In this day and age, more and more people are looking for ways to live a little bit greener. From making use of reusable shopping bags to riding bikes to work, the green movement is really starting to catch on, and for good reason. Our environment could really use some TLC from us right now, and by giving the Earth the care it needs, we help ourselves, each other, and all of the plants and animals around us.
If you are looking for a way to start living a more eco-friendly life, there are many ways to go about this. Recycling is a great place to start, as is walking whenever possible instead of driving. Another great way to get involved in the green movement is to make yourself a part of the sharing economy.
Let’s face it, we are all a little bit wasteful in our own ways. However, the sharing economy gives folks a way to put their wasteful excess to use. That bicycle that is sitting unused in the garage? Why not rent it out for the neighbor to use? Not only will the wasted item get put to use, but the rental may stop consumerism in its tracks by encouraging the neighbor to borrow instead of buying.
This is just one example of the sharing economy helping to make the world a greener, brighter place. Below we will explore more of the many ways peer-to-peer companies are the more eco-friendly way to go.
Curb Consumerism
As mentioned in the example above, the sharing economy has the ability to curb consumerism—at least to an extent. After all, why would anyone go out and buy an item they will only use a few times a year when they can rent it from a nearby individual for a fraction of the price?
This mindset keeps unneeded items from leaving the shelves, which in turn slows production of such items. Fewer items being produced leads to fewer emissions from factories, fewer resources being used, and less air pollution produced by trucks for moving those items across the country. By slowing the pace of consumerism, peer-to-peer rental companies are a very eco-friendly alternative to purchasing rarely used items from a chain store.
Of course, peer-to-peer sales of material items have the same sort of effect. Therefore, garage sale sites such as Craigslist should always be checked for needed items before heading to the local box store to make a purchase.
Keep It Local
As mentioned before, peer-to-peer rentals and sales help reduce emissions from semi trucks as they carry goods across the country. In addition to the reduced need for trucks, the need for other modes of transportation (such as trains and airplanes) is also reduced, leading to less air pollution and fewer resources used.
Because shopping locally has such a huge effect on the environment, it is always a good idea to try shopping peer-to-peer sites before hitting the stores. In addition to always checking Craigslist and other garage sale sites for clothing, tools, and toys, try finding local farmers for meat, eggs and produce, and local soap makers for toiletry needs. You might be surprised what you can find locally!
Reduce Emissions
We already discussed the fact that emissions from factories, trucks, trains, and planes are reduced by peer-to-peer rentals and sales. However, did you know that vehicle-related air pollution can also be reduced through the use of peer-to-peer ride sharing?
Companies such as Uber and Lyft make it possible for many individuals to live without a car. Of course, without a car, a person is much more likely to walk short distances rather than call Uber to pick them up. This alone reduces air pollution. However, this is not the only way the sharing economy helps reduce emissions from personal vehicles.
Companies who focus on carpooling—such as Commutewise and Zimride—encourage groups of people who are heading in the same direction to share a car. After all, what is the point in driving multiple cars to the same destination? Sharing rides is a great way to reduce emissions and conserve fuel.
On-demand parking apps like ParqEx can also help reduce automobile emissions. Each year will bring upon more drivers and in most neighborhoods and cities, that means a serious parking crunch that is only going to snowball into a bigger problem. But what if, instead of paving more land with parking lots and filling the air with more exhaust as drivers hopelessly look for parking, we could help each other using what we already have? ParqEx believes that the community can share their existing parking spots (and make some supplemental income in the process). You don’t park in your spot all day, so why not list it on ParqEx when you aren’t using it, so that someone who needs a spot can use it?
Create Communities
One of the greatest things the sharing economy can do for our world is help create strong communities. Strong communities are more likely to grow and share food, share rides, share parking spaces (and eliminate the need for new ones to be built), pass unused items on, and work together to be self-sufficient, thus reducing the need for large corporations. Strong communities working together can help make our earth a greener and nicer place to live.
Interested in learning more about the sharing economy? We would be happy to answer your questions! Please contact us today at ParqEx.
