Ways To Live A Greener Life

Living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle can happen by making some simple changes to your current lifestyle. Being eco-friendly means living with with intent not to harm the environment through your actions. Here are some simple suggestions to get started:

Eat less meat

More than thirty percent of the Earth’s surface is used to support livestock. This generates significant amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide that cause global warming. Reducing meat consumption reduces demand and the overall emission of global warming gases.

Use less paper and recycle more

Recycling one tonne of paper can save 17 mature trees. It takes less energy to create paper from used sheets than by creating ‘virgin’ paper. Recycling is easy and one of the best ways to live green.

Use canvas bags not plastic

Most stores offer a canvas bag alternative to their generic plastic bags. A canvas bag is sturdier than a traditional plastic or paper bag and can hold more goods.

Start a compost bin

Compost bins reduce waste by turning some of your waste food and garden cuttings into garden feed and compost. Invest in a compost bin or make your own.

Purchase the right light bulb

The next time one of your light bulbs burns out replace it with a more environmentally-friendly brand. These can last five times longer and use much less electricity than regular incandescent light bulbs.

More cloth, less paper

Instead of using paper towels when you clean, cut up an old t-shirt or other form of clothing to use as a rag instead. This saves you money, stops clothes going to landfill and can be used, washed and re-used repeatedly.

Reduce energy at home

Cutting back on energy you use in your home will lead to smaller energy bills and more money in your pocket, helping you and the planet.. First, lower your thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer. Unplug appliances not in use and wash clothes in cold water. Use a drying rack or clothesline to dry your washing.

Borrow instead of buying

Rent movies, borrow books from libraries and buy second-hand goods when possible. This doesn’t mean you have to settle for less, many items that you find in a used-goods store or online are just as good as the original.

Reduce water waste

Take a shorter shower in the morning or install a low-flow showerhead. Cut back on bottled water by purchasing a water filter to purify water to bottled-water standards.

Recycling a car

If you are looking for a new car, consider a more gas-friendly vehicle. You can auction your old car or recycle your vehicle if it is not road-worthy. At least ninety-five percent of every unusable vehicle is recycled each year. According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, about twenty-six vehicles are recycled throughout the world every minute.