1. Create cleaner air around your home with plants :
One can never have enough house plants around them. Special ones like Mother-in-Law's tongue releases oxygen even at night so it's ideal for the bedrooms. One can also use Peace Lilies and Boston Ferns thrive in rooms with high humidity and can reduce the mould spores in the air, making them ideal for bathrooms or Weeping Figs, which have been found to be the best plant for removing formaldehyde released from carpets and furniture. If possible, you can invest your time to grow a garden with a variety of plants and flowers.
2. Save water and lower your bills :
In times like today, switching to a water meter, so you pay for only the water you use, is a viable option. Invest the money you save into water-saving devices and plumbing, such as rainwater harvesting. Fixing all leaky faucets and pipes in your home is also an efficient step when trying to conserve water.
3. Use non-plastic reusable items :
There are many reusable items that we can use everyday which don't leave a giant carbon footprint. For instance: reusable bags. Plastic bags are everywhere and harmful to our environment. Get a reusable bag next time you’re at the grocery store and carry it with you everywhere just in case. You can also store your food and consumables in reusable containers.
4. Save energy and power down :
It is always recommended to turn off your lights when you aren't using them or to turn off the Air conditioning or heating when not required. And when you're going out of town, you can unplug those electronics that don’t need to be ON and would still consume energy even when not in use. It's a simple and efficient money-saving and planet-saving tip.
5. Buy Local. Buy Organic :
Organic agriculture aims to preserve natural resources and support animal health and welfare, while avoiding most synthetic materials. So next time you're out buying some greens, try the organic way.
It would also be great to shop from your local vendors who tend to have fresh harvest rather than buying online (from sources who transport their agricultural products from far away and hence don't have fresh stock)
6. Go paperless wherever you can :
Most bills today have the option of being paid through online options, so one should take advantage of this. This not only saves time, but also helps to reduce paper wastage and save trees. Even in our kitchens, Paper towels are used quite commonly but one can use dish towels and cloth napkins instead.
7. Recycle :
Recycling is one of the most important (and easiest) steps to going green and reducing your carbon footprint. One should always check all of their plastic, cardboard, and aluminum waste for the recycle symbol before throwing it away.
8. Walk or bike more, use public transportation or carpool :
Depending on where you live, try walking or using a bike to get to places instead of driving. This will significantly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. You can also opt for public transportation or carpool as this will save on the amount of omission per person.
9. Go for Biodegradable personal care products :
Nowadays, we have so many waste-free sanitary protection products to explore. One should opt for products such as biodegradable pads, tampons or they can prefer to use reusable products such as mentstrual cups. These products have also generally been found to be more comfortable and skin friendly than non biodegradable sanitary products.
10. Use rechargeable batteries :
Over time, one can invest in a full set of rechargeable batteries for their gadgets, remotes and smoke detectors within the house. Recharging batteries keeps dead ones out of the landfill and saves your money in the long run. Buy them on sale and stock up over time for use.
