Living green does not have to be hard or complex. In fact, there are many simple things we can all do to live a greener lifestyle. We want to help the planet to become a pace that is livable and lovable for our children and grandchildren, but that all starts with us. Here are some simple things you can do to make your world and home a greener place:
Plant a tree
Planting a tree is a lifelong process. A tree is a great asset to our planet and millions of them are mown down every year to make paper products or just to make room for farms. By replacing those trees we can help to stabilize the planet’s ecology and also add to the cleanliness of our air supply. Make sure that the tree you plant matches the local ecology. After all, there is no sense planting a pine in Arizona.
Have a natural garden
Another way to help the planet and beautify your home is with a natural garden. Broad yards of grass are not natural to most places, and yet most homes seem to have them. Instead of a green lawn, why not plant beds of native plants and grasses? You will not have to mow and water as much as the plants will be suited to the environment. This will also help out the local wildlife and draw birds and insects to your yard, making it healthier for everyone. This also takes away your need to weed or fertilize the grass, lowering the amount of damaging chemicals in the environment.
Use solar power
Solar power is becoming more and more affordable. With simple kits that you can install yourself or have installed you can change your electricity over to solar power at your own home. You might even make money by sending the extra back to the main grid. Solar power is also great for having power during emergencies when everyone else is cut off.
Use wind power
While you can’t exactly install a giant wind tribune in your back yard, there are companies that do use wind power for electricity. By paying just a few cents more you can have clean renewable energy sent to your home instead of pollutants like coal. Isn’t it worth it for future generations?
When you are building or buying a home be smart about it. See the home’s placement as part of your ecology efforts. If you live in a hot place, try to build with cool materials like stucco. If you live somewhere cool then try to get the most of the sun and keep your back to the wind. Homes with good insulation and double pained windows use less energy and retain more of the climate inside that you desire. It is a simple step, but it paid off big in the long run. You should also use recycled or renewable flooring like bamboo and other products to build your home that do not cut down trees or damage the environment. Try to use natural paints and avoid as many chemicals as possible when building your home for your health and the health of the world around you.
Use less water
Water conservation is a big deal, even if you live near a large body of fresh water. Many people around the world do not have the clean water they need to survive, so you should take care to use only what you really need. Set up a gardening system that reuses rainwater and have low flush toilets installed. Try to take shorter showers and use only the water you need when you brush your teeth and clean up. A tank less water heater can save on both electricity and water by heating up only the water you use. These simple things can help you to cut down your water bill and help save millions of gallons from the waste water treatment plant, which also reduces the amount of chemicals in the environment.
Grow your own food
You do not have to live on a farm to grow your own food. There are indoor growing lights and tables, vertical gardens and urban gardens. It does not take much space to grow enough for a small family and you will have fun doing it. East foods that you have grown yourself and are pesticide free. Best of all, you do not have to buy them at the store anymore. Try to choose foods that do not take a lot of room to grow. Corn or wheat are probably out, but things like lettuce, carrots and green onion can easily be grown in your home garden and save you lots of money in the long run. Plus gardening is therapeutic and makes you feel better.
Eat locally and seasonally
What you can’t grow, buy locally. By buying your food locally you cut down on the transportation of the food, cutting down on truck emissions. You also support local farmers and keep more food around your area. Local food is generally fresher and better for you too. Buying food seasonally also helps you to eat a more varied and balanced diet. The food you eat will taste better because it is in season and you can discover all kinds of new foods and recipes that you may never otherwise have come across just by eating according to the growing season. Even in winter there are plenty of foods that grow and plenty of recipes to try out.
Travel smart
Whether you work at home or travel far to work you can travel smart. Try to walk or bike more often or carpool to reduce emissions. Local metro travel is also a good choice with many cities now offering things like trains that have few emissions than most single cars. If you can, try to telecommute or work near your home. This will reduce your stress as well as the stress on the environment.
Reduce waste
Reuse, reuse, and reuse! Almost everything you throw away ends up in landfills. Why do that when you can waste less and use more. Things like wine bottles, cans and even kitchen scraps can be valuable additions to your home. Try to create compost form organic waste like orange peels, make art work out of glass bottles, and plant starter seeds in those tin cans. There are many ways to reuse your trash to your advantage. What you can’t reuse take to a recycling center to be reused by someone else. This will reduce our landfill usage and make the world a cleaner place.
These are just a few of the simple ways that you can make your home and your life greener. By making simple changes you can make a big impact on the environment and on your own life. Make you and your children’s’ lives better by changing one thing at a time and improving the way you live your life.
About Jason Miner
Jason Miner has written 1 article(s) for EnvironmentGreen.com.
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