“How can I become more eco-friendly?” is a question many ask themselves. If so, congratulations! It’s the first step in helping the environment. As more people participate in an eco-friendly lifestyle, everyone and everything in our environment will improve.
One of the most straightforward definitions of eco-friendly is “not harmful to the environment.” There’s nothing complicated about that, is there? One of the most extraordinary things about becoming eco-friendly is that it usually doesn’t require drastic lifestyle changes, and you can even start small if you wish.
The following information includes several suggestions for making yourself more environmentally conscious and helping the planet in small ways that can be implemented immediately.
Eco-Friendly Carpooling
Unfortunately, most vehicles on the roadways today are transporting a single passenger. If everyone took the initiative to carpool, it would immediately reduce traffic on those days by 50 percent. Even if done only once or twice a week, this percentage represents a HUGE difference! In short, carpooling save participants’ money on gas, car repairs, reduces air pollution and helps lower the usage of fossil fuels.
Recycle
If you still need to participate in your city’s recycling program, there’s no better time to begin. It is easier than you think. Take the time to educate yourself regarding any state or city-specific requirements you may need to abide by. Requirements may differ from city to city.
Examples of the most common items to recycle are aluminum (cans, specifically), paper, glass, plastic, outdated electronics, and batteries.
Buy from Eco-Friendly Local Businesses
One of the premier ways to reduce your “carbon footprint” is by helping to reduce the demand for long-distance shipping from point A to point B. When you buy locally, not only are you helping local merchants and farmers, but fewer long-distance shipments mean fresher food on the table, more money in your local economy, and lower air pollution levels. It may only be possible for certain products but strive to buy locally whenever you can.
Eco -Friendly Composting
One of the most popular, efficient, and easy ways most people can participate in the eco-friendly lifestyle is to recycle organic materials by Composting. Setting up a compost bin at home is easy, so there’s no excuse not to start immediately!
Conserve Energy
Try these easy examples:
- Place weather-stripping around doors and windows
- Turn out lights when leaving a room
- Turn off the water when washing your face and brushing your teeth
- Use cold water for laundry purposes
- Unplug appliances when not in use
- Replace furnace and air conditioner filters regularly
- Install skylights for more natural lighting
Plant More Trees
Trees are essential in so many ways. They clean the air, provide homes for wildlife, produce oxygen, prevent soil erosion, and more. If you take the initiative to plant trees in your yard, you help support all these things and provide a shady spot to relax after a long day.
We’ve just discussed some things you can do to be more eco-friendly. Obviously, you can do some things in a day, but taking the process to develop slowly makes it easier to acclimate to a slightly different routine.
The changes you make will help the environment after a period of consistent application. But, with a little due diligence, consistency, and perseverance, we can together improve our planet for our families for generations to come.