Impactful Steps You Can Take Towards Sustainable Living

 

 

The following baby steps to go green, are among the first and most impactful steps you can take towards sustainable and meaningful living. Most of these ideas are simple to implement, cost little to no money, and can have a huge impact on the environment and our natural resources.   

Go through this list one at a time, see what you're already doing and what you can implement or increase: 

 

1. Give Up Bottled Water 

Nearly 30 billion plastic water bottles are sold annually in the U.S. with less than 20% of them being recycled (and even recycling them wastes unnecessary energy). Ironically, many bottled water companies use municipal water sources - that's right, tap water. See how to save resources and money by drinking from your own tap or home filtration system with a reusable water bottle. 

   

2. Reduce Your Waste 

Reducing what you waste is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment. From thinking differently about what you buy, to using re-usable items, to composting at home - there are lots of ways to make a real difference. 

 

3. Conserve Energy 

From oil to natural gas, energy is getting harder to produce and more costly. It accounts for 21.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year and over 90% of all greenhouse gasses. Do your part to conserve energy and save money (you could reduce your bills by 50%!) by reading the articles links on ways to go greenbelow. 

 

4. Conserve Water 

An estimated 50% of all household water usage is wasted! It goes down the drain while we wait for it to warm up or it evaporates more quickly than it needs to. In an era when our fresh water supply is diminishing due to pollution and drought, it's important to conserve all the water we can, as well as learn about and put to use grey water recycling practices. 

 

5. Green Your Transportation 

Bicycling, walking, carpooling or riding the bus are the best ways to commute sustainably. Inflating your car tires, hypermiling, and combining trips will all help you save gas when driving is necessary. And for long distance travel, take the train or purchase carbon offsetswhich invest your money into alternative energies. 

 

6. Eat Local, Organic Foods 

With food being a huge part of our existence, this is one of the most important ways to go green. Most of our meals come from a minimum of 1,500 miles away. Some of what ends up on your plate has traveled around the world to reach you. And way too much of it is unhealthy to begin with. 

 

7. Go Chemical-Free 

Forego toxic chemicals and choose sustainable options. You'll not only stay clean and save money, you'll create a healthy living environment for your family at the same time. There's a lot to this topic, but here are a couple popular places to start. 

 

8. Green Your Personal Care 

Simplify your personal care with natural products. Take sink baths to reduce water, use organic and sustainable products, or opt for an easy to manage haircut. Also remember that healthy food leads to healthy skin and body. 

 

9. Support Locally-Owned Businesses 

Small businesses are more likely to support other businesses within the community, care for their environment, and conduct business in an environmentally-responsible way. They also work harder for your business, contribute more to charitable causes, create more jobs, limit outsourcing, and keep money circulating within the community, among many other things. 

 

10. Continue to Educate Yourself 

As you're practicing these ways to go green, you'll likely spark a lot of conversations. Get familiar with the reasons why green living matters with the articles listed in the Start Here section of the website, as well as many other resources, to continue educating yourself. 

 

The biggest influence you can have on others is through your actions and your attitude. Be open and honest about your choices, but without judgment. Work the topic into conversations without overdoing it. Don't push the matter. Just let your example be an inspiration and keep the lines of communication open so that friends or family will have a seasoned pro to turn to when they are looking for ways to go green. 

  

At The Ecofairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.  

 

 

 

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