Life often gets in the way of our best laid plans, especially for families on the go from sun up to sun down. There are so many things we want to accomplish, but just don’t find the time to make them happen, such as exercising regularly or fixing that leaky faucet. We aren’t here to nag or act like your mother, though each of us can use a little encouragement from time to time. So don’t fall victim to that nonsense of being too busy or important to live a more eco-conscious lifestyle and follow these 12 handpicked tips just for you and your family. We promise these tips won’t hurt or break the bank, just simple tidbits of information that can make a difference now.
The Choice is Yours, Just Make the Right Choice
Unless you wake up every morning hugging a tree and turning on your lights, which are powered by solar energy, in order to brush your teeth with reclaimed rainwater; you probably aren’t fully living a sustainable lifestyle. Not to worry, that is perfectly fine, I don’t have a single solar panel on my roof, however I do want some one day. Our point is that you don’t have to go overboard to make a difference, small changes in habits can go a long way for being healthy and going green. Without further delay, here are 12 tips that you can use today to make a better tomorrow.
Take reusable bags to the grocery store and other department stores. So you don’t forget, keep a few reusable bags in the trunk of your car for last minute shopping on the way home from work. This will cut all sorts of nasty pollution and help control the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Take part in Meatless Mondays, not eating meat once per week can improve your health, reduce your carbon footprint and help reduce global warming. It’s simple and can even save you a few bucks.
Save a few trees and use up some megabytes instead. Move all of your bills, statements and magazines to a digital platform. Going paperless does more than just save paper, it reduces vehicle emissions, toxins from paper mills and ink and in some cases can save you money.
Never, we mean never, drink water from those single use plastic water bottles. They are laced with chemicals like BPA and can even make you fat, seriously. Instead use a stainless steel reusable water bottle, heck, most tap water is cleaner than bottled water anyway.
Charge your phone or iPad during your commute, your car is already producing energy. Why not save a few pennies on your power bill by using your portable chargers? This one is a simple habit change and should be easy to implement today!
Beware of the phantom loads! No this is not some scary movie, a phantom load occurs when a device, like a DVD player, is plugged in but not in use. These devices still use power, which is simply a waste of electricity and money. Grab a power strip with a timer, set it for when you are not at home to shut down your electronics automatically.
Hug your kids, call your parents or chat with a friend about their day. Staying connected to friends and family can help reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Not really a green tip, but this is one we all can use a little more of.
Fix that leaky toilet or faucet, yes the dripping noise at night can be annoying but it also wastes a lot of water. Actually, it can waste thousands of gallons each year which is expensive and downright wasteful.
Make your own blackout. Turn off the TV and the lights, grab the family and pretend the power is out. Make a picnic dinner and eat outside or take the family to a park for an evening stroll. This will give you a bit of exercise and lower your energy consumption.
Try to use green products, like recycled paper napkins, non-bleached toilet paper and green cleaning products. Green products are designed to be eco-friendly, but do your homework, some products try to greenwash you into thinking their products are green. Find out how to tell a real green product from a fake.
Use indoor houseplants to act as a natural HEPA filter, many leafy green plants can scrub the air in your home, removing toxins and other impurities. Studies have found that one plant per 100 square feet is optimal.
Use websites like freecycle.com or earth911.com to help recycle or pass on your unwanted goods. Keeping the landfill clear of perfectly good items can also help a family that may be on tough times.
It only takes a few minutes out of each day to make a conscious effort to create a sustainable earth. These tips are just a few ways that you can make a difference and keep your family healthy. As our tagline states, you only have one life and one planet, why not make the most of both?
Unless you wake up every morning hugging a tree and turning on your lights, which are powered by solar energy, in order to brush your teeth with reclaimed rainwater; you probably aren’t fully living a sustainable lifestyle. Not to worry, that is perfectly fine, I don’t have a single solar panel on my roof, however I do want some one day. Our point is that you don’t have to go overboard to make a difference, small changes in habits can go a long way for being healthy and going green. Without further delay, here are 12 tips that you can use today to make a better tomorrow.
