Every year, Earth’s temperature increases. To combat climate change, many people are looking for sustainable living ideas as a way of doing their share to help the environment.

In this article, we will talk about sustainable living tips you can start doing today to make your own home more eco-friendly.

The definition of sustainable living is having a lifestyle that directly contributes to the betterment of the environment.

You can adopt sustainable living at home by using green products, avoiding the use of disposables, growing your food, and more. These actions reduce an individual’s carbon footprint and helps environmental concerns such as climate change and pollution.

Below are some ideas for sustainable living that you can start doing today.

Eco-sustainable homes are becoming a trend because of their capability to conserve energy—which in turn  has a positive impact on the environment.  But you don't have to rebuild your house to get in on the action. Here are some sustainable ways of living you can implement today. 

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The 3 R’s of the environment is something you have probably come across. It is one of the easiest ways to cut down on waste and energy consumption. These three R’s stand for “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. Data shows that 91% of plastic produced is not recycled, and we expect 12 billion metric tons of plastic on landfills by 2050. It is estimated that plastics take 400 years to degrade, which makes it a big problem. 

Using reusable containers, shopping bags, and bottles not only have a positive effect on the environment, but will also save you money. If you are using plastic and paper plates at home, buy reusable ones instead. Paper, wood, and hard plastics are some things that can be recycled and reused. It is also important to reduce the number of products being bought for the same purpose. Doing the 3 R’s helps to minimize the annual amount of waste produced by a single person. 

Follow the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

2. Grow Your Own Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables found in your local supermarket usually contain at least some harmful chemicals and pesticides. By choosing to grow your own vegetables, you will know exactly what is going into your food.

In addition, the fact that you don’t have to drive to the store will cut down on emissions while saving you time and money.

Whether doing some backyard gardening or growing vegetables indoors, this fun and healthy activity is something the whole fmily can enjoy. 

Starting a vegetable garden is healthy and will save you money.

3. Limit Your Car Use

Car emissions are one of the top contributors to global warming. A sustainable alternative to this is walking or biking, especially if the place you’re going to is not that far. Walking and biking are great forms of exercise. Medical experts recommend getting 15,000 steps a day.

There is a frequent association between walking and weight loss. Just walking 30 minutes a day can reduce the number of fats in your body. Walking can also strengthen your bones, boost muscle power, improve endurance, increase cardiovascular fitness, and even reduce your risk of having diabetes and cancer. 

Car emissions are one of the top contributors to global warming. Walk instead

4. Use Eco-friendly Products

Raw materials that are safe for the environment are usually used to make eco-friendly products. Most of the time, these products are great for health compared to their chemical-intensive counterparts.

Chemical-free cleaning products do not contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are harmful to the environment and can lead to various diseases,  like cancer

Some examples of the environmentally friendly household products you can start using now are biodegradable waste bags, reusable sandwich wraps, recycled plastic rugs, and recycled paper.

Eco friendly products are healthier and better for the environment

5. Eat Less Meat

Raising livestock produces methane which is a major contributor to global warming. Eating less meat helps the environment while  giving you health benefits. Some benefits of eating less meat are:

Vegetarian food is healthy, cheaper than meat, and helps the environment

6. Avoid Wasting Food

Wasting food is not just bad for the environment but is also morally wrong. Millions of people are dying from hunger-related diseases, which is why we should give importance to the food wasted in our kitchen. 

From an environmental standpoint, preventing food waste helps reduce the amount of methane and carbon dioxide emissions since it will not add to landfills. 

You can avoid food waste at home by using food preservation methods such as airtight food storage containers. 

Food waste does bio-degrade, but it still adds to landfills

7. Make Compost

Waste produced from preparing food should be used in a compost instead of being thrown away. Compost for plants helps create a natural fertilizer that helps them grow fast and healthy. It enriches the soil with nutrients and reduces the plant’s risk of having diseases and pests. 

Composting of waste also helps to reduce landfills. 

Composting is a great way to make high quality fertilizer for free

8. Switch to Energy Saving Lights

Did you know that changing your lighting is one of the most effective ways to save electricity? 

Old models of light bulbs and fixtures consume a lot of power. Switching to energy-efficient lighting can help you save energy at home and cut down your electric bills by more than you probably think.

LED light bulbs are highly efficient and recommended if you want to save energy. 

Swithcing to energy saving LED lights is an easy way to help the environment

9. Insulate Your Home 

One of the major contributors to global warming is the use of heaters and air conditioners. These devices use a lot of electricity and indirectly cause greenhouse gases. 

External house insulation is a sustainable alternative to help keep the house warm during winter. Some of the best insulation for exterior walls and interior walls are blanket rolls, spray foam insulation, blown-in insulation, and rigid foam panels. 

Insulating your home means you don't have to use the heater or air-conditioner as much (or at all)

10. Plant Trees

Trees have the natural ability to reduce greenhouse gas. They do this by taking in carbon dioxide and converting it into oxygen. Trees also filter water, provide habitat for animals, and clean the air we breathe, which makes it one of the most practical ways to reduce CO2 emission. Planting a tree in your backyard can also give your house shade during summer seasons. 

Trees create the oxygen we need to breathe. Why not plant some?

11. Practice Minimalism

Living a minimalist life is defined by practicality. It doesn’t automatically mean living with less stuff. Practicing minimalism means you get the most out of what you have, which in turn reduces the amount of waste you produce. 

This sustainable lifestyle helps you develop an eco-friendly mindset and a habit of recycling used materials.

12. Downsize Your Home

You can drastically reduce the amount of construction materials you use by choosing a small home design. A bigger house requires more lighting, heaters, and appliances and will cause larger energy consumption, which indirectly produces more carbon emissions. Tiny house plans will not only save you on initial construction, but also in maintenance and running in the long run.

A smaller house is easier to maintain, cheaper to run, and better for the environment

13. Stop Unwanted Mail

Every year, 17 billion cubic feet of trees are being cut down and 60% of these are used to make paper. Some of this paper goes into the production of mail. Mail is still a marketing method used by companies today and stopping unwanted mail is one way to save paper. 

Unwanted mail just creates more trash which means trees are being cut down just to be thrown in the waste bin. You can continue to help save the rainforest by looking for more ways to go green, such as opting for email bank statements and requesting “No Junk Mail” on your letterbox. 

You can get most mail delivered electronically these days

14. Find Ways to Save Water

One of the most effective ways to help the ocean is by changing your washing habits. Most of us take too much time in the shower, use a lot of water for dishwashing, and change water too often when doing laundry. Below are some water-saving tips:

Leaking faucets waste a lot of water, but are easy to fix

15. Observe Eco-sabbath

Eco-sabbath is a method of eco-friendly living where you choose a time within a week that you commit to not using electricity. It could be 30 minutes, an hour, 6 hours, and even an entire day per week. It’s like Earth Hour but you decide when and for how long.

Doing an eco-sabbath for four hours a week reduces your carbon emissions by 2.4% a year and will help you save money on electric bills. Eco-sabbath is a great way to promote energy conservation at home.

Eco-sabbath is like Earth hour, but you decide when and for how long

16. Remodel your House with Green Choices

Remodeling or building a house from recycled building materials is now starting to become a popular trend. Most modern houses now use green interior design. It gives benefits such as natural insulation and cooling, higher material quality compared to the traditional ones, and saves money spent on electric bills. It is also environment-friendly and helps the fight against climate change. 

Plastic, wood, wool insulation, living roof, rammed earth, solar roof tiles, mass timber, and smart glass are some green building materials used in construction today. 

Installing solar panels is just one of many ways you can make your home design greener

If you are looking for energy conservation tips, a sustainable living guide like this will help you transition towards an eco-friendly lifestyle. 

Adjusting your habits little by little will not only help you cut costs on electric bills, but you will also help the environment. Sustainable living homes are also becoming a trend. Check out some popular materials used here. 

Did you find these sustainable living ideas useful? If so, please share it with your friends.