Living a more eco-friendly and sustainable life has been gaining more attention and popularity with everything that’s been going on with climate change and natural catastrophes around the world. If you want to know how to contribute to helping the environment heal, these ten easy tips will help you incorporate small changes in your life that can make a huge difference.
Eat Less Meat
One of the first things you could do to make a huge difference in the environment is to cut back on your consumption of meat. Around 30% of the Earth’s surface is currently being used to raise livestock. It has been proven that the livestock sector accounts for 9% of CO2 deriving from human-related activities.
However, it also produces a much larger share of even more harmful gases. This generates about 65% of human-related nitrous oxide that is known to have 296 times the Global Warming Potential of CO2. This is why eating less meat could make such a huge change. It is an important step in reducing the overall emission of GWP gases. And it has other benefits as well. Having less livestock would mean having more land we can use for recreation or planting vegetables and fruit. Plus, a vegan diet has been connected to many health benefits too.
Use Less Paper and Recycle More
Another way you can become more eco-friendly is by using less paper. Computers and digital technology have allowed us to use many great alternatives to notebooks and paper. By using less paper, less paper will need to be produced, which means we’ll have more trees. Or you can opt for recycling paper.
Recycling one short ton of paper you will save up to 17 mature trees. So, in case you absolutely have to use paper for school or a job, you can still contribute by recycling paper. It also takes less energy to create paper through recycling than by creating a completely new paper from trees. So if you want to go green, recycling paper is one of the best and easiest ways to do so.
Use Canvas Bags Instead Of Plastic
Try switching from plastic bags to canvas ones. The good news is most shops offer many great canvas alternatives to wasteful plastic and paper bags. Even though they might cost a little bit more, they are much more useful and will last you a long time.
They are much sturdier and can hold more goods than plastic bags. And the best part is you can use them to store whatever you want. You can even use them to pack items when moving. They are useful in more than one way.
Buying your kids a canvas bag before they move to college can be very useful, especially because they will be moving a lot in the next few years. Or even if you don’t use canvas bags, you can always reuse the plastic bags you have at home and you will be as equally eco-friendly as anyone who uses canvas bags. You can even recycle them from time to time. No matter how small the change may seem, it can make a huge difference.
Start a Compost Pile or Bin
Compost bins have gained huge popularity in the past decade. They are great for reducing waste and also an amazing way for you to reuse things you would otherwise just toss out. Plus, they will also help you save a lot of money and help your plants in the garden grow better and healthier. And the best thing is you don’t even have to go and buy expensive compost. You can easily google on how to create your own compost with things you already have at home. In case you have a garden, it’s only natural that you’ll have a composting bin as well. It is a great way to live more eco-friendly.
Purchase the Right Light Bulb
Purchasing the right light bulb can also make a big change for the environment. However, that doesn’t mean you have to replace all of your lightbulbs right now and go get the new ones. Don’t throw away the light bulbs that are still working just fine. Instead, the next time one of your bulbs burns out replace it with a more eco-friendly version. The best option to go for is a compact fluorescent light. They can last you a really long time and will use less electricity than regular light bulbs. In addition to that, they are also brighter. That means you won’t have to be using all the lamps in your home.
Choose Cloth over Paper
Constantly buying a dozen rolls of paper towels is a waste of money and is harming the environment in the process. If you are planning a big spring cleaning and you need something instead of paper towels to use, go for cutting up old t-shirts and other pieces of clothing and use them as a rag. Since you were going to toss it out anyway, you might as well find a purpose for them. You will be saving a lot of money this way while also protecting the environment. Collect all of the rags in a basket and wash them at the same time. This way you will be able to use them over and over again.
Cut Down On Energy in Your Home
Cutting down on energy in your living space is another great way to live a more eco-friendly life. And there are a lot of ways to do that. Another great reason for doing this is because it will lead to smaller energy bills which will, as a result, save you a lot of money over time. So, this option is not only great for the Earth, but for you as well.
Consider starting by lowering the thermostat in the winter and then raising it up again for the summer. You can also unplug your alliances when they’re not being used. Wash clothes on cold if possible and use a drying rack to dry your clothes once they’re done being washed. Reducing your energy in the home you live in couldn’t be easier than this. It is small things and changes that matter the most.
Reduce Water Waste
You can also lead a more eco-friendly life by using less water on a daily basis and cutting back on your water bottle purchases. Try taking shorter showers for a start. First of all, you are going to notice a huge change in water bills. You will be more eco-conscious and saving money at the same time. As for the bottled water, it’s very easy actually.
A great investment would be to install a water filter to make sure you have clean and drinking water at home and not have to spend money on one-use bottled water that will only harm the environment. You could also buy one of those glass bottles to drink water from so that you don’t have to keep buying new bottled water every single week. It’s easy to carry around and definitely more eco-friendly.
Skip the Car From Time to Time
Cars can be very beneficial for getting through the city on a daily basis; however, they are extremely harmful to the environment. Plus, you might find it better for your health to skip motors as well. You can opt for walking to work or riding a bike every once in a while. This way you will be saving emissions and sneak that 30-minute exercise that is generally recommended by many doctors.
A simple decision such as this one can lead to much lesser air pollution and a healthier heart. One of the greatest investments for this purpose would be buying high-quality electric bikes that will enable you to even rest a little bit once you get tired of pedaling. They are a great option if you want to enjoy your ride while also being eco-friendly.
Recycling a Car
This might sound silly, although it is very effective. Recycling your vehicles is actually one of the most efficient ways of living an eco-friendly lifestyle. Looking for more gas-friendly vehicles is one of the best changes you could make to become more eco-conscious. You can also donate your vehicle to Wheels for Wishes. They will recycle your vehicle or even auction it off to a new potential owner.
Automobiles are actually the most recycled consumer product in the world right now. Almost 95% of unusable vehicles are recycled every year. The best option would be to donate your car and help the children who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses in the process. And because Wheels for Wishes is an IRS registered non-profit, you’ll be receiving the maximum tax deduction for the car donation that you make.
Conclusion
All things considered, there are many great ways for you to start living a more eco-friendly life. Not only will you be saving the planet with your everyday contributions, but you will be saving a lot of money in the long run as well.