Many people seem to misunderstand the eco-friendly or green movement, with some saying that it is only a fad, or others expressing interest but only that it’s so hard to give up on today’s modern conveniences. The truth of the matter is that reducing our carbon footprints and starting an eco-friendly lifestyle is needed because we are running out of resources, and the more we use disposable goods and resources, the more we pollute the earth we live in.
If you’re one of the many who have been interested in helping out with the green and ecological cause but have found the transition too expensive and complicated, try our simple, cheap, and easy ways to keep your end of the eco-friendly cause up by reducing your carbon footprint, and saving you some money in the process.
- Carry reusable bags with you anytime you shop.
- Recycle just one more thing each week.
- Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
- Skip bottled water, use filtered tap water.
- Decorate with plants to improve air quality.
- Add a low-flow showerhead.
- Turn down the thermostat.
- Unplug chargers and appliances when you’re not using them.
- Recycle electronics through e-waste collection programs.
- Sign up for recall alerts at recalls.gov.
- Take shorter showers.
- Plant bee-loving plants (sunflowers geraniums, pumpkins, blackberries, rosemary, sage, honeysuckle).
- Share toys with another mom when your child outgrows them.
- Use the microwave or the toaster oven to cook small meals to save energy.
- Turn off the water while shaving or brushing your teeth.
- Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
- Scrape rather than rinse dishes before loading into the dishwasher.
- Repair leaky toilets, which can waste 200 gallons of water a day.
- Sweep outside instead of using a hose.
- Use durable coffee mugs instead of paper or Styrofoam cups.
- Buy a refillable container for your water or morning coffee instead of using paper cups or store-bought water bottles.
- Buy a bigger jug of milk. If you only use half a gallon at a time, you can pour half the milk into a carafe and freeze the rest.
- Use cloth napkins and hand towels.
- Set your water heater to 120 degrees – also a good rule of thumb to help prevent burns.
- Buy paper products, like toilet paper, made from recycled paper.
- Compost food scraps, grass, yard clippings and dead plants.
- Change heating and cooling system filters every month.
- Install a programmable thermostat if you’re away from home for set periods of time every day.
- Insulate your home, pipes and water heater.
- Buy unbleached coffee filters.
- Use rags instead of paper towels to wipe up spills.
- Buy biodegradable wax paper.
- Buy eggs in cardboard cartons instead of foam packaging.
- Use low-phosphate detergent or phosphate-free laundry detergent.
- Use a little less detergent than manufacturers recommend.
- Keep car tires properly inflated to save gas and tire life.
- If you are ever involved in a road accident, make sure to get in touch with a lawyer: https://rhllaw.com/baltimore-hit-and-run-car-accident-lawyer/
- Have your tires rotated and balanced every 6,000-8,000 miles.
- Buy cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers, which can take 500 years to decompose.
- Give kids a lunch box or insulated cooler for lunch instead of a paper or plastic sack.
- Invest in a roasting pan instead of using disposable ones–you’ll save money in the long run and it’s a lot easier to pull a full ham or turkey out of the oven in a sturdy pan than an aluminum one.
- In cafeterias and fast food restaurants, take only the napkins, straws, condiments and plastic drink tops you plan to use.
- Instead of using the throwaway plastic utensils available at work bring your own from home.
- The production of animal-products is an extremely inefficient process, so switching to a plant-based diet can reduce your environmental impact in a major way.
- Print and copy on both sides of paper when possible.
- Save files and e-mails electronically and don’t print out hard copies unless you have to.
- If you are leaving a room for more than 15 minutes, turn off the lights.
- Carpool to school, sporting events and shopping.
- Turn trash such as Popsicle sticks, newspapers and used office paper into craft projects.
- Wash and reuse sandwich baggies and other plastic bags.
- Donate your old computer to a community or senior citizens center.
- When you replace your cell phone, donate it or pass it on to a new user.
- Don’t air-condition an empty room.
- Walk, ride your bike or take public transportation.
- Pay your bills online.
- Dry towels and clothes on a rack instead of in the dryer.
- Put on a sweater or another layer instead of turning up the heat during winter.
- Use a faucet aerator to save on water.
- Get eco-friendly pet toys instead of expensive, factory made toys for your dogs or cats.
- Get out your rake and leave your leaf blower in the garage to cut down on emissions.
- File your taxes electronically to cut back on paper usage.
Of course these and other easy tips are just the beginning of living an eco-friendly lifestyle. Once you get the hang of it and when these habits begin to become second nature, or even a habit, you will find that the transition to say, electric or wood stoves instead of a gas range; or solar and wind-powered establishment as opposed to one wired to the electric grid; or even planting your own vegetables—all of those seemingly complicated lifestyle changes will begin to get easier and easier when you’re used to it being normal.
Hopefully these tips have helped you form an idea of how you can contribute to Mother Earth and help all of us save our lovely planet. Remember: do your part, you owe it to nature.
The pressing need for more sustainable energy