Living a more sustainable life has become second nature in some respects, but there are countless of opportunities to help reduce waste, conserve resources and even save money in the process. Take your sustainable living to the next level with these five tips!
1. Recycle: For most people, placing recyclable glass, plastic and paper is part of the daily routine. But you can also recycle lots of other things from batteries and appliances to bulbs and CDs. Check out Green America’s “21 Things You Didn’t Know You Can Recycle” list.
2. Reuse: Many items – from wine bottle corks to old furniture and clothing – can be reused and repurposed. Upcycling is fun and creates “new” items to add to your home and garden.
3. Compost: If you have a yard, composting is a great way to reduce landfill waste while creating nutrients for your soil. How it works is that you mix kitchen scraps and garden waste. When it’s ready, you can add it to garden soil as a natural fertilizer. It can even help with water retention!
4. Be water wise: The United Nations reports that water scarcity is among the main problems faced by many societies today, and it’s a problem that will continue to grow as the world population rises. There are many things you can do at home to save water, such as planting native landscaping, catching rainwater for watering plants, using low-flow shower heads and toilets, and more. You’ll also save on your water bill. (See resources for “100+ Ways to Conserve.”)
5. Conserve: Sure, everyone knows to switch off those lights when they leave the room, but there are literally hundreds of other ways to conserve energy and save money in the process. From using Energy Star appliances to making sure your home is shored up with insulation, proper seals and energy-efficient windows, check out the Energy Saver resource link for many more ways to conserve energy.
Living more sustainably isn’t about sacrifices. Easy adjustments to your daily habits can make a world of difference to the environment and your pocket book!
Sources:
AARP Recycling Guide – AARP.org
100+ Ways to Conserve – WaterUseItWisely.com