Whether you’re trying to save a few bucks or preserve the environment, any step that you take towards living a more eco-friendly life is one in the right direction. Anyone can live eco-consciously. It doesn’t require that much of an effort and you don’t necessarily have to make massive changes to your way of living. Many of us have irresponsible consuming habits and may not even realize the impact they have on the environment. However, just identifying these and making adjustments could be more than enough to make a change. Let’s take a look at a few simple ways to be more eco-conscious.
Shut it Down
One of the most important, and yet simplest things that you can do to preserve the environment is to limit your energy consumption. And all you need to do to reduce it today is shut down electrical appliances when you’re not using them. And by shutting down, we mean cutting them off from their energy source completely.
Appliances and electronic devices often continue to use energy even when they’re turned off. These “energy vampires” as they’re often called are said to account for as much as 20% of your monthly energy bills.
We understand that you may have many of these devices around and don’t want to bother with having to plug them out every time they’re not in use. One thing you could do, however, would be to invest in a few power strips. These will allow you to cut off power to one or multiple devices easily and conveniently.
Go for LED Bulbs
If you don’t have LED bulbs in your house, then you should consider switching. There is absolutely no reason to pick incandescent bulbs over LEDs unless you’re on an extremely tight budget. Even then, the long-term savings on energy and replacement cost you’ll make will be well worth it.
LED lights last much longer than incandescent lights and only consume a fraction of the energy. They also tend to be much more versatile and will often have smart features that will allow you to control them or change their color using an application.
Use Bamboo Toilet Paper
Many of us assume that toilet paper doesn’t have a significant impact on the environment because of its biodegradable nature. But a lot of trees have to be cut down to produce toilet paper. A lot of water is also used in its production.
It’s estimated that it takes around 90,921 liters of water and 17 trees to produce one single ton of toilet paper. If you want to go for a more eco-friendly option, go for toilet paper made of bamboo. Bamboo grows at an incredibly fast rate, making it a much more sustainable source for toilet paper.
Choose Your Brands and Products Wisely
You also need to privilege brands that are serious about protecting the environment. Brands like Gourmesso are a perfect example. Few people realize this, but disposable coffee pods are having a disastrous effect on the environment. One study found that the number of k-cups that end up in landfills is enough to circle the planet 10 times.
Gourmesso were not satisfied with using recycled plastic for their pods, however. They made theirs compostable, and the proceeds from sales go directly towards reforestation efforts. This is a prime example of a brand that is ready to talk the talk and walk the walk.
These are all very simple things that you could do immediately to be more eco-conscious and start making a positive change. Every gesture counts and you should constantly try to find new ways to be more responsible as a consumer.
