Eco Living
10 Simple Changes to Help You Go Greener in the New Year
Try these beautifully straightforward ways to benefit you and the Earth in 2015
Aiming to make 2015 a year that you live a bit lighter on the planet and save money, to boot? Consider adopting one or more of these 10 changes for a greener home. From the fun (shop vintage) and easy (use more natural light) to the utterly delicious (try organic wines), these resolutions are meant to benefit the Earth – and increase your quality of life.
2. Check salvage yards and local vintage shops before buying new
This is a habit that can save you a lot of money over time and is an incredible boon to the environment – buying vintage is the greenest option of all. The hard part is remembering to do it. I’ve found that (especially at first) it helps to leave notes to yourself in places you usually look before shopping, like on your laptop, in your wallet and in the car. It’s true that patience and determination are rewarded when shopping vintage, so don’t just look once and give up. Keep a running wish list of items, and search for them regularly.
More: Second-Hand Steals: How to Redecorate on a Shoestring
This is a habit that can save you a lot of money over time and is an incredible boon to the environment – buying vintage is the greenest option of all. The hard part is remembering to do it. I’ve found that (especially at first) it helps to leave notes to yourself in places you usually look before shopping, like on your laptop, in your wallet and in the car. It’s true that patience and determination are rewarded when shopping vintage, so don’t just look once and give up. Keep a running wish list of items, and search for them regularly.
More: Second-Hand Steals: How to Redecorate on a Shoestring
3. Swap one thing from disposable to reusable
You reach for paper towels because they are convenient, right? But reusing cloth towels saves money and space in the landfill – and it’s just as easy as using paper once you make it a habit. The key is not to run out, so buy cheap ones by the dozen and stash them everywhere you usually use paper products. You can even wrap your floor cloth mop with a small towel and reuse it instead of buying boxes and boxes of disposable pads. And if you don’t have a small laundry basket in your kitchen yet, add one – it will make life much easier.
Other ideas for a simple swap: oilcloth snack packs for plastic sandwich bags; cloth shopping bags for paper; travel mug for paper coffee cup.
You reach for paper towels because they are convenient, right? But reusing cloth towels saves money and space in the landfill – and it’s just as easy as using paper once you make it a habit. The key is not to run out, so buy cheap ones by the dozen and stash them everywhere you usually use paper products. You can even wrap your floor cloth mop with a small towel and reuse it instead of buying boxes and boxes of disposable pads. And if you don’t have a small laundry basket in your kitchen yet, add one – it will make life much easier.
Other ideas for a simple swap: oilcloth snack packs for plastic sandwich bags; cloth shopping bags for paper; travel mug for paper coffee cup.
4. Switch to a deliciously fragrant natural cleaner
Still spraying your counters with harsh chemicals? Most daily messes can be quickly and easily cleaned with a simple, natural, all-purpose cleaning spray. And if you choose one with essential oils, it will make your kitchen smell lovely and fresh, not chemical-y. Bonus: Natural cleaners are safe to use around kids and pets, so that’s one less thing to worry about.
The best natural products to clean your house with
Still spraying your counters with harsh chemicals? Most daily messes can be quickly and easily cleaned with a simple, natural, all-purpose cleaning spray. And if you choose one with essential oils, it will make your kitchen smell lovely and fresh, not chemical-y. Bonus: Natural cleaners are safe to use around kids and pets, so that’s one less thing to worry about.
The best natural products to clean your house with
5. Leave shoes at the door
All sorts of nasty stuff, from pesticides to asphalt, comes in on the bottom of our shoes – make your home a cleaner, healthier place by instituting a no-shoes policy in 2015. Bonus: Your floors will look cleaner longer, so you can spend less time with the vacuum and mop.
All sorts of nasty stuff, from pesticides to asphalt, comes in on the bottom of our shoes – make your home a cleaner, healthier place by instituting a no-shoes policy in 2015. Bonus: Your floors will look cleaner longer, so you can spend less time with the vacuum and mop.
6. Rely on natural light during the day
Break the habit of leaving lights on in the daytime, and you will find you soon get used to (and enjoy) living with gentle natural light in your rooms. This is such an easy change to make, and the energy savings can really add up.
More: Natural Elements: Designs That Embrace Nature’s Bounty
Break the habit of leaving lights on in the daytime, and you will find you soon get used to (and enjoy) living with gentle natural light in your rooms. This is such an easy change to make, and the energy savings can really add up.
More: Natural Elements: Designs That Embrace Nature’s Bounty
7. Cut down on takeaway containers
Takeaway meals are a lifesaver sometimes but also typically generates unnecessary waste. Planning meals ahead of time can help – specially if you include a few super-quick options for nights you know you’ll be short on time. Even skipping one takeaway meal each week (or month, depending on how often you get it now) can make a positive impact on the planet – and probably on your wallet and waistline, too.
Takeaway meals are a lifesaver sometimes but also typically generates unnecessary waste. Planning meals ahead of time can help – specially if you include a few super-quick options for nights you know you’ll be short on time. Even skipping one takeaway meal each week (or month, depending on how often you get it now) can make a positive impact on the planet – and probably on your wallet and waistline, too.
8. Give plastic water bottles the boot
Do you buy water in plastic bottles? Make 2015 the year you finally kick the habit. If you filter your water at home and use glass containers to store it, you can always have fresh, clean, filtered water on hand without the plastic waste – or the cost – of buying bottled.
Do you buy water in plastic bottles? Make 2015 the year you finally kick the habit. If you filter your water at home and use glass containers to store it, you can always have fresh, clean, filtered water on hand without the plastic waste – or the cost – of buying bottled.
9. Plant a bit of a garden
A planting box of lettuces on the deck, a window box of herbs in the kitchen – gardening does not need to be a huge investment of time or resources, yet even a small garden patch can enhance your life and your health. Start small and have fun with it – choosing even one thing to grow instead of buy in the store is a great place to start. You can’t get more local than your own backyard!
More: Home Grown: Create Your Own Kitchen Garden
A planting box of lettuces on the deck, a window box of herbs in the kitchen – gardening does not need to be a huge investment of time or resources, yet even a small garden patch can enhance your life and your health. Start small and have fun with it – choosing even one thing to grow instead of buy in the store is a great place to start. You can’t get more local than your own backyard!
More: Home Grown: Create Your Own Kitchen Garden
10. Learn to reuse and upcycle
The next time you are going to toss something, take a moment to think whether there’s another use for it. Could you use those little glass jars as bud vases or to store cotton buds in the bathroom? Make that torn blanket into a pillow cover? Donate that big stack of magazines to a local nursing home? Once you start challenging your ideas about what belongs in the waste bin, you’re sure to surprise yourself with your creativity.
TELL US
Are you making any green resolutions for 2015?
MORE GREEN LIVING TIPS
9 Principles of Effective Passive Solar Design in and Around the Home
11 Tricks to Save Energy … and Money
Ethical Decorating: Do Up Your Home the Planet-Friendly Way
The next time you are going to toss something, take a moment to think whether there’s another use for it. Could you use those little glass jars as bud vases or to store cotton buds in the bathroom? Make that torn blanket into a pillow cover? Donate that big stack of magazines to a local nursing home? Once you start challenging your ideas about what belongs in the waste bin, you’re sure to surprise yourself with your creativity.
TELL US
Are you making any green resolutions for 2015?
MORE GREEN LIVING TIPS
9 Principles of Effective Passive Solar Design in and Around the Home
11 Tricks to Save Energy … and Money
Ethical Decorating: Do Up Your Home the Planet-Friendly Way
Why not start the year on the right foot by choosing organic wine for your New Year’s Eve party? If you already buy organic produce, maybe it’s time to start drinking organic, too. Organic wines (and other spirits, for that matter) are becoming more common, and there are some excellent bottles out there. Most well-stocked wine shops will have several options.