Unsure of where to start for a green lifestyle? Join the club! Forget making 20 changes at once – check out these 5 simple tips to make your home just a little greener.
When it comes to making green lifestyle changes, it often feels like the conversation revolves around purchasing sustainable products. However, being eco-friendly isn’t just about owning sustainable products. It can start with simple decisions that promote a cleaner environment.
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Environmental Activist, Wangari Maathai, once said “Education, if it means anything, should not take people away from the land, but instill in them even more respect for it, because educated people are in a position to understand what is being lost. The future of the planet concerns all of us, and all of us should do what we can to protect it.[…] You don’t need a diploma to plant a tree.”
How true. While I may not have a PhD or understand much about environmental science, I can do my research and “plant a tree” or at least some herbs. So, keep reading for small ways that we can all pursue a green lifestyle, caring for the future of our planet.
“Save the Jungle!”
Growing up, my mother had a strict water off and on policy while showering. I would get so annoyed when she would yell “Save the Jungle!” or something similar if I started daydreaming in the shower. Now, as an adult, I’ve grown to appreciate her thinking (funny how that happens…). But that doesn’t mean I don’t crave a long, hot shower. However, not only does watching water usage save me money, it’s also a responsible use of earth’s natural resources.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, nearly forty states in America will experience water shortages by 2024. When you think about the fact that the average person uses between 80-100 gallons of water per day, that’s no surprise. While many standard appliances are growing in efficiency, there are still ways that we can do our part to conserve water.
A “Splash” of Advice for a Green Lifestyle
Having never lived in a state that experiences drought or long dry seasons, water conservation has never been high on my environmental priority list. However, as I’ve learned more about it, I’ve realized how important it is to conserve all of our natural resources, even in times of plenty. A few ways I’ve grown more eco-friendly with my water usage include:
- Turning the water off while brushing teeth
- Taking shorter showers or turning the water off while washing
- Not flushing every time I use the toilet (unless it’s smelly or there’s company over)
- Avoiding unnecessary washing of clothing
On another note, don’t skimp on your water consumption (just avoid using plastic water bottles). One of the healthiest lifestyle changes we can all make is to drink more water!
Heat & AC
Another idea that will also help keep that utility bill down! Personally, I find it easy to mindlessly run the air conditioning or furnace, even when our apartment doesn’t really need it. According to the Department of Energy, air conditioning uses 6% of all the electricity in the United States. In addition, it is responsible for 117 million metric tons of carbon dioxide entering our air! I’m not advocating for never using your AC, but these facts certainly inspire me to use it much less.
In contrast with roughly three quarters of the United States, only 8% of the 2.8 billion people living in the hottest countries in the world have air conditioning. Considering I live in Minnesota, I think I can limit my air conditioning use to when it is most necessary. Of course, our bodies all have different needs (and some are medical!), but we also adjust to what we are used to.
There’s no sugar coating it, winters in Minnesota are really cold. Heating is definitely a necessity, especially if you don’t want your pipes to freeze or your plants to die. Trust me, keeping houseplants alive during a Minnesotan winter is a feat. On average, heating our homes makes up about 42% of our electrical bills, as well as creating environmental emissions.
A Lukewarm Life
So, maybe there’s an in between where I’m not constantly cranking on the AC or the heat. A few ways I’ve been fighting the urge to hit the button include:
- Wearing more clothing inside in the winter (all the sustainable, cozy sweaters)
- Sleeping under thick, warm blankets with the heat off in the winter
- Opening windows and closing blinds in the summer
- Turning off heating and cooling when we’re not home
- Letting my body adjust to the different seasons
Dog Waste Clean Up
If you’re lucky, you might have a snuggly puppy to get you through the winter season. My husband dreams of the day he can have a puppy. Well, in reality, he does more than dream. Manuals have been read, videos watched, breed picked out, and a training plan is in place. Mind you, we are at least a year away from being able to take on a puppy. But, will we be the most prepared dog owners? Absolutely.
Right now, the American Pet Products Association estimates that there are roughly seventy-seven million dogs living in American households, producing ten million tons of waste. While I personally know many wonderful dog owners who responsibly pick up after their animals, there are many who do not (let’s be real, we’ve all stepped in it).
The Puppy Poo Facts
Dog poop is an environmental and human hazard. If left, it can seep into our water and earth, polluting it. In addition, it also contains many harmful parasites and bacteria for humans. WARNING: gross fact ahead (proceed at own risk). According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), fourteen percent of Americans test positive for Roundworms (found in dog feces). Also, how does one even know to get tested for that? Should I be tested for that? Too much to think about.
Moral of the story. Let’s protect each other and our earth, by disposing properly of our adorable fluff-ball’s poop. How to do that? There are a few different ways:
- Compost it. This requires some extra work on your part. I recommend reading this USDA information about how to compost dog poop properly
- Research your town’s policy on flushing dog poop
- Use compostable dog waste bags (check out these Earth Rated bags!)
At the end of the day, it certainly doesn’t cost you to pick up after your dog, but it could cost you and others if you leave it (Was that too cliché of a statement? It totally was. Ignore me).
Recycle Properly (Consider Composting)
Let’s move on to another issue of disposal! Anyone else out there confused by recycling? There are all these little numbers surrounded by arrows on recyclables. It’s seems like so much to keep track of, and each community handles recycling differently. The reality is that many Americans want to recycle, they just don’t know how to do it correctly. There certainly are a lot of rules!
Be a Green Lifestyle Librarian
Here’s my advice. Do your research. We have the internet at our fingertips, and each municipality has different information about how to recycle properly in your area. But, know this: recycling improperly can be harmful. This can be due to contamination from food residue, a recycling facility’s inability to process some materials, or the overwhelming amount of plastic (State of the Planet).
Try to focus on purchasing products in materials that can be recycled easily (glass and metal have indefinite recycling lives). Look into composting if possible (many soiled pizza boxes can be composted, but they can’t be recycled). Ultimately, do the best you can. There will be times that most of us find ourselves purchasing plastic due to what is available to us. Awareness and putting in effort are great places to start your journey toward a more sustainable lifestyle.
A Green Lifestyle Choice
And finally, the easiest part of all (well, maybe…it depends on your impulse control). When first starting a journey toward a green lifestyle, it’s easy to want to change the world all at one time. Unfortunately, getting rid of everything you own to buy sustainable versions, is still not sustainable. It’s ok to use what you already have, even if those items aren’t eco-friendly. Creating more waste by disposing of your old items definitely doesn’t solve the problem.
Use What You Have
I’ve found that my best practice is to replace old items with sustainable versions when they actually need to be replaced. Yes, it’s a slow process, but it’s better for my pocketbook and for the environment. It also gives me plenty of time to research the best sustainable products.
For example, my razor is a plastic razor with a replaceable head. I bought a multi-pack of razor heads a long time ago, and I’ve been slowly working my way through them. Once I finish that multi-pack, I’m going to purchase a non-plastic razor. I’ve known that for some time, which means I’ve had time to research what kind of sustainable razor to replace it with.
Plant a Tree
There are so many more ways we can respect the legacy of Wangari Maathai (who, by the way, was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Prize). I plan to continue educating myself as I journey toward a green lifestyle, and I hope you will join me. I’m rooting for you! Get it? It’s a tree pun…rooting…never mind.
We all have ways we can contribute. Maybe it’s planting a tree, or it could be one of the points we’ve talked about in this blog post. I’m sure you also have thoughts about how we can care for the environment, and I would love for you to join in this green conversation. But, for now…
Be Well. With Love.
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