As many of you may know, World Environment Day was last week, on Monday, June 5th. In celebration, we want to share some tips with you on how you can live a more green lifestyle. We think that having a day dedicated to celebrating the environment each year is great, so let’s expand it through the whole month, or even the whole year!
Check out our six ideas on how you can do your part to protect and preserve our beautiful planet!
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Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
Long-lasting light bulbs help cut back on greenhouse gas emissions, AND they save you money in the long run. This switch is one of the easiest ways to help fight for our planet’s health and longevity while also benefiting in a personal way. Also, make sure to turn off all of your lamps and overhead lights whenever you leave a room and before you go to bed!
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Opt for a Reusable Bag Instead of Plastic
Choosing a reusable over a plastic one helps to reduce the amount of single-use plastics that end up in landfills. Not to mention, reusable bags are stronger than plastic ones, AND they come in fun colors, designs, and a variety of sizes. Pro-tip: keep a couple of extra reusable bags in your car for unexpected trips to the grocery store!
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Don’t Pre-Wash Your Dishes
If you have a dishwasher, you do not need to wash your dishes beforehand. They might need an occasional rinse before you place them on the rack, but modern appliances typically do not need extra help. This tip will get your dishes cleaner while also cutting back on how much water you use, yet another way to save money while you help save the planet!
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Recycle
While this may seem like an obvious way to do your part, so many people don’t recycle! Set yourself up for success by placing a bin for recyclables next to your garbage can, so you don’t even have to do an extra step to recycle. You can also try “upcycling” some of your older clothes or decorative items that might not be in style anymore by repurposing them instead of throwing them out!
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Use a Water Bottle
It’s so important to stay hydrated, especially during the hot summer months. Instead of buying bottles of water, invest in a reusable water bottle and fill it before you leave the house. This will cut back on the amount of single-use plastics that end up in landfills, AND it will save you money. Just think of how much more fun drinking water will be when you use your brand new water bottle that matches your personality and style!
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Go Thrift Shopping
Thrifting is a great way to find new clothes, furniture, or decor for a great price while also reducing the amount of packaging materials used, since you will be shopping in person. Thrift shopping’s rise in popularity has taken away the stigma of purchasing second-hand items, and it’s even created communities of people who thrift together and share their fabulous finds online. Purchasing clothes through thrifting prevents you from contributing to fast fashion, which is notoriously wasteful, and you would be saving additional items from ending up in landfills!
And there you have it, six great, easy ways to help the planet and most of them help you save money!
Have you changed or created certain habits to be more environmentally conscious? Tell us about them in the comments, so we can add them to our own personal lists of ways to do our part!