Most people are aware that the Earth is in trouble. The air we breathe, the water we drink and bathe in, and even our food supply are all threatened by pollution of one kind or another. This awareness has led to an increased interest in living more environmentally friendly lives. But it’s not always easy to make changes when you have so many other demands on your time and money. These seven tips will help you live a greener lifestyle.
Use Eco-friendly Cleaning Supplies
It makes a difference when you buy cleaning supplies that are natural and biodegradable. The chemicals used in most household cleaners are harmful, not only to the environment but also to your family and pets. Look for products that use natural cleaners. They’re just as effective and can often be used for a variety of purposes, like disinfecting the kitchen counter or cutting grease in the oven. Do your research – Ask google “what are laundry soap sheets” and any other alternative eco-cleaning products. You will still need to do the work of scrubbing, so don’t expect these products to magically clean everything up in one sweep. But they won’t create a toxic environment in your home either, which is good for you and your family. This is great because it saves you time and money in the long run.
Compost Your Kitchen Waste
This is a great way to make use of something that would otherwise end up in a landfill. When it’s all said and done, your compost can be added to your garden or lawn as fertilizer. It’s much cheaper than buying cans of fertilizer from the store. And if you have a garden, it’s a great way to avoid using chemicals that can seep into the soil and water nearby.
Coffee grounds, eggshells, and teabags are all ideal for composting. You can also add kitchen scraps like veggie peels and leftover meat bones (just be sure to cook them first). Make sure your compost is located someplace where animals cannot get at it (like raccoons or possums) because that could mean creating another problem for yourself.
Use Reusable Shopping Bags
This is an easy way to cut out some of the plastic waste in our lives today. Plastic shopping bags are not biodegradable; they will sit in a landfill for years and years. Plus, they cost money to make, and the fabric used is almost always made from nonrenewable resources such as petroleum or trees.
You don’t need to go out and spend your hard-earned cash on fancy reusable shopping bags either. You can use an old plastic container that you emptied previously or even wrap up some newspaper into a bag shape. It really doesn’t matter what your bag looks like, just remember it when you shop.
Opt for Paperless Billing
According to the Association of British Credit Unions, an estimated 1 million trees are used to make the paper necessary for processing paper bills. If you switch to electronic billing at least four times a year, you will save approximately 1,000 pounds of wood each Christmas season. And not only is it better for the environment but it might also help you reduce your credit card balance by saving on postage fees.
Take Public Transportation
This tip may not be practical for everyone but if possible, take public transportation instead of driving everywhere. Consider how many times you go somewhere in a day and then add them all together to see what kind of mileage you achieve every week. This will help you determine if taking public transportation would save energy over time. When your car isn’t on the road, it’s not using gas or creating harmful emissions.
Switch Up Your Eating Habits
It’s not all about going vegan, though many people try it as a first step. Some of us want to be “green” but don’t have the time or money that a plant-based diet requires. Eating organic helps to decrease the number of pesticides entering our environment by keeping them out of farmlands. Plus you can rest assured that there are no additives in your food; nothing has been created in a laboratory setting. And save your leftovers.
Another habit you can foster is for meat-free Monday. This means eating vegetarian at least one day a week. That’s not much to ask for when you think about all the positive impact you can have on the planet by doing so. You don’t have to give up your favorite foods completely but just reducing this consumption will be an environmental boon in itself. The meat industry is estimated to contribute up to 51% of greenhouse gas emissions. And don’t think that just because you buy organic meat it’s automatically better for the environment – only if the animal was grass-fed.
Recycle Your Trash
This is a tip we can all do. With the help of recycling, we can reduce how much trash goes to landfills and also ensure that the trash we do use is as environmentally friendly as possible. The key here is not to throw too many things away in our household waste. It might be helpful to dedicate a separate bin for recyclable material instead of just throwing everything into the same place.
For example, you could have one trashcan designated for plastic or glass bottles and another for paper products such as empty milk cartons, newspapers, and cardboards. To ensure that these recyclables are properly handled and prepared for recycling, it’s important to secure them safely and neatly with the use of baling wires from Balingwiredirect.com before moving on through the recycling process. This way you don’t have to sort everything out once it’s been picked up from your doorstep. Just remember: only recycle what’s necessary.
The environment is one of the most important things to take care of. It’s something we all need and want for our children, future generations, and ourselves. The more people who try living greener lifestyles will help protect
Earth’s resources – it needs everyone’s contribution. Though you might have some obstacles that are difficult to overcome in your day-to-day life, there are many easy changes that can be made where any individual could make a difference if they commit themselves to it. With these tips as your guide, you can easily reduce your carbon footprint on this planet by following through with just a few simple steps every day. The good news is that even small changes can help improve our environment and health.
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