In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, you might be wondering what you can do at home to help the environment. Small, everyday changes can make a big difference at home and at work. Review this list and see what you can implement to make your life more sustainable and better for our planet.
Recycle
Most workplaces and homes offer recycling–and if they don’t, then maybe you should start a program. Recycling is easy to do and a simple way to reduce the trash that goes into the landfill and reduce your carbon footprint. The term carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions. The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, which is one of the highest rates in the world. Separating your plastic and paper from your trash so it can be recycled helps.
Use Green Cleaning Products
Consider using earth-friendly, natural cleaning products instead of harsh chemicals. If you use a professional cleaner, like EZ Bee Cleaning, then ask about green cleaning products and services.
Bring Your Own Bags
Use your own bags when you get groceries or run errands instead of using store plastic bags. Similarly, pack your lunches or snacks in reusable containers instead of using plastic bags. This is especially great if you have school-age children who take lunches to school everyday. It saves you money and you reduce your use of plastic.
Ditch Plastic Water Bottles
About 2.5 billion disposable food pouches go into landfills every year as well as 38 billion water bottles and 182.5 billion straws. Use a reusable water bottle instead of using plastic bottles. This small change saves you plenty of money (and reduces your carbon footprint)–especially if you drink a lot of water. Instead of disposable juice boxes or pouches, consider packing juice in a reusable cup.
Reduce Your Energy Use
Invest in energy-efficient appliances and install energy-efficient windows. The less energy you use, the lower your carbon footprint. You can also look at more efficient HVAC equipment that uses less energy (and saves money in utility bills). Try to open up the window instead of running the air conditioning.
Turn Off the Lights
Turn off your lights in favor of natural lighting, and get into the habit of turning off the lights when leaving the room. Use more energy efficient LED lightbulbs and look into automated systems that turn lights on and off at certain times or are motion activated.
Compost
How much food do you waste? Do you toss it in the trash? Another way to reduce waste that goes into the landfill is to compost food and yard waste. Some cities offer curbside compost pickup but you can always compost at home if you don’t have that option.
If you’re curious about green cleaning options, reach out so we can review options with you and provide a free estimate.
