SMALL CHANGES, BIG IMPACT
Small Changes that you can make around your home to be more sustainable
The words “going green” and “being sustainable” have been thrown around so often that it’s hard to understand what it actually means. For many people, the task of being eco-friendly is confusing: “It’s so expensive!” “Will it matter?” “What even counts as sustainable?”
Being sustainable is such a daunting and tiring task that people often give up before even trying, but what if going green was easier than it seemed? Here are some quick, easy, and cheaper changes that you can implement the next time you go shopping.
Don’t waste your money on paper towels that you have to run to the grocery store every month, paying around 30 dollars for a bulk pack. Instead, thrift or buy cloth kitchen towels and cloth napkins that you only have to buy once, will last you forever, and come in tons of colors and patterns that will match the kitchen better.
Did you know that loofahs were a plant? Instead of using harsh plastic loofahs that honestly don’t scrub well, buy loofah plants instead. If you want an unlimited supply of loofahs so you don’t have to keep replacing them, try growing a loofah plant. They’re extremely easy to grow and behave much like a standard zucchini or cucumber plant; however, they need direct sunlight exposure for 6-8 hours, so take that in mind if you're willing to plant them.
Turn your washing machine setting to cold water for most loads next time you do your laundry. Heating water uses a large amount of electricity, which also hikes up your bills each month. Cold water cleans everyday clothes just as well, and this simple switch lowers both your power bill and reduces carbon pollution.
Support local and sustainable goods. If possible, buy more fruits and vegetables from farmers' markets when you can. Buying local means, more often than not, more sustainable and less harmful farming practices. It can also mean traveling a shorter distance and skipping the global shipping pollution involved.
However, the most sustainable way to live is simply to use what you already have. Don’t throw away your stuff just to replace it with the more eco-friendly version. Instead, wait until you need to run out and then buy the sustainable option. Often we forget that we must reduce and reuse as well as recycle.
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