The old saying is right: "Every little bit helps." So with no further ado, here are 50 little changes you can make in your daily habits with lasting green impact:
- Use cloth napkins instead of paper (Shift Your Habit estimates you can save $70 a year and reduce the amount of trash you produce by 40 pounds with this step alone);
- Don't let the water run while you brush your teeth;
- Practice "selective" flushing (you'll figure out what that means);
- Bike and walk more, drive less;
- Start using rechargeable batteries;
- Buy refurbished electronics rather than new ones;
- Make your own foam soap refills;
- Grow your own fruits, vegetables and herbs;
- Eat less meat -- it's cheaper and healthier;
- Repair tears in clothing rather than buying new clothes;
- Shop at resale stores;
- Adjust your home thermostat;
- Switch off -- and unplug -- electronics when not in use;
- Read more, watch TV less;
- Get your books from the public library instead of buying them new;
- Hold a neighborhood swap party to get rid of items you no longer use;
- Buy fresh produce in season, then dry, can or freeze for later;
- Go vegetarian ... or vegan;
- Take fewer baths, more showers;
- Shampoo your hair every other day;
- Run your dishwasher, wash-machine and dryer only when they're full;
- Buy a clothesline;
- Give up your refrigerator;
- Tear up your lawn and put in a vegetable garden;
- Plant more fruit trees in your yard;
- Make your own gifts or buy hand-made local items for giving;
- Recycle as much as you can;
- Better yet, reduce your consumption as much as you can;
- Join a CSA (community supported agriculture);
- Kick your bottled water habit and carry a refillable bottle with you instead;
- When you have to buy something, spend your money at the greenest, most socially responsible businesses possible;
- Instill green habits in your children;
- Turn off the lights when you're not in a room;
- Discover the cleaning power of natural products like vinegar, baking soda and borax;
- Dispose of unused medications in a way that keeps them out of the water supply;
- Buy in bulk to reduce your consumption of unnecessary packaging;
- Bring your lunch (preferably in a washable or reusable bag or container) to work;
- Cook more, eat out less;
- Get out in nature more;
- Reduce your consumption of dairy products;
- Avoid processed foods -- they're usually not only less healthy than fresh, but more expensive too;
- Learn a skill like sewing, knitting, crocheting or woodworking;
- Bake your own bread;
- Use thrift-shop china instead of paper plates for your next party;
- Buy a hand-powered flashlight/radio;
- Get a pedal-powered headlamp for your bicycle;
- Think twice before throwing anything away;
- Start composting;
- Save your leftovers for another meal;
- Always remember that everything you do each day carries both an environmental impact and a personal cost ... and never stop thinking about ways to reduce your footprint.
The copyright of the article Little Steps for Big Green Savings in Green/Simple Living is owned by Shirley Siluk Gregory. Permission to republish Little Steps for Big Green Savings in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
