Nowadays, more and more people are getting concerned about the environment and the impact we have on it. For both companies and regular folks, sustainability is more important than ever before. Although it might seem like a difficult task to go green when you first start to think about it, there are some simple steps that we all can take to live more sustainably. Think for instance about reusing products, reducing waste, and using less water. There are plenty of ways in which you and your family can green and significantly reduce the effect you have on the environment. Besides, by going green, you will not only increase the living standards in your neighborhood, but you’ll also save some money on the way! Below, we have listed down some easy steps we all can take in working towards a greener lifestyle.
Recycle and reuse your items
When it comes to sustainability, one of the easiest yet most influential steps you can take is to reuse and recycle items. Every household produces thousands of Kilograms of waste every year, most of which is completely unnecessary. On top of that, most of the items we throw away are not disposed of correctly, which further increases your negative impact on the environment.
Waste production is a major problem around the globe. It costs fuel to pick up the waste from our homes and it requires even more energy to dispose of them properly. And then there are the countless of items that are not recyclable or biodegradable that simply end up somewhere in a landfill, polluting our environment for thousands of years to come. And now we’re not even mentioning toxic and chemical waste yet that can immensely affect the flora and fauna. As such, reusing and recycling items is more important than you may think. Luckily, there are some pretty simple tricks you can keep in mind that help you to live more sustainably through the reduction of waste:
- Don’t buy unnecessary items and don’t buy too much of the items you do need
- Cook smaller portions of food and don’t throw away the leftovers
- Reuse empty storage containers for food leftovers and preservatives
- Choose for sustainable packagings such as aluminum bottles and glass jars
- Stay away from plastics as these are bad for the environment and your health
- Donate items that you do not need any more such as old clothes and toys
- Compost food-waste or bring it to a local farmer who can turn it into pig food
Adjust your water and energy consumption
Without realizing it, one of the biggest influences every household has on the environment is made through water and energy consumption. The amount of energy and water you use at home has a major effect on the environment. As such, by using less energy and water, you’ll be able to significantly reduce your carbon footprint and cut down on your monthly expenditure as a family. Check out these simple tips to reduce your water and energy consumption and see how you, and your family, can make a difference:
- Replace your regular light bulbs with LED or CFL bulbs
- Use cold water to do a simple laundry
- Slightly adjust the temperature of your thermostat to a lower temperature
- Let your clothes dry naturally outside or on the attic without using a dryer
- Adjust the water pressure of your shower and tab to reduce water waste
- Take shorter showers and use less hot water
- Do not leave unused appliances plugged in
- Do not wash your car or water the garden unless necessary
- Upgrade the insulation of your water heater by using a water heater blanket
- Keep your home cool in summer by using light-blocking window shades
- Install weather strips and door sweeps to improve your home’s insulation
- Frequently reduce dirty filters in your home heating and cooling systems
Pay attention to your eating habits
You may not have thought about it before, but your eating habits tell a lot about how sustainable you are. Sure, we all know that eating too much and throwing away leftovers is bad. However, there is so much more to it. For example, the production of certain foods such as meat has a major impact on the environment. Besides, some foods come, completely unnecessarily, stored in plastic. Below, you’ll find some simple tricks that can help you to reduce your impact on the environment by picking the right type of foods.
- Only buy fresh fruits and vegetables that are not chemically treated
- Do not buy foods such as vegetables that are unnecessarily wrapped in plastic
- Buy locally-grown foods that did not have to be shipped in from another country
- Bring your own containers to fresh markets to reduce packaging waste
- Cook smaller portions and keep leftovers in your fridge
- Try to reduce meat consumption and have a meat-free day once a week
- Stay away from plastic bottles; use a reusable glass/aluminum bottle instead
