There are many reasons people decide to become eco-friendlier and make the switch to more sustainable living. The decision is personal and it’s not always the easiest transition to make in our current culture. Some might want to live an eco-friendly lifestyle because they want to do their part to help the environment by reducing their carbon footprint. Others might want to try it as a way to potentially save money. Some just feel it’s the right way to be doing life. With all the natural cleaning products available and easy ways to go green, making the switch can be easy. Whatever your personal reasons, we are here to help you make the transition as painless as possible, with our 8 top tips on how to be more eco friendly.
1. Cut Back on Energy Consumption
Energy consumption is probably one of the most impactful ways you can go green and there are a lot of easy ways to go about doing it. Not only does reducing your energy consumption help the planet, but you might also find yourself saving some money on your energy bills as well. Some ways to increase energy efficiency in your home are:
- Unplug unused electronics until you need them again—super simple!
- Unplug unused appliances until you need them again—not the fridge, of course.
- Swap out bad light bulbs for more eco-friendly brands—some recommend LED or CFL bulbs.
- Wash your clothes in cold water—avoid the high cost of heating gallons of water.
- Skip the dryer and hang your clothes out to dry—fresh, outdoor linen, here we come!
- Lower your thermostat in winter—bundle up in a sweater!
- Raise your thermostat in summer—even a degree or two helps!
2. Purchase Energy-Efficient Technology
In addition to the tips on cutting back how much energy you consume, you can also consider purchasing energy-efficient technology. Ranging from high-efficiency washers and dryers, to high-efficiency appliances like refrigerators, there are plenty of ways to replace energy hogs for more energy-efficient appliances.
3. Consider Switching to Renewable Energy
There are many easy ways to utilize renewable energy in your home. Solar panels, for example, are a great way to harness the power of the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity. You can also change the heating source for your home, by using boilers. You can choose from biomass boilers, electric boilers, and gas boilers. There are also options like heat pumps and solar thermal energy. While these might not be the most budget-friendly, at least at first, their environmental impact is significantly less than non-renewable gas and oil that produce greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Use Green Cleaning Products
As winter comes to a close, you’re likely beginning to tackle your spring cleaning list. While doing this, keep in mind the products you’re using to clean. Toxic cleaning products are very harmful to our bodies and the world around us. Especially damaging are chemicals like:
- Foaming agents
- Detergents
- Preservatives
Try to find eco-friendly products like Honest Disinfectant Spray or Multi-Surface Cleaning Spray in place of your favorite cleaning supplies that use only natural ingredients, no harsh chemicals.
5. Use Reusable Grocery Bags
You can swap out plastic and paper bags for a reusable bag made of canvas. Not only are these bags sturdier, but they can also hold more items as well. And investing in a few of them doesn’t cost much, while the excessive plastic waste caused by the use of plastic bags is very detrimental to the ecosystem. If you do use plastic or paper bags, reuse them for other things too, or recycle them. That’s better than simply using them and throwing them away.
6. Travel Green
Flying is a big producer of carbon and other fossil fuels, so if you can avoid it, fly as little as possible. Try traveling closer to home if possible. Driving is also detrimental to the environment, but you can look for fuel-efficient travel options, and do your best to conserve fuel. Maybe that means taking a more direct route, or even walking instead of driving a few times a week if you aren’t traveling far. If you do travel abroad, look into best practices for eco-tourism.
7. Reduce Food Waste
There is tons of food wasted worldwide, and most of it ends up in landfills, giving off CO2 and contributing to the dangers to our environment. An easy way to be more environmentally friendly is to simply not waste food. Cook only enough food that you need per meal, without leftovers (unless you eat leftovers). Don’t buy stuff you aren’t going to use right away, because you run the risk of it going bad before you use it, and then being tossed.
8. Compost Your Food
If you do have extra food that is going bad before you were able to make it, why not compost it? Compost bins are a great way to help you reduce waste, plus they feed your garden and help your plants thrive. Buying the same stuff in the stores can be expensive, but you can easily make your own.
9. Get A Reusable Water Bottle
Along the same lines as plastic grocery bags, plastic packaging and bottled water contribute to the amount of plastic waste each year. A reusable water bottle will not only save you money on buying plastic bottled water but is also an easy way to reduce the amount of plastic you consume and waste.
Getting your whole family on board to becoming an eco-friendly house can be a way to do something that is impactful together. If you have kids, incorporate sustainable practices like recycling into your spring activities for toddlers, such as arts and crafts, to make it seem fun and exciting.
Learning how to be eco-friendlier only takes a bit of practice. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll find all sorts of ways you can help reduce your carbon footprint and support the environment around you.
We aim to provide you with the most honest and credible information possible. This article was reviewed for accuracy by The Honest Team and its internal technical experts.
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