26 Easy Ways to Be More “Green”

While putting solar energy panels in your home might be a long term goal, it’s hardly an easy approach to being more earth-friendly, or green. It’s major life changes like this that keep many people from taking small steps towards more sustainable living, believing that it’s just too hard. But living a green lifestyle doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive.

Here are 26 tips for greening up your life.

• 1. Recycle at home, when you’re on the go, and any chance you have.

• 2. When it’s time to replace an appliance, choose one that’s more energy efficient.

• 3. Reuse plastic grocery bags in garbage cans or as easy totes for carrying things to and from the car.

• 4. Rather than throwing everything away, donate, hold a yard sale, or use Craigslist to get rid of things you no longer use.

• 5. Wash clothing in cold water instead of hot water.

Read: Many ‘Green’ Products are Actually Deceptive and Toxic

• 6. Buy reusable water bottles and stop purchasing cases upon cases of plastic water bottles.

• 7. Support local farmers by frequenting a local farmer’s market.

• 8. Opt for paperless billing and pay your bills online.

• 9. Carpool to work.

• 10. Use old newspapers in the garden to control weeds or to wrap fragile items.

• 11. Plant a garden to be more self-sustainable.

• 12. Start composting.

• 13. Learn food perseveration techniques.

• 14. Fix leaky faucets in your home.

• 15. Buy organic to support organic growers.

• 16. Have receipts emailed to you when given the option.

• 17. Spend more time in nature and less time “plugged in”.

• 18. Turn down your air conditioning and heat.

• 19. Shut down your computer completely when not in use – or at least put it to sleep.

• 20. When it’s time to replace your car, consider a hybrid or electric, depending on how much you drive.

• 21. Use cloth napkins instead of paper.

• 22. Use eco-friendly cleaning supplies like baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar.

• 23. Buy houseplants to clean up the air inside your home.

• 24. Use dryer lint as fire starters or give it to the birds outside for nest building.

• 25. Take your own cup to the coffee shop.

• 26. If you’re not ready to go vegetarian, consider lightening up on your meat consumption.

Being eco-conscious doesn’t require a lot of money or major life changes. But these small adjustments can truly add up.