When we were young, most of us were taught simple things that helped to preserve and protect the environment. But as we grow older, some of us forget or neglect what we were taught as children.

Pollution, overpopulation and the depletion of natural resources are some of the most pressing issues in the modern world. Our cars and factories are filling the air with pollutants and only recently have we figured out how to harness and use eco friendly power sources.

Advances in technology have allowed the use of geothermal energy, wind energy and solar energy. Geothermal energy is energy from the inner temperature of Earth, wind energy harnesses power from wind on “wind farms,” and solar energy takes the sun’s energy and converts it into a form people can use. Each of these options are green power and save natural resources that are being used faster than they can be made.

Although these green sources of energy are efficient, they are not the most viable option for the common household because of how much they cost. Biomass power is one of the largest renewable energies currently used worldwide but is not the most eco friendly because it releases high levels of pollution into the air.

Humans have not been kind to the world. Although the progress we’ve made has brought countless benefits to us as humans, it has brought terrible consequences to the world that will end up hurting us in the future. We use fossil fuels faster than it can replenish itself and biomass energy to run our cars which leads to CO2, a greenhouse gas, being released into the atmosphere. We are the cause of deforestation which leads to the endangerment and eventual extinction of wildlife. Not to mention the fact that trees help create the oxygen we breathe and and clean the water that we drink.

There are many simple things we humans can do to preserve the Earth. These things include:

• Turn off the lights when you leave a room
• Take shorter showers
• Walk or ride a bike instead of driving
• Use the stairs instead of the elevator
• Carpool
• Separate garbage and recycle
• Use energy efficient light bulbs

There are other ways to protect the environment but they require a little more thought and effort:

• Pick up trash and do not litter
• Use water-saving appliances
• Use public transport
• Recycle your clothes by making something new out of them or donating them
• Use reusable bags instead of plastic ones
• Use leftover food to make new food dishes
• Reuse containers
• Avoid using plastic tableware
• Find natural alternatives to chemical cleaners

These are only some of the ways we can help preserve our Earth. We have a long way to go before we can start fixing the damage we’ve done, but if everyone helped out just a little, think of what a huge impact we could make on the world we live in. We all have a part to play in completing this task.

I believe that some of us are going to go and make things that protect our environment like a more efficient and affordable car that has fewer negative effects on the environment or a better way to separate biodegradable and recyclable materials from trash so less of it goes into landfills. We are already starting to improve the way we treat the Earth but we still have a long way to go.