Go green and embrace eco-friendly living by making these easy, but effective changes at home
Making small changes in your daily life can lead to big changes for the environment. Follow these simple tips to start living greener today.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
This classic mantra still applies. Rethink the ways you use objects, repurpose used goods and recycle the rest to create new products. You probably already know that paper, plastic, aluminum and glass can all be recycled, but you can also recycle things like computers, cell phones, glasses and nearly everything else you own.
Clean with Cloth
Paper towels can take up to 500 years to biodegrade in a landfill. Repurpose old tee-shirts and scrap fabrics into cleaning cloths instead of tossing paper towels away each time you clean.
Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Solutions
Chemical-based cleaners are bad for the environment and dangerous for your health. Clean your house the eco-friendly way using homemade solutions made with white vinegar, borax, lemon and other natural ingredients.
Air Dry Clothes
Instead of running the dryer, hang your clothes outside to save energy.
Use Green Transport
Cars make getting around easier, but they also release millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the air each day. Reduce your carbon footprint by using public transit, walking or biking instead of driving.
Use Reusable Cups
Think about all the coffees, lattes and cappuccinos you drink each year. Now picture each one of those paper cups in a landfill, then multiply it by millions to reflect every coffee-drinker in the world. Next time you get your caffeine fix, bring a reusable mug to save trees and prevent more trash from ending up in landfills.
Compost
Practice sustainable living [3] by turning food scraps and other organic waste into rich compost for your yard.
Turn Off Appliances
You may already turn off the lights when you leave a room, but do you unplug your phone charger when the battery is full or unplug the washer when the load is done? You should – plugged-in appliances use phantom energy, emitting carbon dioxide into the air.
Buy Local and Organic
Organic produce [4] does not contain environmentally-dangerous pesticides and is grown using sustainable practices. Buy it from your local farmers market to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions caused by transporting food from across the country or around the world.
Maintain Your Home
Keep your home in good repair to limit wasteful energy and water usage. Fix leaky faucets, replace your hot water heater with a pump or tankless heater, seal leaks in the windows and regulate the temperature with a programmable thermostat.
Do you live an eco-friendly life? Share your tips for greener living in the comments below.