What can you do to be more sustainable?

Travel sustainably to the practice– Unsurprisingly cars are massive contributors to air pollution and gas emissions, if you are able to walk or cycle instead help to improve the air quality in our community.
Reduce car usage– It has been shown that pollution levels inside the car can be higher than outside, so it may be best to avoid the car whenever possible. Cyclists are also exposed to far less air pollutants than those in cars!
Changing your search engine– Ecosia is a great alternative to general search engines as every search can help to plant new trees across the planet, its servers use carbon free power and other sustainable sources of energy to remove 1kg of CO2 from the air.
Avoiding medication waste– It has been reported by the Department of Health that an estimate of £300 million every year goes on unused medications. To prevent this you could avoid reordering and stock-piling, recycle your blister packs, return your inhalers or check your prescribed medication to see if it could be reduced or for a non-medication alternative.
Avoid engine idling– If taking the car is unavoidable, you can still try things like turning off your engine when not moving and safe to do so. This can prevent the emission of harmful gasses like nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.
Engage in local community activities– We at Hannage Brook have many services available that can enhance overall lung function and also have a positive impact on the environment. Find out more on the ‘active practice for you’ link above.
Take the side roads– One study indicates that side streets can offer a 50% decrease in pollution exposure compared to main roads. Another study had shown that spending time in areas with lower pollution can lower levels of inflammation and stress hormones, both linked to asthma flare ups.
Choose eco-friendly personal care products– Minimising waste, using reusable alternatives and sustainable products can decrease the amount of landfill you are contributing to, this is because a lot of the plastic we use often ends up in the natural environment. It has been shown that one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die each year from plastic pollution in our oceans.
Adopt a plant rich diet– Scientists have found that animal agriculture is actually the largest producer of air pollutants at over 50%. This means that by cutting down the amount of meat that you eat you can help to reduce the number of ammonia emissions.
Reduce energy use at home– Saving energy will save you money and also reduces the amount of greenhouse gasses produced. This is because much of the energy we use daily comes from fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

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