Navigation

Tag Archives | sustainability

Learn How to Budget Your Green Lifestyle

February 2, 2022 0

Many people want to live a greener lifestyle. However, they may think that it is too expensive. When they see the expensive equipment and food, they get discouraged, thinking they can’t do it. About 38% of respondents to a Harris Interactive poll said they’d be afraid of eviction, showing that people need to put their money toward important things. However, it is possible to budget for a green lifestyle. Here are some ways to do so.

Take Care of Your Body

Living sustainably includes caring for yourself physically and mentally. Green living should involve healthy food, lots of exercise and rest, and regular doctor’s appointments. Everyone should see a doctor once a year to make sure that they are doing well. By maintaining your health, you use fewer resources and avoid expensive medical bills.

Buy Used

Shopping at secondhand stores is a great way to live a sustainable lifestyle. Green living involves reusing things, something you might already be doing if you are on a tight budget. Many of the items at secondhand or thrift shops are still perfectly usable. They may even include some of the trendier green living items you’ve seen on social media. Do some or all of your shopping secondhand and you’ll be contributing to keeping the environment clean and healthy while also staying on a budget.

Involve the Whole Household

If you live with other people, get them involved in your green lifestyle as well. Not only will it be easier to sustain with their support, but it will also be financially beneficial. This can work for any living situation, including roommates and families. Half of American adults are married, meaning they likely have the emotional and financial support of their spouse. By combining resources, your household can afford the more expensive aspects of green living. It also means you can support each other as you establish new ways to live healthily, keeping you motivated and on track.

Shop Local

Whenever you can, buy as locally as possible. Not only will you support small businesses, but your purchases will also require fewer resources to get to you. This is a great way to get involved in sustainable business practices. However, local shops can sometimes be more expensive too. If you’re on a budget, don’t try to buy everything at your local farmers’ market or small shop. Instead, make a cost allowance list and buy what you can.

Have Realistic Expectations

Having realistic expectations of what you can do is an important part of green living on a budget. You shouldn’t try to live a perfectly sustainable life. It is not a realistic prospect, especially if you also have to pay attention to your budget. Instead, do what you can. Be realistic about your abilities and prioritize the things that mean the most to you. If you go into green living with the expectation of perfection, you’ll burn out. By doing the best you can, you accept that you will still have to do some non-sustainable things to survive. Knowing this as you begin will help you avoid the guilt and burnout that can come from not reaching your idealized expectations.

Green living is possible for everyone, even if you have to do so on a limited budget. If you go into this new lifestyle knowing what to expect, you’re much more likely to succeed. So make sure you prioritize where you’re spending your money and taking care of yourself. Consider these tips and apply them to your life, either gradually or all at once. Either way, they will help you take steps toward a green lifestyle.

Teaching Your Little One About Sustainability Through Fun Projects

November 12, 2021 0

Taking care of our environment has become a top concern around the world. If you have children at home, it’s time to start teaching them about sustainability so they can grow up with knowledge on how to make the world a better, greener place.

Here are a few fun projects you can do as a family that’ll give your children a solid foundation for sustainable living.

Learn How to Care for Indoor Plants

If starting a vegetable garden in your backyard isn’t a task you’re up for just yet, you can teach your children how to care for plants in an easier fashion by adding indoor plants to common living spaces in your home. With over 28 million small businesses throughout the country, you can surely find a greenhouse or two in your area that sells an assortment of plants to choose from.

Start with plants that don’t require a ton of upkeep. Aloe vera plants, snake plants, cacti, spider plants, baby’s tears, and prayer plants are a few easy types of plants your kids can handle. Go over how to pot, repot, water, and care for the plants on a daily and weekly basis. You may have your kids write down which days they need to water the plants on their personal calendars so they can own the responsibility of caring for them on a regular basis. Once they’ve mastered the easy plants, you can move to plants that require more care.

Turn Cardboard Into Art

Between cereal, pasta, and other snacks in your pantry, you likely have a lot of cardboard boxes filling up your recycling can. While recycling is the best way to dispose of these boxes, you can also turn this “trash” into art.

Your kids can turn flat pieces of cardboard into their own board games, create a painting for their playroom, and even create themed pieces of art during the holidays. For example, you can create cardboard turkeys for Thanksgiving festivities and snowmen and reindeer for the December holiday season. By creating art with cardboard, your kids will learn how to make a product useful for something other than holding food.

Create Nature-Themed Picture Books

If your children attend one of the 87% of private schools that have fewer than 300 students, they likely have an excellent selection of kids’ books to choose from on a daily basis. Your children probably spend a good amount of time reading and writing at school, but how can they bring these skills home and learn about the environment at the same time? Creating handmade nature-themed picture books is a unique idea you can get started on right away.

All you need is your cell phone or another type of camera, a printer, empty scrapbooks from a craft store, glue or tape, and colorful writing utensils. Take your kids outside in your backyard, around your neighborhood, and to local parks. Have them take a bunch of pictures of the nature that surrounds them. Then, get their photos printed. Create a crafting station at your dining room table and let your kids get to work gluing or taping their photos in the scrapbooks. Encourage them to a write caption for each picture. Not only will your kids love their handmade books outlining their naturesque adventures, but they’ll get in some writing practice, too!

Encourage Your Kids to Become Leak Investigators

Did you know that fixing easy-to-fix leaks can save you about 10% on your water bill? Dripping faucets and worn toilet flappers are among the easy-to-fix leaks everyone in your family should be aware of. To help avoid water waste in your home, encourage your children to become leak “investigators.”

Show your children the signs to look for in a bathroom, the kitchen, and the laundry room that indicate there’s a leak. For example, if your children notice damp or damaged flooring, strange noises when the water is on, reduced water pressure, or water stains, there may be a water leak in your home that requires some further investigation.

Teaching your children about sustainability and how to better take care of the earth around them is a responsible parenting move. Consider these fun projects as you teach your kids the best ways to take care of our environment and reduce waste at home.

Ways to Make Your Home More Sustainable

May 26, 2021 0

There are many ways to make your home more sustainable this spring and summer. You can remodel using eco-friendly materials and appliances, grow native plants, cook more food at home, cool your home without using the AC all the time, and upgrade appliances. Below are some ways to make these changes.

Remodel Using Eco-Friendly Options

Did you know that over 10 million kitchens are remodeled every year? When you decide to remodel your kitchen, look for Energy Star appliances rated for saving water and energy. Use sustainable materials for your cabinets, countertops, and backsplashes. Wood, stone, and tile are all materials that are natural and recyclable. Use wood materials free of toxic materials in your home. Install low-flow faucets in your sinks because they reduce water usage by about 30%. Paint your walls with paint and finishes that are low in VOC or harmful chemicals. These paints are safer for your whole family. Visit antique stores and salvage shops near you to find furniture, accessories, outdoor fixtures, crafts, and art you can put in your home.

Choose Native Plants To Grow in Your Garden

Native plants grow best and adapt to your geographic area better than other plants. They are often easy to care for and you can find them at your local garden center. You can purchase native flowers, vegetables, and herbs already growing and transplant them into your garden. Native plants will attract birds, butterflies, bees, and local wildlife. These plants provide food for local wildlife to help them survive. Finding out about native plants means visiting your local garden center or clubs to learn what is grown locally. These plants will save you money and are usually easier to maintain.

Make More Food Products at Home

Start by buying a sheet pan and parchment paper to cook more fresh vegetables for your meals. Wash and cut the carrots, potatoes, squash, peppers, cabbage, add olive oil and salt, and roast in the oven. Roast at 350 or higher for 20 to 30 minutes. The vegetables should be soft and slightly browned and you can roast them individually or mix them. Learn to saute greens, spinach, swiss chard, or cabbage. Look for recipes and follow instructions. Rice is easy to make in the microwave and is a great side dish with meats, seafood, stir fry, and stews. Learn to use beans in chili and soup recipes. They add protein, vitamins, and nutrients to meals. Try whole wheat or gluten-free pasta they have more nutrition than white pasta.

Prepare more food at home and skip frozen and prepared dinners. Over the last 7,000 years, people have fermented plants and grains to make alcohol. Learn to make healthier meals and cut down on alcohol, as too much is bad for your health. Other easy recipes to prepare at home are pasta dishes, homemade salad dressings, sandwiches, eggs, salads, and sauces. Start with simple recipes with fewer ingredients when learning to cook new dishes.

How to Cool Your Home Without AC

You might want to cut down on using your air conditioner and find ways to cool your house without it. Place box fans in the windows to run at night or a ceiling fan to make your air conditioner more efficient. Many evenings you will find the ceiling fan cools the room enough so you do not need air conditioning. Use cotton or bamboo sheets that breathe and do not trap heat and moisture. Open the window and slider door in the late evening and let some cool air come in. Shut shutters, blinds, and shades during the day to keep heat and the sun out. Wear comfortable lightweight clothing at home; shorts, tee shirts, and comfortable shoes. Try taking a cold bath or shower before going to bed. Cook meals outside on the grill or prepare early in the morning when it is cooler.

Update Older Appliances and Features

Did you know that 85% of the homes in the US were built before 1980 and need improvement and updates? Start slowly to replace old appliances with new models one at a time. Look for Energy Star appliances that save money on water and electricity. Buy a smaller-sized refrigerator or a dishwasher that saves on water when you wash dishes. Buy sustainable products for flooring or wood paneling or even recycled materials that can be reused. Install low-flow faucets and a shower head to save on water use or use LED lightbulbs to save energy. Paint your cabinets or stain them instead of installing new ones.

Finding ways to make your home more eco-friendly and sustainable will improve your health and make it more comfortable to live in.

How You Can Make Your Coffee Use More Sustainable

February 25, 2020 0

Coffee is an ancient art. In the 16th century, it was being grown in places like Persia, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey. As far back as the 1600s, iced coffee and cold brew were being made in Japan; by the 1800s, Algeria also produced iced coffee and cold brew. In the 17th century, coffee finally made its way to Europe as well.

These days, coffee is everywhere and comes in many forms. But that is part of the problem. In modern times, we’ve become more aware of the impact of our disposable coffee cups, as well as the impact of certain planting and harvesting techniques for the coffee itself.

For those with an eye for sustainability, here are six tips to help make your morning coffee more environmentally-friendly.

1. Be Picky

Consider shaking up your routine by looking into coffee alternatives. Did you know 35% of people miss discovering a business because they don’t see their sign? It’s sort of the same with coffee. We can miss alternatives or more sustainable options simply because we’re not reading labels carefully.

Next time you are at the grocery store to buy coffee, take an extra minute to read the signs right before you. A lot of producers will include labels that indicate their coffee is produced more sustainably.

Look for indicative phrases like fair trade, rainforest alliance, organic, and bird-friendly. These are all certifications based on different criteria. For example, fair trade coffee tries to ensure growers and producers are treated fairly and helps protect land and waterways near where the coffee is grown. Decide what is important to you and find the labels that match that.

2. Find Local Sources

If you can get your coffee locally, that is always going to be a big step towards sustainability. The more your coffee has to travel to get to you, the more pollution and waste is involved in producing it.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to find local growers, independent farms, and regional roasters who can make you the perfect cup. As a bonus, you’ll be helping out a local small business.

3. Make Your Own At Home

Going out for coffee is always going to produce more waste than brewing at home, even if you’re buying coffee from a small local cafe. Brewing your own coffee at home is one of the best ways to reduce waste and it should save you some money too.

When making your own coffee at home, stay away from disposable, one-time-use cups. Instead, use a fair trade brew that you can scoop out of a bag. Those one-time-use cups are convenient, but incredibly wasteful.

And while you’re making coffee at home, use a mug! Invest in a great coffee mug that you can use every morning. By doing this, you will not only be reducing the waste from the coffee, but also from the disposable cups you tend to get at coffee shops.

4. Compost the Waste

One last tip for brewing at home: Compost. Tea leaves and coffee grounds are excellent compost. Coffee is actually a superb fertilizer because of the nitrogen content.

By composting leaves and grounds, you will keep waste out of landfills. You can even spread used coffee grounds directly on your garden if you don’t have a way to compost.

5. Reuse Your Filter

While you’re making your coffee at home, find ways to minimize your waste. You can not only reuse your mug and avoid single-use cups, but you can also get a reusable filter to cut down on wasteful paper filters.

Those paper filters aren’t just bad because they fill up landfills; they also sometimes contain things like dioxins that can get into watersheds. Reusable filters are much better for the environment.

However, if you do need to use paper filters, search for ones that are “total chlorine-free” or “processed chlorine-free.” This indicates that they won’t be full of dangerous dioxins that can get into water systems.

6. Tell a Friend

You don’t need to do this alone! Get a friend to go with you for your morning coffee run at a local restaurant or cafe. You could even buy mugs, reusable filters, and more sustainable and environmentally-friendly coffee together.

As you continue trying to change your coffee drinking habits, having a friend to commiserate with can be a huge help. Talk about the best brands or cafes you’ve found, what your long-term goals are, and tips you discover along the way. Sharing the experience can make it more like a fun challenge and less like a burden. You could even try some composting tips together.

A Better Routine for Everyone

No matter how you choose to go about having a more sustainable morning routine, even small changes can end up making a big difference. Don’t be afraid to start small before working on larger lifestyle changes to increase your positive impact.

How to Make Your Workplace a Little Greener By 2020

November 20, 2019 0

Given the growing number of consumers who care about sustainability, it’s no wonder that many businesses are at least making an effort to go green. Not only can your actions help to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change, but you can also prove to customers that you care about the planet — and appeal to their inclinations in the process. What’s more, creating a more eco-friendly workplace doesn’t have to translate to a large sacrifice. In many cases, it can allow you to save some money without ever noticing a real difference during the workday. In others, it can bring your team together and make your business that much more profitable. But how exactly should you get started? Here are some basic tips that will make your work environment — and the environment at-large — a little greener by 2020.

Go Paperless When Possible

Did you know that China, Japan, and the United States account for 50% of the world’s total paper production? Although we depend largely on our technological devices, many offices still use a lot of paper in unnecessary ways. You might already be using shared drives and store files in the cloud, but if you’re printing out packets for a meeting or hanging memos up in the break room, you’re still not as eco-friendly as you could be. What’s more, you’re probably spending a lot on office supplies like paper, ink, paperclips, and staples. Encourage employees to think before printing and consider donating at least some of your printers and copiers to organizations in need. If you haven’t already, adopt digital sharing and storage measures that will allow you to cut down on paper usage overall. This minimal change might have less of an impact on your day than you might think; you’ll just need to create new habits to ensure everyone’s on the same (virtual) page.

Conserve Your Energy

Offices come with a lot of necessary overhead. Keeping the lights and the HVAC system running can translate to high costs for business owners. But you can mitigate those costs and reduce unnecessary waste by being smarter about how you use your energy. Switching to LED bulbs and unplugging lights, small appliances, and computers at the end of the day can do wonders for your energy expenditures. You’ll also want to pay close attention to the thermostat. While studies have found that productivity levels are highest when temperatures average 71.6 degrees, that’s a high level to reach during the winter. Be willing to compromise a bit with temperature settings and consider installing a smart thermostat to ensure that the building isn’t being heated or cooled after work is done for the day. Having employees bring in a sweater or a portable, handheld fan may be a sacrifice they’re willing to make to have a greener office in the long run.

Offer Remote Work Options

Telecommuting is becoming a more popular option for businesses across the country. Employees enjoy the flexibility of being able to work from home or from a nearby coffee shop, while employers benefit from decreased overhead. Workers are more productive, fewer work days are missed, and everyone obtains a more balanced life as a result. It’s also an excellent way to support green initiatives. Not only can you keep heating and electricity needs to a minimum with fewer people in the office on a given day, but you can also have a direct impact on emission reduction from commuting vehicles. In other words, you can brag about your sustainability and your employee perks — both of which may make you one of the top employers to beat in your area.

Eliminate Single Use Items

During company events, picking up paper plates and plastic utensils is an easy way to ensure everyone can join in. But this practice is incredibly wasteful, which puts a damper on the fun. Instead, invest in some communal mugs, cups, plates, and cutlery and recommend that employees bring some of these items in, too. Since Americans produce 4.4 pounds of trash every single day, eliminating at least some of these disposable items will cut down on your company’s waste (and need for trash collection!). If you really want to go the extra mile, float around the idea of starting a composting program. At the very least, make an effort to purchase disposable items (like coffee filters) that are made from recycled materials and ensure that your own recyclables don’t end up in landfills.

If it seems like these changes are too small to make a difference, remember that there are nearly 28 million small businesses in the U.S. alone. By making minimal adjustments, you can be part of a bigger impact and show your community how serious you are about protecting the planet. With your help, we can make the earth a little bit greener by the time the new year rolls around.