Did you know that recycling one soda can, saves enough energy to power a TV for 3 hours? Sadly, as cool as this fact is, this isn’t enough to stop global warming.
Luckily, there are many other ways to reduce your energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Not only will this save you money, but it may save the planet too.
Discover 5 ways to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle
Eat Less Meat: Making a small change to your diet by cutting out meat can have a huge impact on our environment. Cattle ranchers cut down millions of square miles of forests to create grazing pastures for their livestock. This, combined with the methane produced by cows and fertilizers, generates as much greenhouse gas emissions as all cars, trucks, and automobiles on earth.
By eating less meat, you can play your part in reducing deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Make a small change by incorporating meatless Mondays into your diet or dive right in by adopting a vegan lifestyle.
Grow Your Own Food: Studies show that most fresh produce travels over 1,500 miles before being consumed. Growing your own fruits and vegetable cuts down on this mileage and eliminates the need for excess food packaging.
Another green living tip is to start a compost bin. Add food scraps or overripe produce to your compost pile to create a natural fertilizer for next year’s harvest.
Buy Less: The less you buy, the less energy and resources it takes to grow, mine, manufacture, package, and transport your purchases. Sometimes, buying new items is unavoidable. In these instances, aim to buy products that are made from, or package in, biodegradable or reusable materials. Buy clothes made from linen, hemp, organic cotton, or organic bamboo.
Buy food packaged in recyclable cans or glass jars instead of plastic. Check out these clever ways to reuse glass jars.
A Sustainable House: The first way to make your home more eco-friendly is by reusing materials. Reclaimed hardwood floors are not only better for the environment, but they’ll cost you less too!
Next, make sure your home is well insulated. This will help to regulate the temperature inside your house so you rely less on your HVAC system. Check out these eco-friendly insulation options.
Offset your carbon footprint by using a sustainable energy source, like solar energy, to power your home. A Blue Raven solar power system offsets around 175 tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of planting 4000 trees! For more info about Blue Raven solar systems, visit https://blueravensolar.com/florida/
Use Less Energy: There are many small ways that you can reduce energy consumption in your home. When one of your light bulbs burns out, replace it with a compact fluorescent light bulb. Unplug unused appliances and make sure your new appliances are energy-efficient. Lower your thermostat by a few degrees in winter and raise it in summer to see a big reduction in your energy bills.
Use These Tips to Live a More Eco-Friendly Lifestyle
Whether you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint or lower your energy bills, living an eco-friendly lifestyle, benefits both you and the environment. Some of these tips are easier to follow than others, so take them one step at a time on your journey towards sustainability.