How to Stay Green During Quarantine

The Coronavirus has created a severe demand and shortage of medical masks. Image Credit: WTHR

The year is 2020, and the coronavirus has been the bane of our society’s existence as the spread has started growing exponentially during the beginning of the year. This virus is extremely dangerous, and of course “shelter-in-place” orders (or what some have dubbed “quarantine) alongside suggestions for social distancing have been put in place to prevent and slow the continued diffusion of the virus. With more than 80,000 cases and new ones popping up everyday, it is absolutely imperative that we follow these shelter-in-place and social distancing recommendations if we want to have any chance of fighting this virus—if not for yourself, then for the millions of immunocompromised or elderly Americans across the nation for which this virus could be fatal.

Now that many people are staying indoors and working to be healthy, there is one thing that may seem less important now: the environment. While it is definitely true that your health should be top priority during these times, the crippling state of the environment is still a large issue that should not be ignored, especially at a time like this.

So that leaves room for the question: how can we still maintain our eco-friendly nature whilst in this global pandemic crisis? The environment is getting better, as seen in the article by Angelina Suy, “COVID-19 and the Environment,” due to the lack of human activity, but this only inspires the push towards restoring the planet.

Here are a few topics regarding some sustainable things we can do during this “quarantine” period to further this path:

1. Surgeon face masks: While wearing a surgeon mask is a great way to protect yourself against this virus, it is more effective to stay at home away from people in general. Moreover, overusing unnecessary face masks creates even more environmental waste. Not to mention that these masks are running out, and while many can stay at home to avoid the virus, health professionals cannot. Please reconsider purchasing or using your face masks, as our healthcare workers need them first.
2. Avoid driving: It is now socially acceptable to stay indoors all day (besides those who work)! While you’re at it, avoid using gas if you have a gas-powered vehicle. This is a great way to save the environment while keeping your health safe. If you must go out to get groceries, consider asking a friend to grab your groceries during their grocery store trip and offer to get their groceries for them on the following trip.
3. Lyft & Uber: If you must go out and take an Uber or Lyft, there is a green option in the app. The green option allows you to request a 100% electric vehicle, allowing you to fund more sustainable efforts even while you ride.

Engineers Cristian Fracassi and Alessandro Romaiol of ISINNOVA have found a way to convert scuba masks into suitable replacements for medical masks. Image Credit: FabFactory

Lyft has incorporated a "Green Option" into their services. Image Credit: Electrek

We understand all of these restrictions on top of keeping up with a sustainable lifestyle can make life boring and lackluster, but don’t sweat it. There are many activities you can do that can maintain a fun, healthy, and sustainable lifestyle during these tough times.

This diagram shows how to set up a simple hydroponic system. Image Credit: Association for Vertical Farming

This collage demonstrates the various options for compost bins. Image Credit: Balcony Garden Web

​Here are some activities we recommend:

1. Gardening: There is no better time than now to start gardening. Many kids and adults have lots of time. If you have a backyard or front yard, feel free to start planting away in these areas. However, if you do not, why not find some fruits or vegetables that can regrow themselves in a cup of water? Some great places to start include: celery, green onion, and basil. Garden away!
2. Cooking at home: Learning new recipes is always fun, for chefs old and young alike. What’s more: while cooking at home, there is a lot less waste than dining-out due to using reusable ceramic plates and silverware. It’s not only cheaper to cook (with all the money saved on gas, ingredients, and tax), but it’s also a great way to find some entertainment and enjoy your time inside.
3. Composting: If you’re going to be cooking at home, why not find a place to make use of your food scraps? A compost pile is a great way to be eco-friendly at home. If you also start gardening, composting is a great complementary activity. Here is a good website to reference if you’re starting composting: https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/gardening/how-to-make-compost
4. Ecosia: If you have watched any YouTube or kept up with any environmental topics, you have probably heard of Ecosia. Ecosia is a search engine that plants trees using the ad money collected from user searches. It’s a great, small way to give back to the planet—right at your fingertips. Here’s the link to get searching: https://www.ecosia.org/?c=en

Once again, please stay safe while we endure these tough times. However, don’t forget our mission to help restore the planet. Our fight has not been won yet, and this virus will not stop our effort.

---

Annika Garza is a high school junior living in a small city of Northern California with her family. She is a part of her school's robotics team and serves as the Chief of Communications Officer for her team. In addition to AP and honors classes, Annika is enrolled in the engineering pathway at her school and hopes to become an engineer in the future. While she doesn't know specifically what she wants to major in, her interests lie in fields that involve biology or the environment. With the Ecolibrium Project, Annika hopes to not only bring awareness to the deteriorating environment, but she also wants to make a change by starting small in her local community and build from there.