Reduce Your Environmental Impact in 11 Easy Ways

Climate change is a huge and daunting issue that many people think they have no way of reversing or effecting. Well, you’re right on one account. It is a huge and daunting task to slow the progress of climate change BUT, we can all make a difference! Not everyone can go out and buy an electric car or convert your house to solar power and heat pumps right away but here are 11 easy ways to reduce your environmental impact.

Many of us are aware of the need to change our habits in order to preserve the climate for generations to come. Climate change and eco-friendly living are controversial topics but the conversation is absolutely necessary. Even the smallest contribution made by millions of individuals can change the world. It’s up to you to recognize where you can improve and how you can accommodate small habit adjustments for the good of the planet. Reduce, reuse, recycle is well known nowadays but it is important to note that the term reduce should be the first priority.

Use reusable bags & vegetables bags: 

People choosing reusable grocery bags has been in vogue for quite a while. Some stores have banned plastic bags altogether; however, they still offer plastic bags for your vegetables. Using reusable bags everywhere you shop makes a huge impact on reducing plastic waste. By using reusable vegetable bags in the grocery store, you are keeping additional plastic out of landfills and oceans. Reusable bags are usually stronger so there is less chance of the bag breaking on your way home. Reusable vegetable bags are washable as well as most reusable grocery bags. Remembering to bring your reusable bags into the store may be the biggest challenge implementing this habit.

Use a reusable water bottle: 

According to experts, by using a reusable water bottle, one person could prevent an average of 156 plastic bottles annually from entering landfill and the world’s oceans. Multiply that by millions and we are making a positive change. Most tap water in the United States is clean, safe and affordable so buying single use water bottles is unnecessary in most places. Reusable water bottles promote hydration and are one of the best options for reducing our consumption of plastic worldwide.

Use washable cooking mats:

It’s super convenient to cover sheet trays with tin foil or parchment paper to bake cookies or roast a chicken. After the tin foil or parchment paper is used, it goes in the garbage making cleaning up a breeze. There are many alternatives available that are nonstick and easily washable. We use a Silicone Baking Mat instead of reaching for parchment or aluminum foil. They wash up easily and the food never sticks to it. Using a reusable product really helps reduce our households overall waste.

Hang laundry outside in summer and on a drying rack in winter:

Not everyone has an outdoor space to hang clothes in summer but if you do, it will save a lot of energy and let’s face it… Money. Most electric dryers have a reputation for being power hogs. Any chance to give your dryer a break will save you money. During the winter months in colder climates most homes are heated so the air is warm and dry, perfect for drying clothes. You can use a portable clothing rack to make sure you have enough space for a full load of laundry. Most clothing will dry overnight unless it is thicker and heavier like jeans and sweaters. 

Lower the temp on your hot water heater:

There is nothing like stepping into a hot shower on a cold day or reading a good book while lounging in a steaming bubble bath. Most Americans don’t realize that their hot water heaters temperature can be modified easily. By lowering the temperature of your hot water heater by 20°F, from the standard 140°F down to 120°F can save up to 15% of your hot water heating cost and energy use. This small reduction saves you money and reduces how much energy your home consumes. According to experts 120°F is also the recommended temperature to set your hot water heater to if you have small children in the household to prevent scalding. 

Read the newspaper online:

According to Pew Research Center, In 2020 an estimated 24.2 million printed newspapers were in circulation on most weekdays in the U.S. That number has been reduced by more than half since 2000 so we are moving in the right direction. Paper production using the world’s trees contributes to the increasing deforestation around the world. If you have the ability to subscribe to your favorite news source online instead of purchasing their printed news, you are doing your small part to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Even though newspapers are recyclable the recycling process consumes energy and uses harmful chemicals so the best solution is to reduce your paper consumption to begin with.

Use washable cleaning cloths & cloth napkins:

Americans use more paper towels than anyone else in the world according to Reader’s Digest. Every day more than 3,000 tons of paper towels are thrown away in the U.S. alone. That is a huge amount of paper that ends up in your local landfill! To make one ton of paper towels, 17 trees and 20,000 gallons of water are polluted… you can do the math. Instead of reaching for the quicker picker upper, grab a washable and reusable cloth to wipe up that mess. The cost and environmental saving will be even greater if you buy cloth napkins for use at meal times instead of paper napkins. Reducing the use of paper products is a great way to reduce the impact on the environment by cutting down less trees and using less energy to produce that paper.

Don’t idle your car as much:

On average a car with a 3-liter engine idling for ten minutes burns over 1 cup of fuel and this produces 690 grams of CO 2 according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That doesn’t sound like much but think about all the times you have had to idle for at least 10 min in a drive thru or during curbside pick up this month. 

Idling on the highways during heavy traffic or while you wait for an accident to clear are probably times you idle for longer. Some instances you won’t be able to shut down your car but you can choose to park and go in instead of using the drive thru or shut your car down while sitting in traffic for extended periods of time. If everyone can be more aware of how much we idle our vehicles we can reduce adding pollution to the air and save fuel.

Consider getting a Soda Maker:

If you drink soda or seltzer, consider getting a soda maker. This magic machine will help reduce the amount of cans and plastic bottles you recycle. A soda maker, like a Soda Stream is a great way of having your favorite carbonated beverage and reducing the waste. All you need is the soda maker with a bottle, CO 2 canister, water and optionally your desired flavoring.

The CO 2 canisters are exchangeable at many large retailers so it’s easy to swap out the empty canister.  Soda Streams are also cordless and require no electricity to use. A soda maker will pay for itself over time and save you money. The biggest pay off of a soda maker is saving the energy needed to recycle the cans and  bottles. Some cans and plastic bottles will never end up being recycled so its for them best to just not use them in the first place.

Use rechargeable batteries:

Most people don’t really think of how many disposable batteries we go through every year. We buy them for use in so many applications. Most people have a stash of disposable batteries tucked away somewhere incase of emergencies. Rechargeable batteries have become widely available and their cost is initially just a little higher compared to disposable batteries. Rechargeable batteries have a much longer usable life than disposables. Disposable batteries are recyclable, however buying rechargeable will help reduce waste and energy.

The pros and cons of rechargeable batteries vary based on their application. They are a great alternative to disposable batteries for your devices that drain batteries quickly. Radios, TV remotes, gaming consoles and computer accessories are the perfect application to utilize a rechargeable battery. The cost of switching to rechargeable batteries will benefit you in the long run. It will also be healthier for the environment. Make sure you purchase your batteries with a charger from a reputable company. Not all rechargeable batteries are created equal so stick with companies you know and trust. 

Cancel your junk mail and catalogs:

Unfortunately junk mail and catalogs are still something companies use to market their products to the consumer. Since we live in the day and age where ordering online far outweighs buying from a catalog. It’s a greener way of living to cancel your junk mail and catalogs. Most junk mail is recyclable however, it takes energy to recycle unwanted and unsolicited paper. Some paper will sadly never be recycled for various reasons. It’s best to not have junk mail and catalogs delivered to you in the first place.

Most companies have a customer service line that services customers who wish to unsubscribe from their marketing mailings. Call the company directly and tell them you do not want to receive their catalogs. It only takes a few minutes to cancel and you’ll be saving trees and energy. It will also be great to not have unwanted mail clogging up your mailbox. 

These are just a few easy ways to reduce your environmental impact on the planet. Reducing waste helps lead a more environmentally healthy lifestyle. The positive little things can turn into larger positive change so starting to think about how you can help reduce your households impact will not only help the planet but your wallet as well. The amount of waste in the US alone is staggering. Anything we can do to lessen the amount of waste the better.

We hope you enjoyed our easy tips on leading a more eco-friendly lifestyle. If you did, feel free to like and share this post with your friends and family.