At Home

Even the smallest changes in our daily lives can lead to big differences in the long run as every little bit matters. If we all take responsibility for protecting the environment, we can make significant changes. Here are some ways you can live in a more eco-friendly way and help out the environment in your home:

• Drive less. Walk, carpool, or take public transportation when you can. Fewer cars on the road means less oil and gas consumption, as well as less CO2 emissions.
• Take shorter showers. Water is a precious resource and it is scarce any many places of the world. Taking shorter showers and using less water to clean dishes can help conserve water resources and your utility bills will go down.
• Turn off the lights and unplug appliances. Most people would be surprised by the amount of energy different appliances use. Even when they’re turned off, appliances that are plugged in are still drawing power, so unplug appliances when you aren’t using them and turn off the lights when you aren’t in the room.
• Use compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) light bulbs rather than regular incandescent light bulbs. They are longer lasting and use less energy than traditional light bulbs, and are better for the environment and they can reduce your electricity bill.
• Reduce your use of chemicals. Many fertilizers, pesticides, and cleaning products contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment. Composting organic materials can make great fertilizer for your gardens. Seek out natural methods rather than using harmful chemicals.
• Don’t litter. Take your trash to a dumpster where it can be picked up, don’t throw it outside on the side of the street. Garbage and litter can damage plants and be harmful to local wildlife. Help keep the world green by disposing of waste properly.
• Shop eco-friendly. Buy local products that haven’t been imported, therefore avoiding the use of a large amount of oil and gas to get to your home. Buying locally also helps support your local economy. Don’t buy products that have large amounts of plastic packaging or unnecessary packaging that is just going to go to waste.
• Don’t use plastic bags, and if you do, re-use them. Plastic bags are extremely harmful for the environment. They don’t decompose and can kill animals if they’re not disposed of properly. When you buy groceries, bring your own re-usable bags instead of getting plastic bags. Try to re-use plastic bags as trash bags or as packing material when packing up fragile items.
• Recycle. Recycle. Recycle. Recycle anything you can whenever it’s possible.