50 Ways to Make Your Life More Environmentally-Friendly

Image by Enokson

There is a lot of talk about going green. Thankfully governments, businesses and individuals around the world are beginning to take actions to back up that talk. From opting for alternative energies such as wind, hydro or the solar panels at Verengosolar.com to switching to lower emission transportation options, from growing their own food to putting reduce, recycle, reuse and even precycle plans into place. If you look at it, making life more environmentally-friendly simply makes sense.

If your day-to-day actions are more environmentally-friendly you not only help the environment, but you can benefit financially, physically and mentally as well. For example, getting rid of toxic chemicals in your home and using natural cleaners will cost less, it will cut down on the number of toxins you are exposing yourself and the environment to and it will have a more positive impact on your indoor air quality. I could go on and on, but instead, let me give you 50 simple ways you can make your day-to-day life more environmentally-friendly:

1 – Grow your own food.
2 – Eat less meat.
3 – Cut down on processed foods.
4 – Don’t eat foods or drink from BPA-lined containers.
5 – Open windows to let in fresh air.
6 – Open blinds to let in natural light.
7 – Fight “vampire power”.
8 – Get energy-efficient appliances and electronics.
9 – Take shorter showers.
10 – Wash clothes using cold water.
11 – Hang clothes on a clothesline to dry.
12 – Use leftover bathwater or “greywater” to water plants.
13 – Turn off lights when not in use.
14 – Turn off water when brushing teeth.
15 – Don’t let water run while washing dishes.
16 – Run the dishwasher or washing machine only when there is a full load.
17 – Use waterless car wash to wash your car or bike.
18 – Take public transportation.
19 – Walk or ride your bike.
20 – Use a proven fuel additive when you do drive.
21 – Combine multiple errands into one trip.
22 – Get rid of chemical cleaners.
23 – Use natural materials to clean.
24 – Make your own natural shampoo.
25 – Make your own natural lotion, skin masks and cleansers.

26 – Get outside every day for some sunlight and fresh air.
27 – Print documents as little as possible.
28 – Recycle bottles, cans, newspapers, etc.
29 – Donate items you no longer need or use.
30 – Use reusable bags at the grocery store.
31 – Use reusable containers at home.
32 – Make meals using leftovers.
33 – Freeze foods before it goes bad.
34 – Reduce your food waste.
35 – Compost.
36 – Plant a tree.
37 – Start or contribute to a community garden.
38 – Landscape your own yard with native plants.
39 – Buy used rather than new.
40 – Set thermostat 1-2 degrees lower.
41 – Get a reusable water bottle (and use it!).
42 – Opt for paperless billing.
43 – Pay your bills electronically.
44 – Do a home energy audit.
45 – Fix any leaky faucets to prevent water waste.
46 – Turn old t-shirts into “new” cleaning rags.
47 – Get rid of one-use items (disposable razors, diapers, plasticware, etc).
48 – Read magazines, newspapers and other publications online.
49 – Unsubscribe or cancel all junk mail.
50 – Unplug at least once a day so that you can enjoy nature and the environment around you.

One key thing to keep in mind as you go about your day-to-day activities is the old Native American proverb,

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.“

Image by Vijay

With that in mind see how many of these 50 simple ways to make your life more environmentally-friendly you can implement into your life. And yes, there are many other ways people can green their lives, but I figured these 50 ways made for a good start. I’d love to hear what steps you are taking to make your life more environmentally-friendly!