The best place to start caring for Earth is in your home.
Communities everywhere have begun making the switch to greener living and they’re encouraging their neighbors to do the same. You, too, can lead the way to a better future by taking action now. Here are 5 tips for how to live greener at home.
Compost at Home
Compost is organic material added to soil to aid plants’ growth. This means you can decrease the number of material in landfills while enriching your soil. The three basic ingredients for composting are:
- Browns
- Greens
- Water
Brown provides carbon, green provides nitrogen, and water breaks down the matter. Your pile should have an equal amount of browns to greens and alternate different sized organic materials throughout the layers. The EPA website has more information on how to compost at home.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Begin by reducing the clutter in your home and donating what you don’t need. Same goes for your pantry. If you’re not going to eat it, give it away.
Instead of using plastic, opt for reusables. You’ll be eliminating waste and saving space in landfills. Other materials and wood can also be reused for different projects.
You can recycle paper, plastic, technology, and even cars. This can benefit the environment and the economy by conserving valuable resources. All you have to do is remember and utilize the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle.
Cut Down on Energy Usage
Lower your monthly bills and help the environment by cutting down on energy usage. You can unplug appliances that aren’t being used, wash clothes in cold water, and invest in solar paneling. In 2019, reducing your energy at home is easier than ever.
Practice Mindful Water Conservation
Many already practice mindful water conservation without realizing it. Your household can make a difference by taking shorter showers, brushing your teeth with the sink off, and watering your yard in the morning when it’s cooler. Small adjustments can make a monumental impact when enough people participate.
Eat More Plant-Based Foods
You don’t have to go vegan to make a difference, but you can help by eating more plant-based foods and less meat. Livestock accounts for between 14.5 – 18 percent of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, worldwide. Focus on substituting meat, whenever possible.
How to Live Greener Outside the Home
Now that you know eco-friendly ways to change your lifestyle, learn how to live greener outside the home. You can participate in trail cleanups, use reusable water bottles, deny straws, and use a greener method of transportation.
Encourage your work to go green. You can pitch the idea of recycling bins, switching paperless billing, and adding filtered water systems to the public water fountains.
Spread the Word
It can be difficult to form new habits. By deciding to live more conscientious you’ve taken the first step to an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Share the tips you learned today for how to live greener with your neighbors.
Join the discussion on greener living by visiting our contact page.
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