It is essential to maintain the immediate surroundings of one’s home well to lead a healthy life. The basic components of the immediate natural surroundings of your home are land, water, soil, plants, animals and the atmosphere. When man develops his knowledge, his influence towards the basic components of the environment too increases. As a result of this, there may be various problems arising in the immediate surroundings of your home. Therefore, it is your duty to contribute to the conservation of the environment, by keeping the immediate surroundings of your home in a healthy condition. 

Land 

Figure 3.1 shows how the land which is a basic component of the environment, is utilized in various ways. 

You can maintain the immediate surroundings of your home/ school well, if you prepare the home garden and school garden according to a plan and use them properly. 

Water 

Water is a natural resource which is essential for the existence of living beings. Water is used for various purposes. Figure 3.4 indicates instances where water is used for different purposes. 

Figure 3.6 shows the occasions where water gets polluted due to various human activities. 

Air 

Air, as well as water, is an important factor for our survival. Among the gases in the atmosphere, both oxygen and nitrogen are important. Oxygen is required for breathing and nitrogen is needed for the growth of plants. The air around us gets polluted due to various human activities. Look at figure 3.7. Accordingly, the results of air pollution affect man as well as animals and plants in a harmful manner. 

Effects of Air Pollution 

Two harmful effects due to air pollution are mentioned below. 

1. Diseases related to the respiratory system. 

• Cough

• Lung cancer 

• Asthma 

• Severe headache 

• Catarrh 

2. Occurrence of acid rains. 

• Water pollution.

• Destruction of forests.

• Damage to soil. 

• Destruction of aquatic organisms. 

Energy 

We use various sources of energy to fulfil different needs, from the moment we wake up in the morning. Accordingly, energy helps us to fulfil various tasks like preparation of food, cleaning, for the use of communication devices, lighting up and transportation. The sun is the basic source of all the energy sources we use. In ancient times, man used his manual power but later, he got the support of animals to do various activities. Man and animals get strength to do these activities from food. Machinery obtains the necessary power from fuel, electricity or from other sources. 

Reasons for the increasing demand for energy 

• Increase in population. 

• Increase in consumer needs. 

• Progress in the industrial activities. 

• Development of transportation. 

• Improvement of living standards. 

Hydro-electricity, mineral oil, natural gas, solar power (solar cells) and firewood are the energy sources that can be used for various household purposes. You should utilize them efficiently, systematically and economically when fulfilling the needs at home. 

When you use power at home, 

• Switch on the bulbs only at the necessary place and time. 

• Use more efficient electric bulbs like CFL, (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) and LED (Light Emitting Diode). 

• Do not keep the door of the refrigerator opened for long. The number of times it is opened should also be limited. 

• Iron all the necessary clothes whenever possible at one time. 

• Use firewood-hearths that do not waste heat. 

• After cooking, switch off the cooker or put out the hearth (firewood hearth). 

• When using the gas cooker, use specific utensils suitable for the task. 

• When using vehicles, plan and attend several tasks during a single journey for the economical use of fuel. 

Economical use of energy sources 

Bio-gas is known as an important alternative source of power which is used for energy needs. Figure 3.12 indicates a bio-gas unit prepared for domestic consumption of energy with a systematic management of waste material. The kitchen waste, plants like salvinia, monochoria, gliricidia which are found in the immediate surroundings of your home and small pieces of hay, liquid cow dung can be used for this purpose. 

The efficient firewood hearth is used to cook meals quickly. You can get electricity needed for your home from this bio-gas unit. The waste that is removed from time to time too can be used as a rich manure for the vegetable plots in the home garden. 

You can fulfil the energy needs of your house by obtaining solar power through solar cells which absorb solar energy. Although it costs high, solar power does not cause environmental damages when compared to other energy sources. 

Disposal of Waste Materials 

Many things are disposed from our homes as well as from the immediate surroundings of home and school. These discarded things are called waste material. These waste material can be grouped as domestic, agricultural and industrial wastes according to their origin. Usually, we collect this waste material in a certain place in the home garden or put them into a pit or add them into a heap of garbage. Yet, the disposal of non-decaying waste material in this manner is harmful to the environment. The disposal of waste material has become a problem in the urban environment due to over population and limited space. The improper disposal of waste material causes pollution of air, water and land in the immediate surroundings of your home. Therefore, we have to pay attention to prevent the damages that occur with these activities. For this, 

• Reuse - Reusing the items that can be used again and again. 

Example - Textbooks, Packing boxes (like ice-cream containers), glass bottles etc. 

• Recycling - Recycling the non - degradable materials like polythene and plastic. An extra income can be earned by collecting, sorting and handing them over to recycling centres or collecting centres and recycled materials are used to produce new products. 

• Reducing - Minimizing the use of non- degradable items. 

Example- Polythene packing, plastic items etc... 

• Making different items using discarded waste material. 

Coconut shells – spoons and curios 

Electric bulbs – lamps 

Pieces of cloth – door mats, cushion covers 

• Preparation of a bio-gas unit / compost pit using kitchen waste, agro waste and dried leaves. 

• Reduction of food waste by preparing the food in sufficient quantities and to cater to the appetite. It also helps to maintain the family budget in a better way. 

• Proper disposal of waste material.