First things first in our Eco-friendly tips guide “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” – Lao tzu
It is never too late for a change, despite the slow progress. One step at a time to save the world from disasters is better than nothing. Notwithstanding your motives; whether it be for a greener environment, money, or energy savings, adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle will help our planet. This article will guide you through 20 sustainable eco-friendly tips that can get you started.
Our distinguished Eco-Friendly Tips List :
1. Turn it off:
As the name suggests, this is one of the simplest steps you can start doing by yourself. Switch off and unplug any lights, switches, or electrical devices you have in the house. Through energy conservation, you’ll be able to reduce your carbon footprint remarkably. Always remind yourself that leaving electronics on needlessly will consume a lot of energy, and hence cause skyrocketing bills each month.
2. The Right Investment:
Switching energy consuming devices off is not the only solution of course. You can also rely on more eco-friendly technology that will consume as little energy as possible. This way, you hit two birds with one stone, you are using less energy when the device is on, and you conserve energy by ensuring the device is plugged off when not in use. This results in more pocket money and less energy output.
3. Switch to LED light bulbs:
This one should come in very handy in multiple ways. First, they last longer; more than standard light bulbs and are more efficient too. Second, they are available in different ranges of brightness and design; this makes them more custom to your personal aesthetic. Third, they consume less power and thus you avoid the hassle of changing them over and over again unlike their counterparts. One more thing, they are aesthetically more pleasing to the eye and more comforting.
4. Eat Less Meat:
Now, this doesn’t mean gradually going vegan or changing your eating preferences completely. Rather, it is lessening the consumption of red meat. This is at the heart of eco-friendly living as cutting down on your meat intake can significantly reduce the carbon footprint. Plus, reducing your consumption of meat means less animal slaughter. Everything is interconnected when you want to save the environment.
5. Never Waste food:
regardless of your intentions, beliefs, or principles, wasting food can harm our environment. It is reported that every year, 7.3 million tonnes of food is being thrown in the United Kingdom. Imagine if these tones of wasted food were rather saved and given to home shelters or the homeless. a lot of hungry children would be fed, and a lot of happy smiles will be drawn. Additionally, wasting food raises the CO2 created in landfills.
6. Cook from Scratch:
This one tip not only saves you money and energy, it also provides a healthier lifestyle. When you cook everything yourself at home, you use less resources, rely less on industrial and processed food/ingredients, and avoid unnecessary plastic or cardboard packaging that will be thrown aside; in the streets, in the neighborhood, behind supermarket garbage bins etc.
7. Grow your own food:
what’s better than chemical free and all natural vegetables and fruits? Say goodbye to those tasteless, gigantic tomatoes imported from South America. Vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, green beans, and salad greens are best grown at home. You will be the one supervising their growth and providing the necessary all natural care they need. This means less chemicals consumed, more money saved, and a healthier meal eaten.
8. No more disposable bowls:
As a matter of fact, dismiss any disposable kitchen utensils such as knives, spoons, forks etc. Although the urge of getting rid of dishes and not having to wash them is pretty hard to shake, however, being a lazybones doesn’t help either if you are looking to save the planet. Imagine that piles after piles of plastic are compiled together after dinner and thrown away. You think it ends there, but it is only the beginning. The less plastic, the happier the planet.
9. Recycling:
Almost everything can be recycled nowadays. From paper, phones, cups, tooth brushes to cars and clothes. That is why choosing the right material is often a smart and efficient way to recycle. For example, wearing recycled clothing that relies on natural ingredients and not on animal fur or leather is one step. Using wood material rather than plastic is also another idea for eco-friendly living.
10. No More Plastic:
This type of material, although cheap and found everywhere, can cause tremendous damage to our environment. We use plastic on a daily basis and we never stop to think about its potential risk to our planet. Now ocean life is suffering from plastic too; we have the example of sea turtles and jellyfish which are highly affected by this sea pollution due to plastic and might get extinct over time. If we do not make a stop and rethink our ways of life, we risk losing a lot of special sea creatures.
11. Fix it rather than throw it:
Although the second one might sound easier and faster, to just throw something away and buy a new one, this won’t help the planet that much. Repairing your stuff will decrease a lot of land, sea, and air pollution. Always keep in mind that the more you throw away, the more the planet suffers from pollution. Fixing is environmentally friendly and saves a lot of money and energy.
12. Rely on eco-friendly cleaning products:
Almost every cleaning product has toxic chemicals that can harm our health. We are exposed to different chemical ingredients that might even cause death but we continue on purchasing cleaning products with highly concentrated synthetic substances. A better eco-friendly substitute would be organic and natural methods of cleaning. Make sure to choose natural ingredient products with no chemical or toxic substances.
13. Less Driving:
Each day, our technological inventions are getting more innovative and more modern; however, they may not be the most eco-friendly. Driving isn’t eco-friendly at all; therefore, unless you aren’t obliged to drive, use your bicycle, or better, go by foot. Keep in mind that driving causes a lot of carbon footprint, and unless your car is electric, air pollution is inevitable. Even if you are obliged to drive, make sure to keep the speed down at the minimum, the tires are fully inflated, and the engine is running smoothly.
14. Reduce flying:
Who would’ve thought a simple flight could be damaging to our environment and causes air pollution. In fact, flights are energy-intensive as they depend on fossil fuel. And consumers are not seeing the truth behind their favorite pastime. Carbon emissions from the air transportation companies significantly increased by 75% from 1990 to 2012. It is anticipated that this number will continue increasing if left unchecked. This is why you should carefully choose the airline industry before you partake in your travels. Certain flight industries rely on efficient fleet and flight planes with empty seats. It helps alleviate the damages caused by flying incredibly.
15. Plant Trees :
If you adopt the eco-friendly way of living, then you should know that ecological sustainability is a must. Therefore, a well balanced ecosystem can help mother earth get back on her feet. Everyday, trees are being cut down to get paper, build houses, and other human related materials. But planting a tree after one is cut off can create a certain balance in our environment. The greener the land, the happier the soul, and the lower the air temperature is. This is especially noticeable during summertime. However, many eco-friendly activists insists that we must plant trees in a proper way. You can watch this useful video to get an informed knowledge on planting trees.
16. Don’t Waste Water :
take simple steps to save water, our source of living. turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth and fill a cup of water instead to wash your mouth. Wash your clothes with cold water instead of hot water to save energy. It is also a good idea to drink tap water from time to time to lower the increase of plastic bottled water. Or may buy glass bottled water if you aren’t comfortable with faucet water. Additionally, you can wash the dishes by hand a few days a week. This not only saves water, but it also saves the bill.
17. Partake in the slow Fashion Movement:
Originally, this was meant to oppose the vast growing mass fashion production. Then it evolved and now is part of the eco-friendly way of living; buy trendy -free quality garments that will last longer and can be fixable.
18. Don’t throw away old clothes:
Why even bother throwing your old stuff when you can make good use of it? Why would you toss those old pairs of white sneakers when you can get creative and add some personal design that will make them look brand new? Ripped off baggy jeans? Take it to the tailor instead and he’ll make you one of the trendiest boyfriends ripped knee jeans. Et voilà!
19. Use a Microwave:
Microwaves do not make food radioactive. You’ll be mind blown how eco friendly and efficient a microwave is compared to its counterparts; conventional ovens. Not only that, you can basically microwave anything nowadays with the right recipe at hand.
20. Use cloth napkins:
this one is another two in eco-friendly tips in one; one piece of durable cloth napkin can handle a lot of red pepper sauce then normal paper napkins. You’ll save yourself a lot of money from buying serviettes. Additionally, the more you rely on reusable cloth napkins the less trash output there is , and the less energy is consumed from transporting and processing waste.
21. Choose Eco-Friendly Toys:
Children’s toys are a significant contributor to plastic waste, with many toys being made of non-biodegradable materials that end up in landfills or oceans. However, there are many eco-friendly toy options available, including eco ride-on toys made from sustainable materials such as bamboo, recycled plastic, or reclaimed wood. These toys are not only environmentally friendly but are also safe for children to use. When shopping for toys, look for those made from non-toxic materials and that have minimal packaging. Additionally, consider donating or reselling old toys instead of throwing them away. By choosing eco-friendly toys, you can teach your children about sustainability and reduce your environmental impact.
When adopting these eco-friendly tips to an eco-friendly lifestyle, always keep this golden rule in mind; work smart, never hard.
Feel Free to comment about your best eco-friendly tips.
Resources :
Sustainable living: 40 eco-friendly tips from the best experts in the business
A Content Writer & Freelance Translator. He enjoys writing about mental health, fun for seniors, educational apps, and entertainment for all. In his spare time, he enjoys watching football, playing video Games, and good laugh with his friends.
