Eco Hacks to Green Up Your Life

Sometimes, even the idea of “going green” can feel a bit overwhelming. How are you supposed to turn every aspect of your life into the epitome of eco-friendly living? Well, thankfully, you don’t have to…at least not all at once. Adding sustainable habits into your daily routine can help you green up your life in no time. If you’re not sure where to begin, we’ve got some eco hacks you can use starting right now.

Repurpose Your food scraps

One of the simplest eco hacks is to repurpose your food scraps. Instead of tossing your orange peels, egg shells and the produce you have had sitting around a little too long, add these items to a compost bin. You can buy inexpensive compost bins and pails, or create one of your own.

Doing this one simple action helps keep unnecessary waste out of the landfill and, best of all, it turns it into an effective tool you can use to grow your own vegetables. Win-win.

Repair, don’t toss

Another eco hack is to repair broken or damaged items, so they can continue being used. In this day and age it has, unfortunately, become all too common to toss furniture, appliances, electronic equipment, clothes and more, once it breaks or sustains any damage. The more eco-friendly option is to repair the item so as to keep it in use. If you don’t know how you make such repairs yourself, you can either learn or hire someone to do the job. Either way, extending the life of your products is much better for the environment and it’s good for your budget, too.

At the very least, you can use parts and pieces of your damaged items to help give new life to another product. It’s all about changing your viewpoint and stepping away from the single-use, disposable “convenience” being marketed today. Look for products that last and repair your products, when needed, to make them last even longer.

Opt for secondhand

Speaking of products that last…if you find yourself in need of a “new” item, check out a secondhand shop or local thrift store first. You never know, you could come across the exact thing you needed. Plus, opting for secondhand gives new life to existing goods. This, too, keeps unnecessary waste out of landfills.

If you can’t find what you need at a secondhand store, try visiting a few neighborhood yard or garage sales. You can often get a pretty good bargain for quality items. Plus, you’re probably more likely to find appliances, furniture and electronics in your budget at these types of sales than at a thrift store.

Choose the reusable option

Choosing the reusable option is a very valuable eco hack, as it not only saves you money, but it reduces your plastic waste and lowers your carbon footprint. Store leftovers in glass containers, rather than plastic bags. Use a reusable coffee mug or tumbler, instead of a disposable one. Try silicone stretch lids to cover your dishes, rather than using plastic wrap. Use regular dishware and silverware, instead of one-use plasticware. Bring your own glass or stainless steel straw so you don’t need to use a plastic one. Keep a pile of reusable grocery bags and mesh produce bags in the car. This way, when you go grocery shopping you can bring your own bags and skip the plastic or paper alternative.

Unplug

Okay, I know this might be a tough one for some people, but unplugging really can be quite beneficial. Not only does it give you the opportunity to step away from your electronics and screens, so as to refocus your mind, lower your stress level and improve your overall well-being, it gives you time to get outdoors or build personal relationships or just breathe.

In addition, when you unplug your electronics, certain appliances and other household devices, you reduce phantom energy consumption aka vampire power. You can also lower the risk of a potential fire hazard. So, learn more about some of items you might want to unplug when not in use.

In Summary

The key, especially when it comes to going green, is one step at a time. Find sustainable habits, or eco hacks, that work for you and incorporate those into your daily or weekly routine. The more you do this, the more eco-friendly your life will become and, soon, it will all be second nature to you.

If you’ve got eco hacks and tips you’d swear by, let us know. We’d love to hear them!