Living an eco-friendly lifestyle that embraces more green opportunities has become more than a hippie suggestion. The fate of the planet is depending upon a population that works to preserve natural resources and practice conservation. Many think this lifestyle is out of reach, but there are several ways to promote green living and an appreciation for the earth’s resources. Some of them require conscientious thought, while others take investment in new opportunities. Here are the top suggestions for green living that everyone can take advantage of.
Everyone Can Make a Difference
1. Give the Gift of Green.
While you are on the path of making your own changes, encourage others to join you. You can do this quite simply. Giving green gifts is a way to share living an eco-friendly lifestyle. By giving green products, you can show the gift recipient the beauty and quality of natural construction.
For a truly unique green experience, give your friends or family a set of Cariloha pillows. Showing the functionality of green products and demonstrating the comfort they can bring will dispel a lot of myths that associate green living with the hippie movement.
2. Practice Conservation.
You don’t need to go out and buy solar panels or set up a wind farm to practice conservation, although those would be wonderful ways to invest in green energy. You can make simple choices every day that limit your own consumption of nonrenewable resources.
The power grid is a huge drain on the environment, and by creatively addresses your energy needs, you can help conserve electricity. Unplug items that aren’t in use. Use low-energy light bulbs, and invest in energy-efficient appliances. Set your thermostat to a lower or higher temperature (as seasonably appropriate). Think through your energy use and work to make smarter choices.
3. Reuse and Recycle.
Before you go out and make new purchases for design or accessories, look up ways to re-purpose old items. Rather than adding to the landfill, take your items and recycle them at a local charity or goodwill center. Rely on resources like Pinterest or the DIY network for ways to upcycle common household items without spending money. Invest in recycles materials for home furnishings, or use sustainable products like wood, bamboo, or rattan.
4. Choose organic.
Although it doesn’t seem important, the amount and type of food consumed severely impacts the global food supply and the condition of production. In addition to improving your health, sourcing organic materials creates new possibilities for the environment. For this choice to be effective, you should shop locally and support fair trade.
Limit your consumption of red meat, and only purchase fish from eco-friendly and sustainably-sourced species. Avoid packaging, plastic bags, and bottled water. Everything you purchase can potentially increase the amount of garbage that will eventually need to be dealt with.
It Starts With You
Choosing to live an eco-friendly lifestyle in today’s society has many benefits, but there are also many factors that keep it from being a reality. Big business, government red tape, convenience, finances, and lack of awareness are all factors that stall progress for promoting eco-friendly and sustainable factors. By making small choices, you can make a difference. If enough people make small choices, the world can experience a big change.