Tired of feeling guilty about your impact on the environment—but aren’t sure where to start? Good news: becoming more eco-friendly at home is easier than you might think. With a few simple adjustments to your daily habits and routines, you can reduce your carbon footprint, conserve energy and resources, and contribute to a more sustainable future. So why not take the first step towards a greener lifestyle? It’s time to turn your home into an eco-friendly haven, and I’ve got the tips to help you get started. In celebration of Earth Day—today!—let’s chat about how to go greet at home. At the end of the day, Anne Marie Bonneau said it best: “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”
Why is sustainaBLE LIVING important?
Being a steward of the environment is vital for the longevity of our planet, our communities, and all living organisms. Simply put, it improves the quality of our lives. Being eco-conscious helps protect our ecosystems and preserves natural resources. Especially for future generations. However, sustainability is a complex, nuanced topic. Be it beliefs, perspectives, lobbying, or awareness, we all come from different vantage points. That said, there are many eco-living and sustainability tips you can implement. Best of all, you can do it without feeling overwhelmed or pulling from your savings. In fact, being more sustainable will actually save you money in the long run.
On a personal note: sustainability has been on my mind since our son, Wilson, was born. Our planet and our children’s futures are at stake. At times, it can feel so heavy. Rather than tackle everything at once, I try and focus on little things, every day, that can leave a lasting impact. A ripple effect, if you will. Within our means, my husband and I are constantly evolving our lifestyle, swaying our habits in a more eco-friendly direction. Together, we want to live simpler, be more mindful, and set a positive example for our son.
Accessibility and Privilege
There is something incredibly profound about aligning with the earth’s cycles and rhythms. After all, it’s a beautiful, natural way to connect with something greater than yourself. However, sustainability isn’t a global priority. In part, due to accessibility. Accessibility is one of the most contradictory pieces of this puzzle. Access to eco-friendly household products, minimizing plastic, eating organic food, etc. is extremely (and unjustly) polarizing.
a deep inequity in the sustainability movement
While this 2019 study indicates that over 80% of Americans and Australians want to learn how to live more sustainably, it doesn’t speak to global populations that simply can’t prioritize it. These lower socio-economic communities have other imperative needs. Like, allocating expenses for food, water, and rent. Pursuing an eco-friendly lifestyle is a blip on their radar. There is a deep, deep inequity woven into the sustainability movement. As with other industries, inclusion and diversity are scarce. In many ways, being eco-friendly (to any degree) leaves out a majority of the world’s population. After all, it is a privilege to afford sustainable alternatives—especially in the fashion industry. Want to read more about creating equitable, healthy, and sustainable communities? You can do that here. We have a long way to go, but environmental justice is on the rise.
10 Easy eco-living and sustainability tips
If you have the means to make a few simple lifestyle changes, this is your nudge. Rather than overhaul your entire lifestyle, do what you can, with what you have. When possible, encourage others to do the same. Think about easy, realistic ways you can create a ripple effect. Here are a few ideas:
1. Unplug appliances when they’re not in use
Your households appliances are wasting energy, even when they’re not turned on, Instead of leaving things like your coffee maker and toaster plugged in, indefinitely, unplug them when you’re not using them. Same goes for unplugging / turning off lights. Speaking of, now might be the time to consider energy-efficient light bulbs.
2. swap out your plastic sponge
Not only do plastic sponges harbor a ton of bacteria, but they aren’t exactly eco-friendly, either. Here’s my favorite wooden dish scrubber. Another kitchen swap: organic cloth towels or Swedish dish towels for paper towels. This is also a more economical option.
3. Turn off the faucet
By simply shutting off the faucet when you’re brushing your teeth, you can save gallons of water per day. Similarly, you can conserve water while washing your hands. And here’s another tip: use your dishwasher. You may feel more virtuous to wash by hand, but it’s actually more wasteful. You use up to 27 gallons of water per load by hand versus as little as 3 gallons with certain dishwashers.
4. Let your dishes air dry
Instead of using the heat-dry function on your dishwasher, consider selecting an air-dry cycle to dry your dishes. This will save a percentage of your dishwasher’s energy use. If you don’t have this option on your dishwasher, just crack open the door to let your dishes dry once your load has finished washing.
5. Calculate your carbon footprint
Determining your carbon footprint is the first step toward minimizing it. You can calculate it here. Knowledge is empowering.
6. Opt for quality animal protein
When possible—and if it fits in your budget—choose pasture-raised (or in the very least, organic) meat, eggs, milk, dairy, and seafood. Study after study shows that the conventional meat industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. For more on this, watch Kiss The Ground. This documentary covers regenerative farming and how we can help reverse climate change through our grocery shopping and farming practices.
7. Focus on minimally processed foods
If budgeting for high-quality meat isn’t practical, fill your grocery basket with colorful veggies and fruit, canned beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Unprocessed foods are a better bang for your buck—nutritionally and financially. You can make delicious, nutritious meals from simple pantry staples.
8. Eat with the seasons
Because of modern day agriculture, technology, and logistics, food is easily transported all over the world. This is both a blessing and a curse. Ultimately, food in season tastes better. And it’s cheaper. Citrus hits different in the winter. Juicy tomatoes are summer’s candy. You get the gist. Naturally-ripened fruits and vegetables—grown and picked in season—are typically full of flavor and nutrients. Additionally, eating with the seasons is better for the environment. Most of us give little thought to the environmental impact of traveling produce. However, so much of our produce is imported. But eating seasonally means significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions, since your food travels fewer miles to get to your plate.
9. Start composting
Environmentalists could reel off a long list of reasons for keeping your food scraps and other household waste out of the trash can. For starters, compost adds nutrients and organic matter back to soil, which benefits agriculture, reduces our reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and diverts methane-producing materials from landfills. Invest in a small compost bin for your kitchen scraps! I have all the tips and resources you need to start composting (beginner-friendly).
10. Deepen your appreciation for nature
Spend time outside. Add herbs to your windowsill. If you have the space, start a garden. The more time you spend in—and with—nature, the more you’ll want to integrate these eco-living and sustainability tips.
Images courtesy of Unsplash. This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Wellness with Edie, a free resource for readers and followers.
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