We’ve all heard the term “going green” before, but what does that mean? By definition, going green is about making conscientious decisions to lessen your environmental impact. The phrase also refers to a general shift towards environmentally friendly practices and policies.
Many people struggle with going green in their everyday life or even just at home, which seems like it would be easy enough. That’s why we put together this list of ideas for you to try today.
1. Use Reusable Water Bottles
Saving the planet doesn’t always mean breaking the bank. You can be sustainable by making small changes that won’t cost too much of a hassle. To try this out for yourself, buy a reusable water bottle and carry it around with you whenever you go out.
You can also make a couple of extra reusable water bottles filled with tap water and store them in the fridge for when you need to grab a cold drink. Doing so saves you a trip to the store and cuts down on packaging.
2. Unplug Chargers When they’re Not in Use
There might be times when you go out for the day or leave your home, but don’t forget to unplug your phone or laptop when you do so. This way, you’ll save yourself money on your electric bill by avoiding phantom energy use.
Keeping chargers plugged in when they’re not needed still draws energy and costs money, but it’s completely avoidable if you take the time to unplug them after charging is complete.
3. Fix Dripping Faucets
Dripping taps can waste your water resources and costs money — let’s not forget about the hassle of not knowing when your water bill will be. Luckily, fixing simple drips is cheaper than you might think it would be.
If you’re not sure you can do it yourself, get in touch with a professional. But if you are confident enough to have a go at it, take off the decorative cap that covers the screw on the base of your tap and tighten up any loose screws that might be causing problems.
4. Avoid Pre-packaged Foods
The best way to go green is by eliminating waste where you can. However, you cannot always find a sustainable store that sells your needs. If that’s the case, you can limit your purchases of pre-packaged food or reach out to your local farmer’s market instead. This way, you’ll be able to reduce packaging waste while supporting sustainable agriculture.
5. Refurbish Items
Buying refurbished items takes a little creativity. If you’re someone up for the challenge, maybe it’s time to take a look at your storage and see if you can recycle or repurpose anything.
You can also save much more when buying used or refurbished products than new ones. There are a lot of great deals at garage sales. Plus, you’re getting good-quality items that won’t end up in the landfill because they were thrown away.
6. Install Solar Panels
Sustainable electricity is a huge step to go green at home, but it’s also a fantastic one. Developing your energy reduces your carbon footprint and reduces the pollution from electricity use.
If you don’t own one yet, this is one of the greenest decisions you could make for your home. But what if installing panels is out of your price range? In that case, there are many solar companies out there that can supply sustainable electricity to help people like you.
7. Turn Off Lights When Not in Use
It can be easy to forget about powering off the lights if they’re not in the room you’re currently occupying. In that case, stick a post-it on the light switch or leave a note on the light switch to remind yourself. This way, there’s no excuse for not turning it off when you leave the room.
Is that too big of a hassle for you? Another option is to install occupancy sensors in your home. These work by detectors, so when an area is unoccupied, it automatically turns off the lights and other appliances instead of keeping them on when there’s no one there to benefit from it.
So, there you have it! Easy tips for making your home more sustainable. While some of these things might require a little more effort than others, they’re all worth it in the end. Not only will you be helping the environment, but you’ll also be saving yourself some money in the process. So go ahead and try out a few of these tips – we promise you won’t regret it!
