Wouldn’t it be great if everyone in this world pitched in and lived a totally green life? The earth would be so much better off. It’s not likely that this scenario will actually occur, but the more people who pitch in with the little things, the more we can make a change for our planet’s future.
Here are some small, but meaningful ways to do your part to help the environment:
Lights On/Off
Growing up, you probably heard your parents nag you about turning lights off when you left a room. By turning the lights off in a room where we don’t need them, you’re cutting down on the energy costs for supplying the room with light. You don’t have to be in the dark. Just turn on lights where you need them and turn off the ones you don’t.
Take the Clothes Outside
Every time you use your dryer, you’re using more energy than you need to. If it’s a nice day out, hang the clothes up on a clothesline. Let the wind and the warm air dry them for you. Leave the dryer for the days you really need them. Hanging clothes to dry worked for the pioneers and, even if you don’t wear bloomers, it can work for you, too. Plus, the fresh air will make them smell so good!
Use the Internet
Instead of getting a dozen catalogs a month in the mail, save space and the environment by browsing through the pages online. No more stacks and clutter of catalogs getting in the way of your home and no more wasting trees to make them. View what you need online if your catalogs are available through the Internet.
The same goes for magazines. Many have digital versions online, providing another opportunity to help the environment.
Save Water
How often do we brush our teeth at the sink with the water running while we’re scrubbing away at our teeth? It’s a habit most of us have gotten into over the years and never really got out of.
By keeping the water running, you’re wasting water, so turn the faucet off while you brush and only turn it on when you need it.
Since the average person uses about 5 gallons of water by leaving the water running while brushing their teeth, and you probably brush your teeth twice a day, and have other family members brushing twice a day, this simple move can really add up to some serious water savings over time.
Go Homemade with your Cleaning Products
There are too many chemical-based aerosol cleaning products seen in homes today. These can be harmful to us as well as the environment. In most cases, some of the cleaning can be done with regular ingredients you can find already in your home, such as lemon juice for cleaning mold and mildew, or vinegar for – well, for just about everything.
Get Rid of the Junk Mail Once and For All
Junk mail comes in droves every year to unsuspecting households. The junk we receive ultimately gets thrown out, which is like throwing away our precious trees. There are a few places to sign up to stop the junk mail from donning your doorstep. Save those trees and the environment by just saying no to mail you didn’t ask to receive.
Another way to cut down on mail, and save paper – and therefore trees and the energy it takes to turn them into paper, is by having your bills emailed to you, instead of continuing to receive them in your mailbox.
It’s the little things in our daily lives that can make a huge difference for future generations to come. Do whatever you can to help out. If we each participate by implementing a greener life, even by taking small steps, we can provide a better earth for our children.