Being eco-friendly is something that’s massively important in this day and age, and that’s something we should all be very much aware of. However, the fact is that it’s always been important, and we’ve been trying to take care of the planet for a long time now, with mixed results. 

Something that could be an interesting question to ask is whether or not we’re more eco-friendly in 2024 than at any other time, or are we starting to get worse at what we’re doing? Read on for some ideas about what the answer to this question might be.

Renewable Energy

One thing that points to the fact that we’re actually doing a lot more – and doing it better – when it comes to being eco-friendly is that fact that we’re using a lot more renewable energy than we have in the past when fossil fuels were certainly the top priority. 

In 2024, you’ll generally find that things like solar and wind power have become a lot more popular and more understood by the general public, and these renewable energy sources are gaining a lot more use, often with government incentives for people if they do switch to these much more environmentally friendly options. What’s even better is that technological advancements have actually meant that it’s even easier to use these tools and incorporate them into our homes and lives, so there’s really no need to worry about using them at all. 

Sustainable Transportation 

Another area of the world and our lives that’s been upgraded to a much more eco-friendly model now we’re in 2024 and has improved massively compared to any time in the past is the eco-friendly transport options we now have. Take electric vehicles as a prime example; these vehicles reduce carbon emissions, which are terrible for the planet, so that’s a benefit right away. They work on a battery that has to be charged, and whereas in the past this would have been a chore, in 2024, you can even have a charging station installed at your home so you can charge the vehicle overnight, and it’s always ready for you. On top of this, there are more and more charging stations being installed in convenient places. 

It’s not just personal vehicles that can be electric and better for the environment – public transport is heading that way too, so buses, trains, and even trams are electric. And of course, there are lots of efforts to help people get more exercise by walking or cycling more, and those are the most eco-friendly transportation options of them all. 

The Circular Economy 

If the first two items on this list were what you expected, that’s a good thing – it means you’re quite up to date when it comes to being eco-friendly in 2024. This item, however, is a little less well-known, but it’s still very important to think about, and it shows how far we’ve come from decades ago when we only just realized it was time to make some changes. It might be true that 90’s style puffy hair is back in fashion, but that doesn’t mean our attitudes to the environment need to be from the past as well. We’re talking about the circular economy. 

In most situations, the economy is a line where things are made, bought, used, and disposed of, but the circular economy changes that and focuses heavily on recycling, reusing, and reducing waste as much as possible, so rather than things getting disposed of, they go back into the buying cycle for as long as possible. 

The great thing is that this is so easy to do, and businesses are really getting behind the idea of a circular economy as well, making it much easier for individuals to do the same. 

Green Architecture 

We’re always building new things because we always need more buildings, whether it’s for housing, work, or leisure. This could be a problem in terms of the environment because building takes up precious resources, not to mention a lot of space. However, in 2024, we use something called green architecture as much as possible, which is far better than the way things used to work in the past. 

Green architecture means building with energy efficiency in mind, and including things like solar panels, rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient appliances, and so on. The buildings are also generally surrounded by as much green landscaping as possible, and the areas they’re being guilt in are pedestrianized as much as possible (depending on where the buildings are being built). The ideas make building a much more sustainable idea and much better for the planet.