Eco-Tips

Eco-Tips

You can help do your part to make our planet a healthier, greener place by making some small changes to your daily routine! For example, using less water and electricity is better for the planet, and is easy! Things that can you do every day to make a difference include:

Saving Energy

• skip the dryer and hang your clothes out to dry instead!

• unplug phone chargers and use power strips for larger electronic devices or lamps---even when chargers aren't charging anything, they're still taking up power and wasting it!

• choose to walk or bike, or to use public transport such as buses and trains, instead of driving a car. If you do use a car, carpool or get an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle!

• install solar panels, or use another form of renewable energy! If you have solar panels, make sure to run appliances or use energy during the day, when your solar panels are effective and working. Otherwise, you'll probably be using normal energy.

• turn off the lights when you leave a room or are no longer using it! Take advantage of daylight when possible! Install LED lights, which are more eco-friendly (though they do emit blue light, which can have negative health effects; normal lights also have negative health effects though)!

• turn off or dim unnecessary outdoor lights! This also prevents or reduces light pollution, which is harmful to both human and animal health.

• reduce your heater use. Put on a jacket instead! 

• reduce your AC use. When it's hot, stay cool by staying hydrated and in the shade. If you do need to use the AC, choose an energy-efficient system! Look for AC systems that have the ENERGY STAR label. You can also look at the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) to see which AC systems are more energy-efficient. A higher EER means a more efficient AC system.

Saving Water

• plant a native garden to reduce water usage---and with the added benefit of providing food and shelter for native pollinators and wildlife!

• make sure to turn your faucets all the way off when leaving a sink or shower.

• fix any leaks that appear as soon as possible!

• make sure your sprinklers are set to water your lawn and to not waste unnecessary water on driveways and streets. When it's raining, turn your sprinklers off!

• turn off sinks when not in use. For example, you don't need to leave your sink running when you're brushing your teeth or shaving!

• take shorter showers! Keep a timer in your shower to help you, or let a family member know when you are taking a shower and ask them to remind you when your time is up.

• use a dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand.

• are you curious how many gallons of water you or your household uses per day? The water footprint calculator is a really great and easy way to calculate how much water you currently use and what you can do to reduce your water use for the future!

Shopping and Eating Sustainably

• shop brands that prioritize environment. Don't shop from brands that poach, traffic, and abuse animals, or that contribute to habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, deforestation, or other harmful practices. Who you support matters!

• buy quality things instead of cheaper things. Things that are quality will last for longer so you don't have to constantly replace them and contribute to waste.

• take care of your possessions so that you don't have to replace them.

• repair your clothes if they rip instead of just throwing them away. Sew a fun patch onto your clothes to cover up a tear!

• buy from secondhand stores or thrift! Buying secondhand is great because it reduces waste and reuses clothes, furniture, etc. that have already been made. Donate your own clothes when they're too small so they can benefit other people.

• buy locally. Buying locally is a great way to support local stores and to reduce the amount of energy used to store and transport goods across long distances.

• shop for sustainable seafood at restaurants and in the store. You can use sites like Seafood Watch in the United States and Ocean Wise and SeaChoice in Canada to help you make the right choices when it comes to eating seafood responsibly. Does your favorite restaurant or store not support sustainable practices? Talk to them about it!

• consider changing your diet with the Earth in mind! You don't have to fully give up meat if you don't want to; there are many different diets that benefit the planet besides a vegetarian or vegan diet. For example, a flexitarian diet means that you eat mainly plant-based food, but can eat meat, dairy, or eggs once in a while! Research a diet that best suits you!

• participate in Meatless Mondays, a global movement to reduce the consumption of meat where participants do what it sounds like---go meatless on Mondays!

• check out our list of eco-friendly recipes for your everyday use, whether or not you are on a diet!

• reduce food waste. Don't buy so much that you end up tossing a lot of what you bought away, or buy things that you won't eat! If you can't finish your meal at a restaurant, take it home to eat later. Keep an eye on the expiration dates of food products and store your food properly so that it doesn't spoil. Buy "ugly" fruits or veggies at stores that are often left behind.

• skip the plastic! Single-use-plastics, or SUPs, contribute to plastic pollution and waste. Plastic production and the burning of plastic waste also contributes to the burning of fossil fuels. Don't use straws when you don't have to---note that the use of metal straws can be deadly in certain situations. Use a reusable water bottle and water refill stations instead of a plastic water bottle.

Speaking Up

• write a letter to someone who has power over environmental policies or actions!

• write a petition to gather signatures and support on a cause you are passionate about! Send the petition to people in power who can create the change you want to show that other people support the change.

• sign a petition! Show your support for a cause you are passionate about.

• use your vote to support environmental policies!

• attend a town hall meeting and bring up environmental concerns with the people in charge of your town! Do your research to show that you know what you're talking about.

• use social media to bring attention to your cause!

It might seem like climate change is too big of a problem for you to do anything about it, but every little thing counts in the fight for a healthier, greener planet! Tell all your family and friends! The more people making changes, the bigger the impact!