Are you looking to live a more environmentally friendly life? It’s the kind of thing that everyone wants to do, but not everyone is sure how to go about making it happen. It’s not easy and these things aren’t always obvious. We’re going to talk about some of the first steps you can take to make it all a little bit easier.
It doesn’t need to be one long struggle. We’re all guilty of making mistakes and beating ourselves up over those things won’t do anything for you or the planet. Instead, we all just need to try to be a little bit better each day and each week. Read on now to find out about some of the ways in which you can get started with this.
Take a Fast Fashion Break
Fast fashion has been in the headlines in recent times, and that’s something we should all think about. When we buy cheap clothes, it’s nice and fun and we can go back for more later because, after all, it’s so cheap. But the disposable nature of those clothing items is bad for the environment. We can all do our bit by changing our purchasing habits and making sure we buy clothes that are going to be durable and what we intend to wear for a long time to come.
Try More Active Travel
Active travel means traveling in ways that are active, such as walking and cycling. Not only is that way of getting around good for you and your health, but it’s also good for the environment as well. It basically means that you spend less time in your car and that’s very good for the planet. Every time you take a trip in your car, you’re burning fossil fuels and releasing pollutants into the air. So you should definitely be trying to do a little less of that.
Start Collecting and Using Rainwater
Having a good rainwater tank can be really beneficial as you take steps to be more efficient and environmentally friendly in your day to day life. If you’re someone who has a large garden and you have to water the plants on a regular basis, you should definitely think about collecting rainwater. That way, you won’t have to use tap water to water your plants and do things like washing the side of your house and the garden patio. Rainwater can do a great job for those kinds of tasks.
Stick to Canvas Bags
The bags you use when you go to the shops matter too. We should all be using fewer plastic and disposable bags, so that’s definitely something for you to think about. Stick to canvas bags because they can be made in sustainable and green ways, and they’re also highly durable and strong so there’s no much chance of them breaking on you when you’re walking back from the shop. A couple of good canvas bags are all you’ll ever need.
Cut Down on Energy
Cutting down on the amount of energy you use in the home is definitely a good idea but it’s not so obvious how you do that. Simply not leaving your appliances on standby for quite as long is a good idea and cutting down on the amount of lights you leave on when they’re not really necessary is a good place to start. You can think about solar power options for your roof as well if you want to use energy in a more sustainable way.
Borrow More, Buy Less
If you’re someone who is always replacing old items and buying new products quite often, you should rethink that strategy. It’s often a lot better to borrow than to buy. If you can find a used item or an item that someone you know no longer wants, it makes sense to choose that option rather than buying something brand new. It’s a simple way to be a little more sustainable and to stop contributing to our disposable consumer culture.
Start Composting
Composting is another good idea. All you need to do is have one installed outside your home and start putting your garden waste in it. You can even put some food waste in there as well. Over time, you will start creating compost that can then be used in your garden as you’re growing plants, trees and shrubs. It’s a simple way to do something green and productive and your garden will benefit at the same time, so what’s not to like?
Put a Stop to Most Paper Mail
There’s no real reason to carry on having paper mail delivered to your house these days. You can put a stop to junk mail and you can let companies know that you only want to hear from them via email. Even banks and lenders are now happy to send your notifications and bank statements via email and they can be accessed via an online account in most cases too. Why waste paper when it can all be done digitally these days?
Cut Down on the Meat a Little
Dietary issues can be a touchy subject for many people, but it’s worth at least being aware of the impact the meat industry has on the planet. It’s certainly not a green option and that’s why many people are cutting out or cutting down on their meat consumption for environmental reasons. If you can eat just a little less meat, you’ll have a positive impact. And if everyone was to do the same, the overall impact on the environment would be huge.
If you want to run an environmentally friendly home, these are the kinds of changes you should be looking to make. Start small and begin making minor changes and they’ll eventually build up and progress over time, meaning you’ll gradually run a more and more efficient home and live a more environmentally friendly life.
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