9 Surprising Ways You Can Be More Sustainable
So, you want to be a little better to planet earth. (Us, too!) But you’re a little burned out on all the regular suggestions:
Water conservation? Check.
Swapping for sustainable brands? Check.
Eating less meat? Trying to…
You’re looking for more every day, practical tips and tricks that will help you save the planet. We’ve got you!
What’s sustainability?
Sustainability has become a buzzword in recent years. But it actually has an important meaning!
Sustainability is the practice of avoiding sucking up natural resources to maintain Mama Earth’s important ecological balance. This also means taking care of planet and people, making sure our complete ecosystem (you included!) has access to what it needs to thrive.
Unfortunately, we’re not doing such a great job. On the environmental side, we’re literally killing it. With single-use plastics, food waste, and general garbage production on the rise, our planet is dying. So, we need to pay a little more attention to how we’re treating her.
The solution? Take steps in our daily lives to be a little more sustainable. (Which is why you’re here! Yay!) Because if we all do a little bit, we can make a big impact.
9 Unexpected Ways to Be More Sustainable
#1 Skip the baths.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a quick shower—between 5 and 10 minutes—wastes less water than filling a whole bathtub. We know baths can be super relaxing, but if you’re aiming to reduce your water consumption it’s best to opt for a shower.
#2 Use your dishwasher!
Did you know running a full dishwasher load actually uses less water than washing by hand? According to a program manager from the EPA’s WaterSense program, you’d have to wash all your dishes in under two minutes to make the switch worth it for the environment. So go ahead and use the dishwasher totally guilt free!
#3 Opt out of junk mail.
Junk mail is two things: annoying and bad for the planet. But did you know you can opt out of receiving so much of it?
To stop getting credit card and insurance offers, call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT and answer some questions. You can either opt out for up to five years or permanently (with a couple extra steps). You can also reduce promotional mail through a service called DMAchoice. For a small fee, this can drastically reduce the amount of junk mail filling your mailbox (and your garbage can).
#4 Stop buying reusable shopping bags.
In recent years, reusable shopping totes have risen in popularity in hopes of ending our single-use shopping bag dependence. The problem is, they’re not actually all that better for the environment!
A 2018 study from the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark found that a single cotton tote—because of their intensive water consumption during production—would need to be used every day for 54 years to reduce its environmental impact. The solution? Bring bags you already have to the grocery store. Keep them in your car so you never forget. (We know it’s hard, but you can do it!)
#5 Use a pressure cooker.
Cooking can take up a lot of energy. Between heating water and using your gas or electric stove, it can be an environmental nightmare. To offset your energy use, try using a pressure cooker or Instant Pot! By reducing cooking time, you could save up to 70% of the energy needed to cook that meal.
#6 Add a Chrome extension.
Do you know about Ecosia? It’s a free extension for Chrome that plants trees for every search you do on the internet. Whaaaaat? We know!
So far, they’ve planted over 152 million trees in 35 countries with the help of local organizations. And with over 20 million users, you have literally nothing to lose from adding this extension to your browsing experience!
#7 Reduce energy loss in your home.
About 40% of the energy produced in your home is lost through gaps in your windows, doors, and floors. That means less efficiency, leading to unnecessary greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere. To save energy (and money!), try these tips:
Fill the gaps in your wooden floorboards with a dust, resin, or acrylic filler.
Upgrade your windows to double- or triple-glazed, which are vacuum sealed.
Re-caulk every season or as necessary to seal any leaks in doors and windows.
#8 Re-use your pasta water!
Feel bad tossing all the water you use to make your delicious pasta dishes? Now you don’t have to! Your plant babies will love that starchy water! So, the next time you’re making noods, save all that water for your garden. Your flowers, herbs, and veggies will thank you!
#9 Clean up your inbox.
One newsletter can produce about 10 grams of carbon dioxide. Yes, that’s right: Email is contributing, at least a little bit, to our climate crisis. Worldwide, humans’ love-affair with email generates about as much carbon dioxide as having an extra six million cars on the road.
(What a great excuse to ignore your inbox. Ya know?)
By unsubscribing to newsletters and other promotional emails you probably don’t even read, you’re making a direct impact on your carbon footprint! Try a service like Cleanfox to make the process easier.
You’ve got this.
If we all make little changes, together we can change the world. And we’d love to be a part of your world-changing journey.
If you’re thinking about buying, selling, or investing in real estate, we’re your people. Book a Discovery Meeting today to tell us all about your real estate goals and how we can make them your reality.
