In our last Leaving No Trace blog, we touched on some small strategies that have a positive impact on the environment. Here are some more simple ways you can make your own home more eco-friendly. If you make conscious purchases and form new habits, you can be environmentally friendly without even having to think about it!
Eat Consciously
Eating food produced by your community cuts down on the waste created by long-distance travel. If you have the space, plant your own vegetable garden! We love being able to pluck lettuce and herbs from our own backyard. Shopping at a farmers’ market is another great way to eat from local sources and support small businesses.
Also consider eating less meat and going vegetarian if possible. In addition to not contributing to harming the animals, you are helping to conserve the energy and water that goes into processing meat products.
Reduce Packaging Waste
Think twice before buying single-use plastics. You can invest in reusable containers wherever possible. This is especially important when it comes to water bottles. Here in the Adirondacks, we participate in a lot of outdoor activities, so water is a must! Get yourself a reusable water bottle to fill up at home and bring with you.
It also prevents waste (and saves money) to buy reusable containers for traveling with your toiletries, rather than stocking up on overpriced travel-sized items. And bring reusable bags and jars when you go grocery-shopping to scoop up loose produce and bulk grains.
In instances where packaging is unavoidable, it’s so important to buy products with recyclable packaging. And don’t forget to actually recycle them when you’re done! It’s handy to have recycling containers in multiple areas, so inconvenience doesn’t become an excuse for just tossing packaging in the trash can.
Consider Your Cleaning
At GO-Cottage, we really know the value of a good clean! This can be an area most people don’t think about when it comes to being eco-friendly. An easy way to fix this is to buy eco-friendly cleaning products that don’t contain harsh and environmentally harmful chemicals. Some of our favorite brands are Mrs. Meyer’s for your home and Dr. Bronner’s for yourself.
Another small step towards helping the environment is washing your clothes in cold water. Not only does this help keep your clothes in top-shape, it also saves all the energy that goes into heating water.
Save Energy
Saving energy can have a major positive impact on the environment, and it also saves you money! Fortunately, making small steps around the house to save energy is easy. A lot of it involves the act of not doing anything! This means sticking to natural light whenever possible, turning off the lights as soon as you leave the room and unplugging electronics when they’re not in use.
When you have to use electricity, make a few swaps when your lights and appliances need replacing. Switch to energy-efficient bulbs and look out for ENERGY STAR appliances.
What are some of your favorite ways to keep your home environmentally-friendly?
