Easy Eco-Friendly Habits to Adopt at Home
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Being eco-friendly means living in a way that is not harmful to the environment. But with the complexities of living in 2023, it can be hard to know what things to change to have the biggest impact (and not completely disrupt your life). Here are some easy habits to adopt that can help reduce climate change effects:
1. Save Energy
Much of our electricity & heat are powered by coal, oil, and gas. Use less energy by lowering your heating and cooling, switching to LED light bulbs and energy-efficient electric appliances, washing your laundry with cold water, or hanging things to dry instead of using a dryer.
If you use a household management app, like Maple, you can set reminders and on your to-do’s to turn off the lights and running appliances at night.
2. Walk, bike, or take public transport
The world’s roadways are clogged with vehicles, most of them burning diesel or gasoline. Walking or riding a bike instead of driving will reduce greenhouse gas emissions — and help your health and fitness. For longer distances, consider taking a train or bus. And carpool whenever possible.
3. Choose eco-friendly products
Everything we spend money on affects the planet. You have the power to choose which goods and services you support. To reduce your environmental impact, buy local and seasonal foods, and choose products from companies committed to cutting their gas emissions and waste and using resources responsibly.
4. Eat more vegetables
Eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and less meat and dairy, can significantly lower your environmental impact. Producing plant-based foods generally results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions and requires less energy, land, and water.
Maple has some delicious plant based and vegetarian meal plans.
5. Throw away less food
When you throw food away, you're also wasting the resources and energy that were used to grow, produce, package, and transport it. And when food rots in a landfill, it produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. So use what you buy and compost any leftovers.
6. Reduce, reuse, repair & recycle
Electronics, clothes, and other items we buy cause carbon emissions at each point in production, from the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing and transporting goods to market. To protect our climate, buy fewer things, shop second-hand, repair what you can, and recycle.
7. Change your home's source of energy
Ask your utility company if your home energy comes from oil, coal, or gas. If possible, see if you can switch to renewable sources such as wind or solar. Or install solar panels on your roof to generate energy for your home.
To easily integrate these habits at home, download Maple.
For more tips and tricks on adapting eco-friendly habits, visit United Nations Act Now.