Living green doesn’t have to be complicated.
It’s the little things we do each day that add up to make a significant green impact
over time.
Many people just want to know what they can do to live green.
And when it comes down to it, what people do every day is what makes a cumulative
difference.
The Green 18
Here are 18 easy-to-implement tips to help you live greener every day.
#1. Turn lights off when you leave a room.
#2. Use LED or compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) instead of incandescent bulbs.
These really do cut down on your energy use. Don’t forget outdoor lighting.
Use energy-efficient floodlights if you have them, and use solar lights for your steps
and driveway.
#3. When you wash dishes, don’t leave the water running while you scrub the dishes.
Put dirty dishes into a sink or dishpan full of soapy water, scrub them, then dip
them into a sink or tub of rinse water.
If you are concerned about germs, boil a couple of cups of water in the microwave
and pour the hot water over the rinsed dishes to sterilize them (the hot dishes will
dry faster too).
#4. Don’t flush the toilet after every visit.
Liquid waste does not have to be flushed away each time.
Every flush uses about 1.6 gallons of water.
So each time you refrain from flushing, you’re saving 1.6 gallons.
That can add up over the course of the month.
#5. Eat local food whenever you can.
Local food means the food travels fewer miles to get to your plate or store.
Fewer miles mean fewer emissions and less fossil fuel.
#6. Organic food is preferable to conventionally-grown food.
Organic food is grown in a sustainable manner, making it a much greener choice.
#7. Support local businesses.
Once again, imported items use a lot of fuel.
Try to buy whatever you can from local producers, craftspeople, and so forth.
#8. Streamline your recycling.
Most of us recycle, but you may not be recycling everything you could be.
Effective recycling goes beyond just glass, plastic, paper and metal.
For example, don’t toss out old electronics.
See if they can be donated, refurbished, or recycled.
Old appliances can be donated to a second-hand store.
#9. Reuse, repurpose, upcycle items as much as possible instead of discarding
them.
For example, I always try to find ways to reuse glass jars for other purposes such
as food storage, for DIY cleaning products or for drinking glasses.
#10. Reduce your use of plastic bags.
Carry your own cloth tote and food storage bags with you when you go shopping.
Try not to bring plastic bags home with you.
#11. Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
#12. Augment your household heat with space heaters and other energy-
efficient heating.
#13. Install a programmable thermostat.
It is much more precise regarding temperature setting, and you don’t have to worry about
forgetting to turn the heating down when you leave the house or go to bed.
#14. Install curtains and blinds that you can open to let the sunshine in on cold,
sunny days.
Then close them at night to keep cold air out.
#15. Insulate your home and use weather stripping on your doors and windows.
#16. Use fans and open windows instead of air conditioning.
#17. Carpool, bike, walk or take public transport to work or school whenever you can.
You can even carpool with your neighbors or family for errand running.
#18. Don’t buy bottled water.
Filter your water and carry it with you from home in a glass or stainless steel water bottle.
Help keep plastic bottles out of the waste stream!
See, that wasn’t so hard!
Incorporate these easy to implement habits into your family’s daily routine and
see for yourself how easy it is to be green!
What every day green tips would you add to this list?
What are your best suggestions for living green every day?
Share your tips, thoughts and comments with us.
“Shared on Fabulously Frugal Thursday”
“Shared at Natural Family Friday”
“Shared on Mostly Homemade Mondays”
One thing I keep meaning to try are rechargeable batteries. We used them when my ds18 was a lot younger and found them a bit difficult to deal with. I’m sure they’re much easier now.
Thanks for the 18 eco-friendly suggestions you provided at https://urbannaturale.com/live-it-up-at-the-healthy-happy-green-natural-party-blog-hop-37/. There are so many little steps we all can take to help save our natural resources and not pollute. Only buying small amounts of fresh produce and eating it right away, is healthier and eliminates having to toss out stuff that rots before I get to use it. Composting scraps afterwards would be a good idea to cut down on pollution too. So many wonderful articles in this week’s link-up.
Hi Nancy,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful green suggestions with me. So much good food goes to waste, so I am so glad that you mentioned how important it is to buy small amounts of fresh produce and eat it right away–as well as the importance of composting. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me. I appreciate it!
Great tips. Thanks for linking up to Pin Worthy Wednesday, I have pinned your post to the Pin Worthy Wednesday Pinterest Board.
Hi Keitha,
So glad to make a wonderful new blogging friend! Thanks for pinning my post to the Pinworthy Board, I appreciate it!
These are great!! I think I would add a electronic free day or at least an hour…. put that cell phone down or turn off the TV! Now-a-days that’s a hard one for most, but every little bit counts!
Thanks for sharing, visiting from CTWW!
-Cinella @ The Mami Blog
Hi Cinella,
I totally agree with you. An electronic free day or period of time is such an ecofriendly and healthy tip! Imagine what else we could do with those hours!
Great tips! I just can’t get used to those new light bulbs though.
I use a Brita water bottle and it filters tap water as I drink. Portable and perfect for travel!
These are great tips! #10 is written about plastic shopping bags, but there are also ways to reduce use of plastic food bags: You can store food in a reusable container like a glass jar (as you mentioned) or wash and reuse plastic bags. Many of the bags in which food is packaged can be reused for storing food; I especially like the bags that come inside boxes of cereal and crackers, which make excellent freezer bags.
One of my favorite green habits is reusable feminine hygiene products because they are just far more comfortable, in addition to conserving resources and money!
Hi Becca,
Those are great tips regarding reeducing the usage of plastic shopping bags. Thanks for sharing them, I appreciate it!
Wish everyone who reads this would consider replacing bottled water (#18) with a home (RO) or pitcher water filter. In the long run, it’s more economical and much much better for the environment. I’m pinning and stumbling this!
Hi Nancy,
You are so right about that! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and for Pinning and Stumbling this! I appreciate it.