Improve Your Life and the Planet

The benefits of making greener choices.

Guest Writer Tina Martin

Are you thinking of ways to live a greener lifestyle? If so, you're not alone. More and more people are looking for ways to reduce their impact on the environment. There are many benefits to living a green lifestyle, including reducing your carbon footprint, saving money, and improving your health. Today, we will explain the benefits of going green!

Going green at home

Living an eco-friendly lifestyle can start as small or big as you like. Buying multi-use straws (bamboo, metal, silicon) is a great place to start, as well as repurposing items like detergent and lotion bottles. Obviously, this goes hand-in-hand with recycling your plastics, metals, and paper as a rule. Anything that keeps plastic out of our landfills is a positive! Additionally, instead of throwing out old clothes, donate them or repurpose them into cleaning rags.

Saving water is a particularly excellent way to be more eco-conscious at home, and it’s not just about taking shorter showers (although you should do that too!). Turn the tap off when you’re brushing your teeth or soaping up your hands. Pay special attention to whether or not any of your plumbing leaks — no matter how small they may seem, leaks are both wasteful and costly.

According to Biofriendly Planet, some other ways of living more sustainably are washing your clothes in cold water and line drying them, swapping traditional cleaning supplies with eco-friendly brands, and freezing food before it goes bad.

Considerations for house hunting

Eco-friendly considerations are also important when buying a home. Keep an eye out for energy-efficient appliances; they should all be marked with an Energy Star sticker. There should be proper insulation throughout the house to keep energy bills low. Look for a place with a lot of natural light, which would cut down on your electrical costs. Solar panels are another green feature. They’re a great source of renewable energy and will do wonders for your electricity bill.

Houses with native plants around the yard should be another item on your wishlist. This way, non-indigenous and invasive plants won’t constantly die and need replacing. You may even want to ask your real estate agent about local organic farmers’ markets so your food is always fresh and pesticide-free.

House modifications

Then, of course, there are the modifications you can make to your own home that will not only keep your house eco-conscious, but will also add value. Look down: did you know that your flooring could be a major source of pollution? Capozzi Design Group suggests linoleum, Brazilian cherry and white tigerwood hardwoods, and bamboo flooring, which are all more sustainable options.

Now, look around. If you’ve been hoping to remodel your kitchen, start with the cabinets and think green. Plywood cabinets, quite common in homes, can leak carcinogens. Pre-finished solid wood cabinets are your greenest option. Now, what about the counters? Instead of granite, natural stone, ceramic tiles, and plastic laminate, opt for recycled aluminum, recycled glass slabs, FSC-certified wood, paper composite, or reclaimed wood.

Just as with your house hunting endeavors, solar panels are certainly worth your consideration.

You should also consider switching to natural gas for something more sustainable and less expensive. Your water heater could also be an energy-drainer, especially if it’s too big. Ensure that it and your other appliances are energy efficient and the proper size for your house. These will all be value-adding features when selling the home.

Going Green at Work

There are a number of simple steps that we can all take to be more green in the workplace. One easy way is to make use of natural light as much as possible. Open blinds and curtains during the day, and take advantage of any skylights or windows that let in natural light. Whenever possible, use digital documents instead of paper. If you do need to print something out, use both sides of the paper, and recycle any paper that you don’t need.

Adding plants to the workplace can also help to improve air quality and create a more pleasant environment. And carpooling or taking public transportation can save energy and reduce traffic congestion.

Living a green lifestyle is beneficial in many ways. It’s good for the environment, it can save you money, and it can improve your health. There are many small changes you can make to your daily routine to start living a greener life. If everyone made these small changes, it would have a major impact on the planet. Are you ready to start making some simple changes that will benefit both you and the planet?

Ms. Nerriss is passionate about sustainability with an emphasis on fashion and mindful living. If you have any questions, or interest in guest submissions for the blog, and any other suggestions, please email msnerriss@gmail.com.