It’s no secret that we can do more to be eco-friendly. Take this sobering statistic as proof the Environmental Protection Agency reported that the U.S. produced 267.8 million tons of waste in 2017. Of that waste, only less than 100 million tons went on to be recycled or composted. Some went to use through combustion-based energy recovery. But 139 million tons ended up in landfills in a single year.
We can do better than that and you want to do better. Adopting an eco-friendly mindset at home will benefit the earth, but it will make you feel good, too. Plus, those who live green end up saving cash as they cut down on resource usage. We see that as a win-win.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to be more sustainable at home with these five tips:
- Start a Backyard Garden
It doesn’t get much more local than food from your backyard.
Starting a garden means you can put fresh, in-season fruits and veggies on the table for you and your family. It doesn’t take much to get started, either. Just choose a plot of land that receives enough sunlight. Your fast-growing produce, such as carrots and cucumbers, need between six and eight hours of sunshine each day.
Once you start plucking your fruits and veggies, you’ll be significantly shrinking your carbon footprint. Think about it when you buy produce at the grocery store, truckers have used fuel to transport it there. Harvesting from your backyard saves you from relying on a non-renewable resource. If you don’t have green space, then seek out nearby farmers and markets where you can purchase locally sourced food.
- Skip Plastic Water Bottles
Some statistics estimate that Americans go through 70 million plastic water bottles each day. You can cut down on your contribution to that figure by investing in a reusable water bottle.
Doing so can be fun for you and the rest of your family as well. Take everyone shopping to pick out their own sustainable bottle. Each person can select their favorite design, something unique to their preferences. That way, they’ll be excited to refill and reuse and you’ll all cut down on waste together.
- Swap Paper for Permanent
In a commercial setting, you’ll want paper towels for sanitary reasons. You can offset the fact that they’re one-time use by purchasing brands made from recycled paper, for example.
However, at home, you should skip out on these and other paper-based resources. You can wash and reuse hand towels to reduce your environmental impact. The same benefits come along with using kitchen tea towels over paper ones.
So, take a good look at your home and check out your single-use goods. Can you replace them with something you can wash and reuse? If so, make the switch and reduce your usage of natural resources. Once again, breaking this habit will save you cash over time, if you need a further incentive.
- Upcycle Before You Buy New
If you have a big purchase on the horizon, you can make it eco-friendly by forgoing brand new options. Instead, check out secondhand stores or apps through which people sell their gently used wares.
Buying used furniture means your purchase won’t require any new resources. Plus, you could be saving a large item from ending up in a landfill.
On that note, see if you can find a swap group on Facebook or another social media platform. You can swap your unused items with someone who needs them, and vice-versa. This resource is especially helpful for moms as their kids grow exchange baby clothes, toys and more without spending a dime.
- Replace Store-Bought Cleaners
Your green mindset should extend to not-so-obvious places, too. For starters, crack open the cabinet under the sink. All of those store-bought cleaners you use could be filling your home and the atmosphere with toxins. But you can improve indoor air quality by substituting these chemical-laden solutions for non-toxic ones you whip up yourself.
Ingredients like lemon, vinegar, baking soda and plain old water can accomplish the job. For instance, you can mix baking soda with water to create a paste with which to clean your countertops, appliances and more. Water, white vinegar and rubbing alcohol will bring your window to an extraordinary shine. Remove the alcohol and add a lemon rind to create an all-purpose cleaner it smells nice, too.
Best of all, you can throw together these non-toxic recipes as you need them. You won’t use any dangerous chemicals, nor will you purchase bottle after plastic bottle as you run out. It’s a win-win for you and the environment we love to see it.
- Go Green and Go Home
You already have the right idea you want to go eco-friendly. Now, you have five major ways to bring yourself closer to that goal. These tips are just the beginning, of course. You can adopt a seemingly endless number of new tactics to make your lifestyle greener. And for that, both you and the planet will feel so much better.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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