Earth Day has come and gone, but green living and eco-friendly habits shouldn’t just happen one day each year. Green living is good for the planet, and it also might help your financial bottom line too! A green lifestyle isn’t an overwhelming commitment, especially if you make small changes each month. Don’t try to change your lifestyle overnight; instead, look for ways to make your life a little greener throughout the year.
Green living means taking baby steps to decrease your carbon footprint. A green lifestyle helps preserve our planet for future generations. While the changes you make might seem small, even the tiniest improvements help make a difference.
Not sure where to begin? Look around your house and start with your lights. Switching those regular light bulbs for LED helps conserve energy and will save you money over time. Yes, they are more expensive, but the savings are well worth the investment. You also can save energy (and decrease your electricity bill!) by embracing natural light. Open up the drapes and blinds and let the sunlight illuminate the room.
Water also may be a source of waste in your home. Many of us leave the water running while we brush our teeth or wash our hands. Turn off that faucet! Little leaks also add up to water waste, and it’s important that you fix leaky faucets. You also can save water by installing low flow shower heads. While it might seem like a contradiction, you also can help save water by deep watering your lawn. This means that while you use more water at once, you use less over time.
One of the easiest ways to live a greener life is to embrace greenery! Grow a garden in your backyard or decorate your home with potted plants. If you choose to cultivate a produce garden, your bounty may help you eat healthier—we eat what we grow! Heading outdoors to work in your garden also may boost your physical activity or just help you feel happier. Always remember to wear sunscreen and a hat, though!
Your family also can begin a recycling program at home. Buy containers to sort plastic, paper and aluminum and be diligent about keeping these items from the trash. Not only does recycling ensure that certain items can have a second life, but you also may earn a little extra change in the process. Recycling also is a fun way to involve kids in learning about green choices. Teach them what materials can be used again.
Recycling also can involve your wardrobe. Instead of discarding t-shirts that are too worn or that have stains, cut them up and use them for dust cloths. Donate clothes that you no longer wear to thrift shops, because your trash may be someone else’s treasure. Even those butterfly collar blouses from the 70s are beloved by many! You also may decide to visit thrift stores to make your own purchases; thrift stores are a prime example of reduce, reuse and recycle! Buying used allows old items to have another life instead of ending up in a landfill, and, unfortunately, that is exactly where many old garments land.
If you drive or own a car, you can also help protect the environment by being aware that vehicles need maintenance on a regular basis. Keeping your tires properly inflated, changing oil regularly, replacing air filters, and checking your gas cap are important steps when taking care of your car’s life span. Routine maintenance helps reduce emissions and fuel consumption, while saving money at the pump.
Living greener should be a process of baby steps. While yes, you can wake up and decide to reinvent your life to reflect all shades of green, for most individuals, small changes are the best way to embrace an eco-friendly lifestyle. Try to make one lifestyle change each month. Turn off faucets while you’re brushing your teeth, change burned out bulbs for LED, and maybe begin a recycling program at home. If you have the space, grow your own food or just add more greenery in the home. Update your home office with energy-efficient equipment. All green plants help remove carbon dioxide from the air while oxygenating the environment. Over time, your small changes can help make a big impact on preserving our planet for future generations!
