The Importance of Protecting Our Planet: How to Improve Environmental Health At Home

The Philippines boasts a rich and varied environmental ecosystem, characterized by its status as an archipelago teeming with diverse flora, fauna, and marine life. Nevertheless, the nation is grappling with several environmental challenges that complicate life for its inhabitants. According to an article from Earth.org, the Philippines is contending with at least four significant ecological concerns: rising sea levels, air pollution, maritime pollution, and plastic waste, all of which present substantial threats to daily living.

You can significantly impact Mother Earth, just like anyone else! Whether you're living in a high-rise condominium in one of Empire East's properties or in a house in a lively, self-sufficient community, every action counts. By embracing sustainable practices at home, you can play a vital role in protecting our environment. This World Environmental Health Day, here are some tips you can do to improve environmental health at home (and even outside!):

Conserve Electricity

The Philippines mainly generates its electricity from fossil fuels, which heavily contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. The more energy we use, the more fossil fuel we burn. In addition, the demand for electricity only increases due to a variety of factors, such as the increase in population and energy consumption.  

While conserving electricity can be challenging, there are still ways to do it at home. A primary method for saving electricity involves monitoring your consumption levels. Your electricity bill provides insights into your daily and monthly kilowatt usage, enabling you to plan your energy use effectively. Should you observe an increase in your electricity consumption over the past few months, consider turning off your lights and appliances at various intervals.

Another viable strategy is to replace outdated appliances with those that are energy-efficient. It is imperative to know the energy ratings of the appliances you are considering, as these ratings indicate their electricity consumption during use. Furthermore, it is advisable to select appliances that utilize inverters, as they better manage energy consumption than other technologies.

If your community conducts energy-saving initiatives, like participating in Earth Hour, you can join, as it conserves electricity and even lets you bond with your neighbors. For example, the communities of Empire East celebrated Earth Hour this year by turning the lights out and holding a nightly bazaar where residents can both sell their stuff and discover new things.

Use Less Plastic

Plastics are a double-edged sword in the Philippines in the sense that we can't stop using them because they have been deeply integrated into our daily lives and the local economy. This extensive usage is especially true for low and middle-income earners, who highly depend on sachets and pouches. 

The Philippines also faces a wide-scale unsustainable plastic consumption, which largely contributes to the maritime pollution experienced by our waters. Based on data from the World Bank, a whopping 2.7 million tons of waste are generated in the Philippines annually, with around 20% of that ending up in the ocean. Too much plastic in our waters negatively impacts sea life, which then affects our food consumption and livelihoods. 

One of the ways we can lessen our plastic consumption is by recycling our items. When shopping, we can use our reusable bags instead of plastic bags from grocery stores. If you have plastic bottles, you can repurpose some of them or donate them to waste management centers. Decluttering plastics is also a viable option, as it lessens plastics in our homes and gives us more space.  

Drive Less

There's no denying the advantages of owning a car. It offers a level of convenience that eliminates the stress of transportation when you need to go somewhere. Plus, it benefits not just you, but your family and friends, especially when traveling to faraway destinations. However, air pollution is rampant in the country, and vehicular emissions are a leading contributor to the decreasing air quality, according to the DENR.

One way you can reduce driving is by taking public transportation, like jeeps and trains. If more people ride public vehicles, fewer people will drive to places using private cars. Less driving means not only lesser road congestion but less fossil fuel emissions. 

At Empire East, we always address the needs of our homebuyers. One of them is convenience, specifically in transportation in Metro Manila. This streamlined access from our homes not only helps people reach their destinations quickly, but also contributes to a lower environmental impact. 

Some of our projects are transit-oriented developments connected to or near train stations. For instance, Pioneer Woodlands and San Lorenzo Place are connected to MRT-3 Boni and Magallanes stations. At the same time, Little Baguio Terraces and Covent Garden only take a few minutes to walk from nearby LRT-2 stations (J. Ruiz and V. Mapa). These links mean homeowners can ride a train to reach destinations across the metropolis like Quezon City, Pasig, San Juan, and Makati.

Global warming and other environmental issues still impact our country. Fortunately, we can still help take care of the Earth in our little ways by doing various initiatives. Join us in making the world healthier for everyone!  

About Empire East

Empire East is a real estate company that has been providing homes for aspiring homeowners for 30 years. One of its missions is to promote sustainability by implementing sustainable features in its developments, such as green spaces, in its upcoming Empire East Highland City project. It also conducts community-centric initiatives that help nurture the environment. 

You can contact us on our website for more information regarding our projects. You can also follow our Facebook and Instagram for more updates.