With the Paris COP21 Climate Talks having raised further awareness about the issues facing the environment we rely on to carry out our economic activities and lifestyles, it is important that we all act consciously to minimize some of our impact on the planet. Each day, you can make a difference, and you can inspire others to follow your lead.

To actively help the environment that supports you in the way that you live, we offer you 10 relatively easy ways you can make a positive impact at work, home, school, or wherever you are present. Smile inside to yourself once you do it, share the pride of living a greener lifestyle with your family or peers, so that they get inspired to follow your lead.

1. Turn it off

Lights, appliances, gadgets, air-conditioning or technology. Whatever your household object it is, if you are not using it, it does not need to be on, on standby, or switched on at the wall either. If unplugged, it will save electricity. If you are using air conditioning, or heating, and you increase or decrease the temperature by just one celcius degree, you can save approximately three percent in energy. So, a three degree change means up to nine percent savings in your electricity costs.

2. Change your commute

If it is within walking distance, walk. If not, try cycling. Car shares and public transport are other ways to reduce your fuel usage individually.

3. Avoid single-use and disposable plastic

Buy a stainless steel, or even glass, water container, instead of a new plastic bottle for your essential on-the-go daily water bottle. When possible, do not use disposable plastic utensils, straws, bags or packaging that you do not need, and which you will only use for once for convenience. Most of this material will not likely be recycled when you are finished with it.

4. Buy items with recycled content

Try to buy items that have been made with recycled content, instead of the ones which are "virgin", with no recycled content. Technology is so good these days, that turning old plastic into "new plastic" again is safe, energy saving, resource efficient, and usually undetectable. This helps drive the new "Circular Economy" and the opportunities that come with reusing our resources.

5. If you have to buy something "new", then make sure you recycle

Eliminating plastic usage altogether can seem a little far-fetched, and by no means is this a simple step that can be achieved in one day. So if you have to buy that plastic container or carrier bag, be sure to remember to recycle it. It is worth it.

6. Saving water

Leaving the tap running while you brush your teeth, shave or wash the dishes uses a lot of water. Even a leaking tap you only notice when you are in the bathroom can make a big difference to your water consumption! The less you use, the less expensive it is for you, so it is good for you, and the environment, if less water is put down the drain.

Even if you drain the water from your noodles when cooking, you can catch the water when it is drained, and use that to water your garden or house plants when the water cools down. Collecting rainwater is another convenient way to recycle water for use on household plants.

Try to take shorter showers to save water, and, taking a shower is much more water-efficient than taking a bath.

7. Careful with chemicals

Harsh bleaches and chemical cleaners can have a serious impact on the environment over time. A little can go a long way with these substances, especially when used openly as they can cause air and water pollution, creating damaging consequences. Simply reduce consumption if you cannot replace the product entirely with a more natural substitute, and always ensure they are disposed of properly in appropriate waste facilities.

8. Bin it

Remember not to litter, and to show your pride, pick up litter on the road when you see it. Make sure that you try to put recyclable material into the recycling containers, as it is much easier to recycle when the material is not mixed in with wet, food waste.

9. Be more aware

Think about how many resources you are using in a single day. In doing so you will make more conscious choices and more nature-friendly decisions. Aid others in taking the same positive steps to help the environment and raise awareness for the simplicity of the issue.

10. Go digital

Bills and banking can be done online in a completely paperless way, saving an abundance of trees that would have been used to send you your latest statement. Use your printer less, an at least print on both sides of the paper if you need to print. You can also read morning headlines from the press online. Try to unsubscribe from as much junk mail as possible! If you don't use it, you don't really need it.

Hopefully these tips are something that will not require too much effort on your part, but can make you feel that sense of Pride that you are doing your part. Once these steps become normal, and part of your daily life without having to remember them, you can then start working on the next level of changes to your lifestyle and consumption patterns which will not decrease your happiness in life, but in fact, may actually help, as your sense of Pride will become even stronger, and eventually inspiring others around you to follow suit. (kes)(+)

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Doug Woodring is the co-founder of Ocean Recovery Alliance, a NGO working on eliminating the plastic pollution and other ocean issues. Woodring has been on the advisory board of the XPrize, and The Economist's World Ocean Summit.

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