The recent Australian wildfires and Amazon Rainforest fires are a testament to alarming climate crises. With the rising consequences of climate change, it's time to take action in order to preserve our planet.
While responsibility should be taken by large corporations and government, we as individuals need to do our part as well. Contrary to what you might have heard or assumed, living sustainably isn't complicated or extremely expensive. As a matter of fact, you can considerably reduce your living expenses by incorporating eco-friendly change to your everyday life.
Not sure where or how to begin? Take a look at our top tips to living a sustainable lifestyle.
Consume energy consciously
Most energy is generated by burning fossil fuels, which is one of the major reasons behind the rising level of greenhouse gases. It's imperative to use energy consciously. Make sure you turn off lights and other electronics whenever not in use.
Also, it would be best to switch to a renewable energy plan. This offers the added bonus of energy savings.
Shop less
If retail therapy is your idea of destressing, then you need to find a new hobby. Fashion, particularly fast fashion, is one of the biggest polluting industries.
You should check out vintage and thrift stores for your fashion fix. Not only is it a cheaper way to shop, but you also get to enjoy one-of-a-kind pieces. Apart from this, you can easily rent clothes for any occasion at affordable rates.
Repair & reuse
Try to mend and reuse any household item before thinking about throwing it away. Have glass milkshake bottles? Use them as chic planters. Have an old tyre? Revamp it into a modern coffee table or pouffe.
Waste management
Always separate your rubbish into recyclable and non-recyclable. Drop off recycle waste to a recycling unit. This is an excellent way to minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
A&A Skip Hire offers cheap skip hire and also has its own recycling transfer station.
Try eating vegan or vegetarian
Meat production creates a toll on animals, land and water. While it isn't easy to become vegetarian overnight, you should start, however you can.
Start with a couple of weekly vegan or vegetarian meals and take it from there. Every small step makes a difference.
Go paperless
In the digital age, there is hardly any need to use paper for correspondence. Switch to e-bills, tablets and ebooks.
Use public transportation
Instead of driving your personal vehicle to work, try taking public transportation a couple of times in a week. This will reduce your carbon footprint and help you save fuel costs. You can even carpool with your coworkers.
Enable energy efficiency
Replace CFLs and halogen bulbs with energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures. In addition to this, ensure your home is properly insulated to prevent energy loss.
Shop at bulk stores
Have you noticed how most grocery items have several layers of unnecessary packaging? You can avoid being wasteful by shopping at bulk grocery stores. You can take and fill your own containers and bags at zero-waste grocery stores.
Avoid single-use plastic
It's crucial to eliminate single-use plastic from your lifestyle. Stop using single-use coffee cups, plastic straws, plastic cutlery, cling film, water bottles and so on.
Take your own cup to coffee shops. Reusable straw and cutlery sets are readily available online.
Practise water conservation
Don't leave the tap running while brushing your teeth and it's better to take shorter showers and save water. Also, fix any leaking taps or pipes in your home.
The Bottom Line
No one expects you to transform completely into a sustainability guru. It's okay to take it slow, but the important thing is to start. Every effort counts!
