The state of the environment today can be discouraging. With climate change and pollution running rampant, it can be difficult to remain hopeful about the future of the planet. However, there’s plenty to be done to mitigate further damage to the environment and possibly begin to reverse some of the damage. While much of the necessary change has occurred from the top down, individuals can still play a part in healing the planet. Here are some green initiatives that can allow you to contribute.

Electric Cars

The primary culprit behind climate change is carbon dioxide, or C02, a greenhouse gas that traps heat, gradually warming the planet. This comes predominantly from industrial manufacturing and motorized vehicles. While you alone can’t do much to clean up the industrial pollution, you can switch to an electric car to minimize your carbon footprint. However, there are several considerations you should make before you make the switch. First and foremost, it will take getting used to a different set of concerns, so you may want to use DVIR to keep a running tally of any potential problems. On the other hand, electric cars are notoriously inefficient, so you’ll be sacrificing horsepower, and the battery life leaves something to be desired, especially in areas in which chargers aren’t common.

While switching to an electric car might be better for the planet, a hybrid car provides the best of both worlds by supplementing a combustion engine with an electric one, instead of using one or the other. This gives you the power of a combustion engine with lower carbon emissions thanks to the electric assistance. This is also a good compromise for car people who might otherwise miss the trappings of a traditional engine.

Solar Panels

Along similar lines, another way to go green is to switch to solar power. While you might not immediately associate electricity with climate change, the traditional method of generating electricity is powered by coal, making electricity a big offender in its own right. Alternative power sources are needed and available, but there are a few limiting factors to consider. Of all the types of renewable energy on the market, solar is both the most accessible and the least efficient. Simply put, wind turbines easily outclass solar panels, but they are not viable options for consumers due to their massive size and cost.

Solar energy may not be potent, but it is widely available and easily accessible. Solar panels are relatively inexpensive, and it’s actually a solar battery that will be the most expensive part of the installation. You’ll need that battery to have power during the night, and you’ll also need to ensure that you’re generating enough charge to power your day to day activity while also charging the battery.

Zero Waste

While climate change dominates the discussion, littering is also a problem, and a bigger problem is the quickly diminishing landfill space and the floating patch of garbage in the Pacific Ocean. Because it’s so normal for the average person, you probably haven’t even realized how much trash you produce, and that’s true for most people. The zero waste movement aims to fix that by challenging people to reduce their waste output as much as possible, ideally producing none at all.

This may not sound like a challenge, but consider plastic shopping bags and wrappers, boxes, and more. Many products sold commercially include disposal plastic components, and plastic is a problem more than other garbage. Plastic is projected to take 1,000 years to decompose in nature, and that makes disposable plastic materials a major threat. Thinking more critically about what you buy and how it affects the environment in and of itself is a huge step forward, but going out of your way to reduce your waste contributions will make the difference.

The state of the environment is less than ideal, but human beings excel at solving problems. While you strive for political and economic change, these tips will ensure that you’re doing more than just waiting.