Spring is a season of change… the snow starts to melt, the tulips begin to bud, and the cold winds become warm breezes! Earth Day is coming up and making your own changes this year to make your life more sustainable is a great way to celebrate!
1. Refillable Cleaning Products
One of the easiest ways you can give your home a better sustainability score is using refillable products opposed to one-time-use. These products come as laundry detergents, dish soaps, air-fresheners, cleaning spray, and more! They also typically end up being cheaper in the long run, so it’s a win-win for everyone!
2. Reusable Bags
From zipper bags to grocery bags, these are one of the longest lasting landfill items that are piling up on our Earth! But there is an easy solution to getting these out of our landfills— reusable bags! Save the environment and some money with reusable food storage bags and reusable grocery bags plus you can also find reusable plastic wrap alternatives. Some stores even reward you for buying a reusable bag in-store or using your reusable bag from home!
3. Turn Off & Unplug
One of the biggest energy wasters is leaving your electronics plugged in. Believe it or not- even when you turn your electronics off, keeping them plugged in it still draining energy. One easy way to eliminate this issue is using power strips that you can turn on and off. Turning off a power strip will cut the power off completely!
4. Hit The Lights
Turning off the lights anytime you leave a room is crucial for saving more energy. Leaving lights on is another one of the biggest energy wasters. With a simple flick of a switch you can avoid this problem and save yourself lots of energy. Plus- taking advantage of natural daylight by raising the blinds is a great way to avoid using light energy.
5. Buy in Bulk
Certain products that are bought in bulk reduce lots of waste! Buying bigger containers instead of single serving cups that are one-time-use saves money, space, and reduces waste! You can use reusable containers to portion out servings if necessary.
6. Practice the 3-R’s
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! These three words are key to living more sustainably! REDUCE your waste by choosing less “one-time-use” products, composting what you can, opt for recyclable products, etc. REUSE what you can- whether it be your own items, or getting your items from a local thrift store. RECYCLE items that are acceptable for your local recycling program.
7. Ditch the Plastic Bottles & Straws
Plastic bottles and straws are filling up our landfill quicker than we know it. These end up posing a major threat to wildlife, especially in the ocean. An easy solution to this problem is buying a reusable bottle and reusable straws! Not only are these a sustainable way to add a pop of color and personality into your day, but these products typically keep your drinks warm or cold longer and don’t contain dangerous toxins.
8. Opt for a Better Bulb
Chosing a more energy efficient bulb is nothing but a money saver! These bulbs use up less of your electricity and last so much longer. Using LED and CFL bulbs are the best choice for sustainable lighting sources.
9. Reusable Towels
Choosing reusable towels opposed to paper towels is another money and environment saver. Wash your towels after use and you’re all set for the next cleaning!
Shop Locally and Sustainably
Shopping local has a surprisingly large amount of environmental benefits! Not only are the products more sustainably sources, but they are also supporting the community and reducing the amount of travel that goes into buying at a chain store.
Bottom Line
If you are looking to change your lifestyle, evaluating how sustainable your lifestyle currently is will be a great place to start.
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