With talks of climate change and a desire for sustainable living, the question on a lot of people’s minds is, “How can I help?” Deciding to pursue a more eco-friendly lifestyle may be daunting, but even the littlest changes add up. You may find that it doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive to give a little love to this beautiful planet we call home.

While nature conservation is a good motive for sustainable choices, ensuring economic and social well-being, maintaining mental and physical health and providing a sustainable future for generations to come are also powerful incentives. Aside from a societal perspective, going green may cause you to uncover personal benefits you hadn’t considered, such as saving money and living healthier. The fact of the matter is this: There’s no harm in adopting a green ideology.

We all know the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle,” which provides consumers with broad direction when looking to minimize waste. The following tips provide more actionable advice for living environmentally friendly:

1

Power down

One of the most important actions to take when looking to reduce your carbon footprint involves turning off electric devices when you’re not using them. Simply hitting the off switch on televisions, computers and lamps will allow you to conserve energy and reduce your electric bills.

2

Take only what you need

Specifically when it comes to produce. Approximately 30 to 40% of the food supply in the United States ends up in landfills. As all of these items decompose, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Only buying what you will use saves money and further reduces your carbon footprint.

3

Zap your food

Microwaves are surprisingly energy efficient compared to conventional ovens, so using them as your preferred food-heating method can prove to be very beneficial. Plus, when it’s time to get a new microwave, your old one’s metal and glass components can be recycled. If you miss the crispness that reheating in an oven provides, it may be worth investing in a toaster oven, which also uses considerably less energy.

4

Choose care items carefully

You may believe if something is safe enough for your body then it’s safe for the environment, but that isn’t always the case. Microbeads are an extremely damaging component commonly found in body washes, toothpastes and face scrubs. These small bits of non-biodegradable plastic are added to products for exfoliating purposes. However, they pollute waterways and enter the food chain, producing environmental and health risks. Educate yourself on substances that are harmful for the environment and always read product labels.

Sources:

  1. fastweb.com/student-life/articles/the-15-easy-ways-students-can-go-green
  2. theartofsimple.net/tips-to-go-green-at-home/
  3. all-recycling-facts.com/benefits-of-going-green.html
  4. conserve-energy-future.com/21-good-reasons-to-go-green.php
  5. epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics

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