Being an environmentally conscious person doesn’t have to take up a ton of time.
There are a lot of things you can do to lessen your impact on the environment.
Many of them are free or incredibly cheap, and take almost no time.
Some of them actually help save you time!
Switch to E-Mail Alerts
If you have easy access to the internet, you can really cut down on the amount of junk mail you get.
Practically every company now lets you sign up for e-mail statements and alerts, instead of getting
paper statements every week or month.
Trees may be a renewable resource, but forests are not!
Cut down on the paper products that you can.
Take Care of Your HVAC System
Keeping your heating and air conditioning updated and clean is important for more than just
saving money.
It does save money, of course, but it also keeps your home running at peak efficiency.
You’ll use less electricity for air conditioning, and less oil, gas, or electric for heat in the winter!
Try a Bike Ride
If your commute is pretty short, or if you’re just heading around the block, you really don’t
have to drive.
Walking or biking is great for you, gets your daily workout out of the way, and lets you cut
down on your carbon footprint.
There are plenty of other personal benefits to regular exercise as well, but nothing beat
promoting a greener mode of transportation.
Recycle
You probably already do this, but recycling is important!
There have been a lot of updates to what certain towns and municipalities will take, so keep
an eye out for changes.
Most places will collect your recycling, and as long as it mostly follows the rules for what they
want, the companies will take it.
They won’t collect an entire collection of plastic bags and other garbage, of course, but don’t
worry if you accidentally toss in one thing that doesn’t fit the bill.
Stop with the Plastic
Some cities are already taking steps to ban plastic bags, but you can do it on your own.
There’s no reason not to anymore.
Sure you have to buy the reusable bags, but they’re very cheap and sold at almost every
grocery store.
Once you have them, those babies are almost impossible to break.
If you think you’re a powerhouse bringing all the groceries in at once, then reusable bags
will reinvent that game!
Plus, less plastic means less oil, and environmental pollution.
Turn Down the Heat
If you aren’t in the house, don’t leave the heat cranked up.
With a properly insulated home, there’s no reason to have it on full-blast when no one
is there.
If you want to be able to come home and still have it be warm, make sure your home is
weather proofed.
New doors, including garage doors that are energy efficient, can both help trap the air
inside and keep your home as warm as you like.
If looking into a larger renovation such as getting new doors is a bit out of your budget right
now, you can also work on decreasing the amount of air that is released from cracks and gaps
below your doors.
Try a Salad
As many other countries begin to establish a middle class, the world’s demand for meat
is increasing.
Obviously, you have to feed and house animals in order to get meat, which does have a big
impact on the environment.
While the US is very established at using every single part of the animal so that nothing goes
to waste, developing countries are still establishing farming practices and laws.
You don’t have to be vegan, but simply cutting meat down to a few times a week can make
a huge impact.
Purchase Recycled Materials
When you buy products, look for labels for recycled packaging.
Packaging made that way cuts down drastically on a product’s carbon footprint, since the
material can simply be reinvented, instead of made from scratch.
You can find them in practically everything from cosmetics to clothing, so keep a sharp eye out!
Pack Your Own Lunch
Instead of buying food out, try making your own and bringing it with you.
It’s almost impossible to find restaurants that don’t use any single-use items, so bringing your
own prevent you from having to do any of that!
It’s also significantly healthier, and allows you to have a longer lunch break.
Plus, you can try out new recipes!
Borrow, Make, or DIY
There are a ton of things that you purchase that you honestly don’t really need more than
once or twice.
Those things are easy to ask around for and borrow from a friend or family member.
Other things that you might need more often might actually be something you can make!
While a fancy dress might be out of your current skill range, a simple skirt or flowery headdress
for a festival or party is very doable.
Not only will you cut down on the fossil fuels used to make and transport items, but you’ll gain
some new skills as well!
There’s no real reason not to make small changes to improve the planet.
Many of them will save you money and help prevent pollution, no matter what your take is on
climate change.
The worst thing that will happen is you accidentally help save the planet, and there’s nothing
wrong with that!
About the Author
Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. You can contact Kacey at https://twitter.com/kacey_mya; https://www.pinterest.com/kaceymya/, https://www.instagram.com/thedriftercollective/
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