1. Carpool
Carpooling saves money, reduces traffic, and reduces carbon emissions. Just by carpooling you are reducing pollution, greenhouse gases, as well as dependency on foreign oil.
2. Unplug
Appliances that are not in use still pull energy from them. That means lamps, computers, fans, game systems, printers, microwaves, toasters, cell phone chargers...the list goes on. Shutting lights off when you are leaving a room and unplugging appliances when they aren't in use can help you have a better impact on the environment.
3. Buy local produce
There is a long list as to why we should be supporting local businesses but there are a few reasons specifically why we should be supporting local farmers. When buying locally grown foods you are keeping open spaces in your town, it protects water sources, it conserves fertile soil, and it also takes carbon dioxide out of the air. Locally grown foods are also better for you!
4. Plant trees
Trees improve air quality, give off oxygen for us to breathe, give homes to animals, and reduce erosion. Planting trees around your house is a simple way to make life around you just a little better.
5. Get educated
There is so much that most people don't know about protecting our environment. The first step in making a change is getting educated on the main problems in our environment. If you want to make a difference read up on all the things you can do to save our planet and prevent further damage.
6. Eat less animal products
By eating less animal products you are making a difference. Going fully vegan saves more carbon emissions than driving a Prius. 70 percent of grain that is grown is to feed animals that will be eaten or used for their by products. That could be feeding people in underdeveloped countries. By going vegan or vegetarian it decreases carbon dioxide emissions, methane/nitrous oxide emissions, water use, and the destruction of forests and rain forests. I'm not saying that we should all go vegan tomorrow but just decreasing the amount of animal products you eat and use could help make the world a better place.
7. Compost
Composting takes biodegradable matter out of landfills and into our soil. This improves the structure of soil, increases the nutrient content, uses less water, keeps plant disease away, and reduces the amount of garbage. Composting is good for you and our earth!
8. Use a refillable bottle
Think about how quickly you go through a case of water. In my house we used to go through a case a week, which is common for big families. That was typical for us until I made everyone get refillable bottles and we bought a Brita. Again, this saved money as well as reduced our negative impact on the environment.
9. Change your light bulbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are efficient, long lasting, and use less energy than normal light bulbs. LED bulbs are also very good using 75 percent less energy and they last over 15 times longer than standard bulbs. So here's a good thought, replace your light bulbs.
10. Get reusable bags
This hipster is judging you, do you want that? Grab those reusable bags and bring them to stores when you shop.
11. Skip straws
Skipping out on the straws is a very easy way to help the environment. Straws are on the list of top 10 most found garbage items on our beaches every year. By simply bypassing the use of straws plastic consumption will decrease as well as littering.
12. Switch to paper statements
I switched to paper statements in the middle of the semester and I recently came home from college. I was given a huge stack of mail and it was all paper statements from my bank. I never realized how much paper is wasted. Also paper statements are $1 at TD bank so not only am I saving the environment, I'm saving $1 every month.
13. Air dry your hair
Don't be like David Beckham. Switch to air drying your hair. Every little bit of saved electricity helps the world we live in.
14. Give the bees a drink
There is a serious decline in honey bees and they do a lot more than just make honey. Bees are the key element in the production of food. Because they pollinate the food we eat they are essential to our lives. Save the bees! Read up on different ways to help them and which plants that they gravitate to. Bees get thirsty too! If you have a garden, put out a shallow water basin with some stones in it for them to take a drink on extra hot days!
15. Skip on paper plates
Paper plates are a big waste of paper that can be easily avoided by using reusable plastic or glass plates. Yeah it may be annoying to wash the dishes but think about how harmful all those plates are that you use at your summer barbecue.
