It used to seem too much, going green by myself. I just remember thinking to myself, “What would it matter if I did anything at all?”
However, with time I became more aware of the fact that even the smallest choices, such as deciding to buy and use a reusable water bottle or shortening my showers by a minute, could truly have an impact. It’s always about doing what we can.
In this list, I will share 12 simple lifestyle changes you can make to decrease your carbon footprint and help create a healthier earth.
Cut Down on Single-Use Plastics
Plastic bottles, straws and grocery bags all cause pollution. These plastics end up in landfills or the ocean and take several hundreds of years to decompose.
You can switch to a reusable option, like stainless steel water bottles, cloth shopping bags, and silicone straws, instead of buying new plastic items each time they need replacing.
This mild change is sure to remove some of the plastic that finds its way into nature.
Use Energy-Efficient Appliances
Household electrical items use a lot of electricity, and having energy-saving models can greatly reduce this usage. Check for appliances with the Energy Star certification, which means that they are energy efficient.
These appliances use less electricity and also reduce your utility bills in the long run. From refrigerators to washing machines, a transition toward more energy-efficient models reduces the burden on power grids and diminishes the need for fossil fuels.
Become a Pedestrian or Cyclist for Short Trips
Is there a way to walk or ride your bike instead of driving those short distances? Because cars release greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, they are a major contributor to climate change.
If you have anything under a mile away to travel, then walking or biking is a green and healthy alternative.
Eat Less Meat and Dairy
Meat & dairy farming is one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters. Livestock farming demands large quantities of land, water and energy; the animals themselves generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
You do not have to quit meat completely. Even just cutting back on your consumption will make a difference. Eating more plant-based proteins (like beans and their cousin lentils), or going meatless a few days per week is one simple way to do this.
Unplug Devices When Not in Use
Those phone chargers and tech devices probably play a role in the spike. Even when powered off, many electronics are still drawing small amounts of energy.
Develop a routine to unplug all devices or use power strips that let you turn everything off at once. This small action can save you a ton of energy in the long run.
Convert to Clean Energy Sources
If renewable energy is available in your area, you can also choose to get a better electricity supply for your home and switch towards wind or solar or hydropower.
The energy powering your home can be sourced from renewable sources instead of fossil fuels and many utility companies offer green energy plans.
Reduce Water Usage
It’s amazingly simple and effective: conserve water. When we use less, the amount of energy required to pump and treat water for our homes is also reduced.
For instance, you can try turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or do other simple things, like fixing leaky faucets and installing low-flow showerheads, which can save thousands of gallons of water each year.
Quick showers or doing laundry with a full load saves water and energy when you can.
Shop Secondhand or Buy Less
It takes a lot of resources and energy (as well as waste from discarding old items) to produce new clothes, electronics, or furniture.
You can help to reduce demand for new items by shopping secondhand or limiting consumption. Good quality items can be found in thrift stores or even online marketplaces and secondhand shops for a fraction of the cost.
Opt for Public Transportation
Taking buses, trains and subways is a greener alternative than driving your own car. This subsequently helps in decreasing traffic congestion and individual carbon emissions; improving air quality.
If public transport is not an option, carpooling with others will also help reduce emissions.
Compost Food Waste
Food waste also generates methane in landfills, which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. This process creates a huge amount of methane; you can actually see it billowing into the air from the landfill sometimes at night.
When you compost your food scraps at home, less methane is produced by decomposition in the landfill and instead creates nutrient-rich soil for gardens or houseplants, which everyone knows are oxygen-producing.
You can do things like toss banana peels and old vegetable pieces into the compost bin, compost coffee ground and leftover food. Composting changes this waste product into an important resource while minimizing emissions produced by landfills.
Switch to LED Lighting
They last for ages (over 20 times longer than a traditional incandescent bulb), and when we use an LED bulb, it uses up to seventy-five percent less energy.
This means not only fewer replacements, but far less waste, too.
Plant Trees
If you plant trees or grow a garden at home, it will help to absorb carbon dioxide from the air and decrease greenhouse gas levels.
You can even plant your own vegetables, because store-bought produce has an environmental burden due to transportation and packaging (each of which carry a carbon footprint).
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