coloring in the tank,
not the bowl. Wait about ten minutes without flushing. If you see
the dye in the toilet bowl, repair your toilet.
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Plant barrier trees to protect your house from wind and sun.
Deciduous trees provide shade in the summer, yet allow warming rays to
enter your house during the colder months. Evergreens provide a wind
break from prevailing winds.
o Be sure to consider the future growth of any plantings and plant far
enough from your house that the root systems will not disrupt your
foundation.
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Install low-flow toilets. A low-flow toilet can save many gallons of water
per year, both preserving the environment and lowering your water bill.
o You can also try putting a bottle of water in the tank of your current
toilet. The space the bottle takes up will save that much water each
flush, yet allow the toilet to keep functioning properly. (Don't use a
brick for this purpose, because bricks can disintegrate.)
o Try lowering the water level in your toilet tank. Many toilets have
an adjustment to lower the float controlling the fill valve.
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Install solar panels on your roof. Solar panels convert sunlight to
electricity and are dropping in price (some estimates put solar panel
installation at about $10,000). A home utility bill can drop by 20% with
the use of converted solar energy.
Choose the smallest home which will comfortably house your family
and your belongings (and consider cutting down on unneeded
belongings). You'll save on the physical and financial resources needed to
build and maintain excess area, and you'll cut down on heating and
cooling costs.
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Plant a garden. Create a garden plot with vegetables, fruits and/or herbs.
Plant a tree. Add a tree to your yard. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and
emit oxygen, and they also improve area water quality and help make the
ground more fertile for other plants.[19]
o Deciduous trees carefully located near your home can also help
keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
o If you plant a fruit tree, you will have the added benefit of being
able to harvest your own fruit instead of needing to buy it at a store.
6.
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Method 6 of 7: Reusing Items
1.
Buy secondhand clothes and other items. Visit thrift stores and
consignment shops to find secondhand clothes and other items.
2.
Upcycle. Turn useless junk into something fun and cute, or fresh and
funky. Make jewelry, household accessories, and restyled clothing from
things you already own. Look around wikiHow to find tons of articles
about how to make different things.
4.
Buy or make a few reusable fabric bags. Bring them with you
whenever you go shopping. Many communities have banned stores from
giving out plastic bags, but even if your community still allows them,
move to using reusable bags instead.
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Contact your government officials. Call or email your congressional
representatives and local officials. Ask them to support environmental
conservation and renewable energy.
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