We all know how COVID-19 affected the global economy, but did you know it had a MASSIVE effect on the environment as well? Some obvious effects of this are shown in worldwide reports of reduced traffic congestion, clearer skies, cleaner waterways and the emergence of wildlife into human settlements. Humanity itself was hit with new issues arising in the form of poverty, food security, mental health and disaster preparedness issues.
If you think about it, where our global economic and socioeconomic indicators have suffered, nature herself has recuperated and began healing. It’s almost as if the pendulum has swung, and nature is finding her fulcrum, or balancing point with humanity.
How COVID-19 Affected the Planet
Reduced Carbon Emissions
In April, global carbon emissions decreased by 17%. Many experts agree that COVID-19 may result in an approximately 5% to 8% percent reduction in average global emissions for the year.
Increased Plastic Consumption
Unfortunately, COVID-19 has also vastly increased our use of plastic consumption. Plastic in items such as gloves, plexiglass, masks, dividers, disposable plastic bags etc., has increased drastically.
Increased Car Usage in the U.S.
In the United States, the CDC has recommended that people returning to work minimize contact with others. This means more people riding alone in cars. Overall, this can increase gas usage, traffic congestion and increase greenhouse gas emissions. The CDC advice will also increase the fear many have of taking public transportation.
Other
According to a recent poll, about one third of Americans are considering moving out of cities to less dense areas in the wake of COVID-19. Real estate agents have reported a boom in demand from New York City residents for suburban homes in New Jersey and Connecticut. But suburban living means more driving. A 2014 report found that half the household carbon footprint of the U.S. comes from suburban living, as a result of transportation, household energy use and consumption of food and services.
The European Commission, however, is curbing the existing trends and executing a Green Stimulus Package. Their goal? To be carbon-free by 2050. South Korea is doing the same thing. The plans call for financing renewable energy, electrical vehicle charging and other emission-reducing projects.
In summary, where 2020 had a financial impact on the world economy, we have become more acutely aware of our impact on the environment. With that, we end with a question: what are you doing to “pivot” in terms of your carbon emissions?
About Aquasani Water Purification Systems
Aquasani is an authorized dealer for Rainsoft, WaterLogic, & JavaSmart. Based in Springfield, Mo., and at Lake of the Ozarks / Osage Beach in Missouri, Aquasani services areas in the Ozarks including Osage Beach, Camdenton, Aurora and even Jefferson City. In essence, we service Mid-Missouri, Southwest Missouri, and Northwest Arkansas, and have been servicing these areas since 2004. We provide home water softener systems, drinking water filtration systems, whole-house air purification systems, and problem-solving water filtration systems for homes and offices.
Aside from our purification systems, we also sell all-natural cleaning products and household items which are environmentally friendly and low-cost.
We specialize in water filtration and purification for both commercial businesses and residential homes. If that isn’t enough, we provide free trials for our water cooler services. If you would like a free estimate, schedule an appointment with us by calling (417) 881-4000 or (573) 692-4009 if you are in the Lake of the Ozarks area.
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