6 Great Tips to Help Families Live Green

Looking to live a greener lifestyle? With the effects of global warming and climate change increasing day by day, it’s important for each person to do her part to reduce the impact they have on the environment. Here are six tips for you and your family to follow in order to go green in your everyday life.

1. Install Solar Panels

Much of the world’s power is produced from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. Burning these fossil fuels creates greenhouse gasses that get trapped in Earth’s atmosphere, contributing greatly to the climate change problem. Solar energy, on the other hand, is a renewable resource that produces no air or water pollution. Solar panels are simple to install and are more cost-efficient than ever. Consider professional installation of solar Albuquerque to make the switch to solar and reduce your reliance on energy produced by fossil fuels.

2. Conserve Water

Water is the planet’s most precious natural resource, so doing your part to conserve water is vital for the protection of the environment. Steps to conserve water can include taking shorter showers and installing low-flow showerheads. Even something as simple as turning off water while you brush your teeth allows you to save a large amount of water that otherwise is wasted. In addition, making minor repairs around the house like fixing leaky faucets can significantly moderate the amount of water you use at home. Humans, plants and animals alike need fresh water in order to survive, so even a small reduction in water consumption can make a huge difference.

3. Eliminate Paper Waste

Even though most communication today is accomplished digitally, pesky paper mailings seem to still pile up in your mailbox. There are several easy ways to stop paper mailings, and they only require a few minutes of your time. If you’re still receiving paper mailings, find creative ways to recycle paper waste, such as adding it to a compost heap in your yard or using it as an alternative packing material. Reducing your use of paper will decrease deforestation, saving the trees that provide the clean air you need in order to live a healthy life.

4. Reuse Bags

On your next grocery run, consider purchasing a bag made of canvas or other material that you can use on future grocery store visits. Bags made of canvas or other material are much more durable than paper and plastic bags, and they can hold more goods, too. Switching to reusable bags is an easy way to reduce paper and plastic waste. Even if you don’t make the switch to a canvas bag, you can reuse plastic bags in small trash cans throughout your home.

5. Change Your Diet

The food you choose to eat can have many environmental implications. This is especially true if meat is a mainstay in your diet, as the meat production industry not only contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, but also requires a significant amount of water, land and grain to support livestock. If you can’t cut out meat entirely, consider having meat-free meals on certain days of the week. Even a small reduction in meat consumption can reduce the demand for meat, contributing to a reduction in the pollution that accompanies the meat production process.

6. Buy Local

Whenever possible, it’s important to buy produce and other goods that are locally sourced. When you buy local, you reduce the number of miles that goods travel from the source of production to your home, decreasing fuel consumption and air pollution. Buying local not only reduces the pollution created during the transportation of goods, it also supports the businesses of your neighbors, strengthening your local community.

Protecting the planet should be a priority for everyone. Every change you make, no matter how small, can make a huge positive difference. By following these tips, your family will reduce its environmental impact, helping to nurture the natural resources of our planet for generations to come.