The earth’s human population is currently at about 7.9 billion, and it’s projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, according to the United Nations. As the number of people increases, it’ll continue to put a huge strain on the planet.
Living a green lifestyle is a great solution for most environmental problems. What’s more, going green can also help you save money. Contrary to popular opinion, taking action to protect our earth isn’t hard.
Below are easy ecofriendly tips that you can implement in your everyday life.
1. Practice Green Driving
Driving your car every day is the most polluting thing you can do. Emissions from driving can contribute greatly to pollution and global warming. Additionally, the poor air quality from the emissions can lead to significant health problems.
While automobiles have gotten a nasty reputation, there are ways you can drive greener and protect your environment. The following environmentally friendly driving tips can help reduce your carbon footprint.
- Get a car that’s fuel-efficient and emits the lowest amounts of greenhouse gases
- Drive slower and avoid hard accelerations
- Never idle for more than 30 seconds in your car
- Keep up with regular car maintenance
- Try using renewable fuels
- Practice shifting gears smoothly if you have a manual transmission car
- Walk, bike, or take public transportation
- Use the right type of oil
- Ensure your tires are properly inflated
- Lay off the AC for a while
- Don’t overfill your tank
2. Use Solar Power
The world is currently facing several severe crises, including global warming. One of the major contributors to the green-house effect is harmful carbon dioxide and methane emissions from traditional energy sources.
Using solar power can help you enjoy a greener lifestyle. Solar energy is a renewable, clean form of electricity. It’ll help reduce the carbon footprint since it doesn’t release any gases or other harmful chemicals.
In addition, it’ll lower your energy bill. Apart from the labor costs you pay the solar installation company, there are no other costs needed. Solar panels are also low maintenance and have no noise output. In case you decide to sell your property, solar power can help increase its value.
3. Give Up Your Plastic Habit
Since plastic is cheap, lightweight, and durable, it has become ubiquitous in modern life. However, it has caused major damage to our environment. It can cause blockage of water channels, animal chocking, and landscape disfigurement. What’s more, it releases toxic substances in the air that cause pollution.
If you’re going green, you may need to stop using plastic. Transitioning from plastic to more eco-friendly options can start small. Here are ways you can reduce your plastic waste:
- Stop using plastic straws instead, buy stainless steel or glass straws
- Carry a reusable bag when you go shopping
- Give up chewing gum
- Stop buying foods and drinks packaged in plastic
- Carry a reusable coffee cup or flask
- Avoid using disposable plastic lighters
- Ditch cling wrappers and plastic cutlery
- Use cloth or eco-friendly disposable diapers
- Opt for a razor with replaceable blades
4. Simplify Your Shopping Habits
The purchases you make play a role in the collective impact on the planet. If you buy too many things that you won’t use or need, you are engaging in mindless consumerism, which can be bad for the environment.
Oftentimes, these items end up in landfills to degrade and destroy your soil and water systems. What’s more, too much consumerism leads to the depletion of resources.
If you’re thinking about living a green lifestyle, you should rethink and revise your daily consumption and shopping habits. You can start buying less. Avoid shopping online when you’re bored, as it increases the chances of impulsive buying. When you go shopping, ensure you buy things that last.
Additionally, you should practice green consumption. This means you should buy and use only eco-friendly products and services. Also, buy local products. It’ll help reduce the carbon footprint.
5. Conserve Water
Did you know that while nearly 71% of the planet’s surface is covered in water, only 3% of that is fit to drink?
This means there isn’t a drop to waste. Freshwater is a precious resource. It’s what makes our planet unique and habitable. Whether or not you’re facing a water shortage, it is important to conserve your water for a greener lifestyle.
Below are a few tips to help you save more water:
- Turn off the tap when it’s not in use
- Run your laundry and dishwasher only when it’s full
- Reduce your shower time
- Fix leaks
- Use energy-efficient, water-saving devices
- Try using drip irrigation to water your plants
- Wash your hands, fruits, and vegetables in a pan rather than leaving the water running while you clean off
Benefits of Switching to a More Ecofriendly Lifestyle
While it may be difficult to ditch old habits, eco-friendly changes can help you to improve your life. Here are some benefits of green living.
Live Healthier
Activities like walking or cycling instead of driving do more than contribute to less pollution. It’ll help you stay fit. You will not only burn some calories, but you’ll also reduce your stress levels. Since going green reduces pollution, your chances of getting sick are low.
Save Money
Going green will leave you with extra cash in your wallet. You will be able to save on your monthly water and energy bills. Other sustainable actions that help you save money include reducing your mindless consumerism and opting for green forms of transportation.
Clean and Green Environment
When you go green, you reduce your carbon footprint. Reducing pollution helps lower g the amount of energy that is being consumed, making your environment greener and cleaner. It also slowdowns climate change
Make Your Community More Sustainable
Looking to go green? The aforementioned ecofriendly tips can help. When you practice these tips, you’ll be able to protect our plant. You can also encourage your community to take up the green lifestyle.
Check out our Home category for more sustainable lifestyle tips.
