These Simple Swaps Can Positively Affect The Earth (And Your Wallet)
New year, new habits. One of the most important changes we can make this year is getting serious about making a conscious effort to reduce our impact on the environment and our planet. Implementing small changes in our daily lives can lead to big impacts.
From recycling to shopping from sustainable brands to making slight changes in our diets, here are just a few ideas on how to live more sustainably this year.
10 Sustainable Living Tips For 2024
Tip #1: Conserve energy
Using less energy is a simple change that can be made in our everyday lives to reduce carbon emissions. Some ways to conserve energy at home, include turning off lights when not in use or switching off the air conditioner or heater when you can (or simply adjusting a few degrees) can make a big difference in both your energy bill and overall conservation. Some energy companies may even give a rebate or offer incentives to reduce energy usage during peak hours. Take advantage of the savings if you know that you can. Every penny counts!
Making slight modifications around your home can also conserve energy. For example, swapping out regular light bulbs for LED ones—even though they are more expensive to purchase—will last far longer and use less energy while on. Many clothes also suggest laying flat to dry, so it’s time to stop ignoring those labels. Not only does this decrease your energy usage from running your dryer, but it can also greatly extend the life of your clothes from heat damage, preventing your need to buy another white tee.
Tip #2: Switch to reusable alternatives
Single-use products—especially ones made from plastic—are extremely detrimental to the environment and often end up in landfills. Making the switch to reusable alternatives is a great way to live a more sustainable lifestyle. For example, swap out plastic water bottles for reusable, stainless steel options. (Ever gasp at the price of a bottle of water in an airport store? It’s free to fill your bottle up at a water fountain, instead.)
Instead of using plastic bags every time that you shop, make the easy switch to canvas or mesh. Not only can these bags be washed and reused, they’re also far stronger than the thin plastic alternative—it’s safe to say that we’ve all dropped groceries on the ground when one unfortunately rips. As well, many cities and states have placed bans on plastic bags at checkout counters or impose a small fee for paper or plastic alternatives. While $0.05-$.10 per bag may not see like a hefty fee, bringing your own bags could save you several dollars over the cost of a month.
There are so many reusable alternatives for products that we use in our day-to-day lives, whether it is glass food containers or silicone cooking utensils. While the sustainable alternative might cost more at the beginning, making the switch is a simple and effective way to reduce our carbon footprint and save your household money.
Tip #3: Recycle
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Properly recycling plastic, paper, cardboard, aluminum and other materials is a great action to take to live more sustainably and save our planet. Take the extra time and effort to sort through recycling and drop it off (or leave it at the curb), rather than just throwing it away. If you live in a state that has a can and bottle deposit, recycling your empty drinks can easily put money back into your pocket. Some states, such as Oregon, actually offer a bonus incentive when you redeem your bottle deposit cash for grocery store credit instead. That’s easy (and instant) cash in your pocket! Reusing or repurposing items, or donating things that no longer serve us, are also all ways that we can reduce our impact.
Tip #4: Eat less meat
Meat production is a huge contributor to climate change and pollution. Cutting back on meat consumption, especially red meat, is one way we can help reduce the meat industry’s impact on our planet. Try creating recipes with fish or seafood, or substituting meat products with vegan alternatives. There are so many more meatless options out there than there were even a few years ago, so eating less meat is actually easier than it sounds. Plus, meat can be one of the most expensive items at the grocery store, depending on the cut and quality.
Tip #5: Shop smarter
Our shopping habits are a huge contributor to our carbon footprint. Shopping smarter and making a conscious effort to purchase from eco-friendly and ethical brands is extremely important to living a more sustainable lifestyle and helping our planet. Whether that be switching out our makeup and skincare products for more environmentally friendly alternatives or cutting back on fast fashion purchases, try to prioritize shopping smarter. Think twice before you buy, try thrifting the pieces on your wishlist, or invest in high-quality pieces that will last you for years and years to come — rather than purchasing trendy fast fashion pieces that will end up in a landfill in a few years.
Retailers depend on customers making impulse purchases when shopping in their stores(the Target bins, anyone?), so if you know that you will be tempted to spend a few extra dollars, make a list and stick to it. Or, if your grocery store offers free curbside pick-up, this can be an effortless, foolproof way to avoid purchasing anything that you don’t actually need.
Tip #6: Shop local
Shopping for produce and food from local businesses or farmers can dramatically cut down on the carbon emissions generated from the transportation of food. Going to the local farmer’s market not only supports your nearby farmers and vendors, but it also makes a huge difference for the environment as well.
Tip #7: Use eco-friendly household products
Many household cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. Making the switch to green or eco-friendly cleaning products can help prevent negative impacts that stem from those harsh chemicals. For an even more natural solution, using fresh lemon or vinegar can help to clean areas of your home without the use of chemicals.
Tip #8: Reduce food waste
Many of us don’t realize the amount of food that we throw away every year. When broken down, the math can be quite startling. A little statistic: The average American household throws away $907 in food each year. A family of four will throw away an average of $1500 worth of uneaten food every year. For many throughout the United States, this could represent the equivalent of a mortgage payment. (While this statistic will vary wildly on any number of factors, according to the US Census Bureau, in 2022, the median monthly cost of homeownership in the US was approximately $1,775 per month.)
While it’s long been a running joke that avocados ripen too quickly or that mixed greens and spinach will only turn to mush at the bottom of a crisper drawer, these items can be pricy additions to a grocery list. Meal planning, only buying ingredients that we need or buying pantry goods in bulk, saving leftovers, and simply storing food properly are great ways to reduce food waste that take very little time and effort on your part, yet results in huge benefits to not just your wallet, but the entire Earth as well. Eating out less is also another huge cost saver. Not only can it save you hundreds of dollars each month based on the size of your family and frequency of ordering, it’s also better for the environment, because you are not using plastic or styrofoam containers for leftovers and take out.
Tip #9: Drive less
Walking, riding a bike, carpooling, or taking public transportation are all great alternatives to driving. While it’s not always feasible to do so, try to cut back on driving as much as you can to reduce carbon emissions, the bill at the pump, or even expensive hourly parking fees. Not sure where to start? Cut back on one trip a week to a location that you frequent most.
Tip #10: Vote
Using your voice and exercising your right to vote is an extremely important way to pave the way for a sustainable future. Educate yourself on the platforms of both candidates that are running for election. Learn about where your taxpayer dollars are being spent and on what resources. It’s unlikely that you will agree with all of the policies of a specific candidate, regardless of political party. As a citizen, it is most important to align yourself with the representative that best fits the issues that are important to you, your family, and your community. We hold so much power as people to make decisions and implement changes that affect our planet and sustain it for future generations. Think about that when it comes to the policies and people you’re voting for.
Living a sustainable lifestyle is more than just shopping from eco-friendly brands and using their products. It’s about changing our everyday lifestyle and behaviors to reduce the amount of waste we produce, furthermore reducing our carbon footprint. Try implementing the above tips this year to live more sustainably and reduce your impact.