These days, people are being more environmentally conscious in order to help our environment. They’re driving smaller, more fuel-efficient cars and carpooling to work to cut back on emissions, investing in energy-efficient appliances that consume less energy, and taking advantage of technological advances such as smart thermostats and LED lights, and integrating their home with their smartphones to manage their household and cut back on wasted energy. There are many other ways you can be eco-friendly that are also cost efficient. Here are a few tips to follow.
Ditch the Disposables
Using disposable cups, plates, and bowls can be useful, especially when you have a busy lifestyle and don’t always have time to wash dishes after a meal. However, using disposables too often can have a negative effect on our environment, since they sit in landfills, taking many years to break down. Invest in a reusable water bottle, and wash dishes as you dirty them so they don’t pile up.
Unplug
Unplugging can mean more than taking a break from the internet and social media. You can save money and help the environment by unplugging your appliances when you aren’t using them. There are a number of what are called “vampire appliances” that suck up unnecessary amounts of electricity, even when you aren’t using them. If it’s too much work to go around unplugging all your appliances, invest in some power strips instead and simply switch them off when you’re not using them.
Maximize your Water Usage
We often take readily-available access to water for granted, resulting it in being one of the most wasted resources in the U.S. Cut back on your water usage by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet while you’re brushing your teeth or in between scrubbing dishes. There are even areas of the U.S, such as Orange County in California’s, that are striving to be more eco-friendly with their water usage by patterning with environmentally-conscious organizations like Cadiz Water Project to ensure groundwater isn’t going to waste in their area, which sees frequent drought.
Be a Green Thumb
Growing your own food can help cut back on food waste and provide you with a rewarding experience knowing you’re eating something you helped grow from seed. Growing your own garden of simple vegetables can cut back on your carbon footprint, and eating your own homegrown food tastes good too.
Cut Back on Food Waste
People waste tons of food each year simply by buying more than they need while at the grocery store. Cut back on your food waste by taking inventory of what you tend to waste the most of and only buying what you need when you’re the store. It may seem like a good idea to buy that ten pound bag of potatoes, but if you’re a family of two, it may not be necessary. When you have excess food, instead of throwing it in the garbage, start a compost, which you can use in your vegetable garden to nurture the soil.
Fix Things
Today, we live in a throwaway society where when something breaks, we’re conditioned to replace it with new stuff. Instead of tossing out your old toaster because it’s not working properly or that dated microwave, fix them up so they run like new again. Doing this can add years to your appliances life. If you aren’t handy, repair cafes are an increasing trend, where you can take broken items in and have them repaired by people who know how to fix things up.
Use Clotheslines
Dryers are one of the most energy-consuming appliances in a person’s home. You may feel like your grandmother by hanging your clothes out to dry rather than tossing them in the dryer, but line drying your clothing can significantly cut back on your carbon footprint and save you money on your monthly energy bill as well.
These tips can significantly cut back on your energy output and don’t cost a lot of money. You’ll feel better knowing you’ve helped the environment and may even notice you’re actually saving money in the process, too.
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