Easy At-Home Ways to Go Green

These days, it seems everyone’s going green. Schools, businesses and neighborhoods are all incorporating programs and initiatives that promote sustainability and eco-friendly living. But what can you do in your day-to-day life to help the cause? There are several simple steps you can take and changes you can make at home to lessen your impact on the environment.

Reuse Water

Everyone knows about the benefits of reducing water usage to help lessen the blow on this precious limited resource. People turn faucets off when they aren’t using them; they take quick showers–and all in the name of conservation. But, what about the option of RE-using naturally occurring water to further the efforts?

From AC overflow to rain water and even the liquid contents of a cooler that was once full of ice–the sources for safe water that can be reused for activities such as plant watering are several and all-too-often overlooked. Granted some of this water might not be ideal for drinking, but there’s no reason why last night’s rain water won’t work to fill your bird bath this morning.

To help encourage these habits, leave buckets out where your know water to gather, so whenever you need a drop or two for household chores it will be ready and waiting. Not only will the environment thank you, but so will your water bill.

Grow Your Own Produce

In addition to reusing water, planting a couple of vegetable or fruit bearing plants for your own personal use can greatly help decrease your carbon footprint. From tomatoes to potatoes and even bananas and ginger, you can have your very own garden of yummy foods at your disposal. This will help cut down on your trips to the grocery store and will also decrease the effects of mass production. Living off the land like our ancestors is very innate and instinctual and can even help decrease your overall expenses.

Hand Me Downs

Aside from being mindful of your food and water usage, it’s important to also be aware of your material consumption. Hand-me-downs have long been a right of passage for younger siblings, but they are also very eco-friendly as they help decrease the amount of THINGS you consume, which will help the environment in the long run.

Hand-me-downs don’t have to be a one-way street. You can also have “hand-me-ups.” Pretty much. as long as it involves the reuse of materials rather than the consumption of new goods and products, the earth will thank you.

So, if you are trying to live a greener life, give some of these steps a try. They are inexpensive and easy to incorporate into everyday life and might just surprise you. From MBA candidates to students and blue collar workers—the environment is home to us all and should be respected.

Amanda Watson is a freelancer blogger who writes about online mba programs and other topics pertaining to online higher education. You can reach Amanda at watsonamanda.48@gmail.com.