Greater awareness of our plant’s problems has encouraged more people to consider a green lifestyle. It may sound like an overwhelming change to make, but it doesn’t have to be. 10 things you can do to go green this spring.
- Join a Recycling Program – Find out if your community offers a recycling program. If it doesn’t, get in touch with the local government and waste management companies to learn more about getting one started.
- Avoid Overbuying Perishable Food – Figure out how much food you need each week and buy that quantity. Avoid overbuying perishable items. It’s a great way to save money and reduce the amount of waste going to landfills.
- Donate Instead of Throwing Away – If you have old clothing or household items, donate them instead of putting them out to the curb. Most towns have at least one second-hand store. You can also contact churches or charities that accept items for the less fortunate.
- Skip Meat Once or Twice a Week – Commit to one or two no-meat days a week. Meat production is very hard on the environment. It requires land, water, and the use of chemicals. If enough people cut meat out of their diet one or two days a week, it can make a difference.
- Stop Drinking Bottled Water – Plastic refuse often ends up in the natural environment. A bottle tossed into the ocean can last for 450 years. Over 480 billion plastic bottles were sold in 2016 alone and 14% of all garbage consists of drink containers. Instead of buying cases of bottled water, switch to a reusable bottle that you can wash and refill.
- Carpool, Bike, Bus, or Walk to Work – Instead of driving your car to work every day, plan to carpool or take the bus. If you live close to work, you could instead ride a bike or walk. This reduces the amount of fossil fuels your vehicle consumes as well as emissions released into the environment.
- Unplug Electronics When Not in Use – Electronic devices continue consuming energy when they are not on. Unplug anything that you are not using to lower your utility bills and conserve energy. Plus, remember to recycle any old electronics that no longer work. Nowadays, there are some great companies out there like Premier Surplus that specialize in e-waste recycling so they can take care of any old office equipment such as computers, printers, and mobile phones. You can learn more about some of the great recycling.
- Decrease Your Weekly Vehicle Mileage – Planning ahead can reduce the number of miles you drive each week. If you have to run errands, plan to do multiple at a time. Figure out the most efficient route to take so you get more done in one trip while driving fewer miles.
- Go Paperless at Home and Work – Go paperless at home and work. Cloud storage makes it possible to save digital copies of documents and photos that you can access from anywhere using the internet. Most utility companies offer paperless billing as an option.
- Switch to Solar Energy – Solar panels produce clean energy that’s free. Once you have your system installed, the panels more than pay for themselves. Consider switching to renewable power to take the next step in living green.
You don’t have to completely change your lifestyle to go green. Many small steps will lead to a big impact. Connect Electric is available to provide recommendations and advice for going green with solar energy. Contact us today to find out how you can power your home without hurting the planet.
