How to start being greener
Wanting to make your lifestyle a bit more eco-friendly, but not sure where to start? Try some of our suggestions for simple things you can try to be a bit greener:
- Meatless Mondays. Good for the planet, and good for your health.
- Walk, don’t drive for short trips. Not only will it help the planet, but it will save your gas.
- Don’t store stuff in your car – you will save fuel (and money!) if your car is lighter.
- Reusable bags – not just for the grocery store, but for all your shopping. Keep some bags in your car and purse, so you have one when you need it.
- Buy once, buy well: stop buying poor-quality products. Yes they are cheaper in the short term, but when they (inevitably) break you have to throw them away and buy another one.
- Replace standard light bulbs with eco light bulbs.
- Turn lights off when you leave the room to save power.
- Close drapes when it gets dark to keep the heat in the house.
- Switch to solid shampoo bars and conditioners – less packaging to throw away or recycle
- Can you increase what you recycle? Or if you don’t recycle, start today! Got the basics covered? Then make sure you’re not adding items to recycling which aren’t accepted in your local area.
- Buy local – check the origin of your produce before you buy, or even better, head to your local farmers market.
- Don’t buy bottled water – get a reusable water bottle!
- Reduce clothes washing time, and make sure the machine is full – wash large loads once a week or even every second week to reduce wasted energy and water (an empty or half full washing machine wastes electricity).
- Take advantage of the sunniest days to reduce drying time as well.
- Try growing your own vegetables and herbs (this will also save a lot of money on your food bills!).
- Plant your garden with flowers that bees like. Bees are essential for pollination and keeping our ecosystem going.
- Plant one tree, or more if you have the space – one tree will make a huge contribution towards reducing harmful greenhouse gases.
- Get your kids involved – if you’re a parent, encourage your children to do recycling. Tell them about the benefits of recycling and how taking small steps can preserve the environment.
- Try cloth diapers – start by switching one diaper a day from disposable to cloth, then switch another, until you are disposable free (during the day at least). This will make a huge difference in the waste going to landfills