Top 10 Green Thumb Hacks for a More Sustainable Lifestyle
According to data gathered by NASA, Antarctica has lost 148 billion tons of ice each year in the last 20 years. 2020 was also considered one of the warmest years in recorded history as global temperatures continue to rise.
Is the climate crisis pushing you to develop a green thumb and live more sustainably? If it is, you might be looking for changes you can make.
This guide will discuss some tips to help you live a greener life. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Make Fashion Changes
One change you can make for the planet is the way you use clothes. Avoid buying from fast fashion clothing brands. These brands use cheap materials that end up creating a lot of waste.
Opt for more versatile clothing that will last longer. You can buy from eco-conscious brands or buy second-hand.
Donate clothes you no longer use. You can also repurpose old t-shirts and use them as rags to avoid waste.
2. Recycle the Right Way
If you want to live a more sustainable lifestyle, you’ll need to get more educated on recycling. You might think you’re recycling and reducing your carbon footprint, but you can always do better.
There are certain items you might not know aren’t recyclable. If you throw these in your recycling bin, you can end up ruining the batch and creating more trash.
Never throw plastic bags or pizza boxes in your recycling bin. Certain cities require you to separate plastic from glass for proper recycling as well.
3. Reduce Your Energy Consumption
You can also live a greener life by reducing the amount of energy you consume each day. Reducing your energy consumption will reduce your carbon footprint and help you fight against climate change.
Small changes add up and make a difference for the planet. You can reduce energy consumption by unplugging appliances when they aren’t being used.
You can also switch to LED lightbulbs. Another option includes turning off your HVAC system and opening up your home’s window when the weather permits.
4. Add More Plants to Your Home
What is a green thumb? Having a green thumb means having a natural talent for growing greenery.
While you might not be an expert in plants, you can develop a green thumb to help the planet. Having more plants in and around your home can help purify the air.
You can choose from a variety of plants that are easy to care for. Consider growing window herbs and vegetables. This can help you reduce the number of carbon emissions released when trucks have to transport produce.
Consider adding some indoor house plants as well. Learn proper hosta plant care so your plants can thrive indoors.
5. Reusable Containers Can Help
Plastic containers are some of the most damaging to the planet. They create a lot of waste and often aren’t biodegradable.
Consider ditching single-use plastic with a few changes. Take a reusable water bottle with you everywhere you go so you can avoid buying a plastic water bottle.
Pack food in glass containers, so you don’t have to buy food in takeout containers. You can also take a reusable cup when purchasing coffee too.
6. Change Your Diet
If you want to live an eco-friendly lifestyle, you can also change what you eat. The meat industry is very damaging to local ecosystems. Eating a beef burger wastes more water and pollutes more land than eating a veggie burger.
While you don’t have to eliminate meat from your diet completely, you should consider eating less of it. Start by going meat-free once a week. This small change can make a huge difference for the planet.
7. Change the Way You Commute
Cars release a lot of toxic gases into the air. This pollution is a major contributor to climate change.
If you can’t opt for an electric car, you can change your commute in other ways. Instead of making small trips, leave all your errands for one day to reduce how much you use your car.
You can also opt to walk, take your bike, or the bus when you need to leave your home. This will help to reduce your carbon footprint too.
8. Reduce Food Waste
If you want to go green, you should also take steps to reduce food waste. The leftovers you forget about in the back of the fridge or the veggies that go bad create a lot of waste that ends up in landfills.
You can avoid this type of waste by being more organized. Planning out your meals for the week can reduce wasted food. You can also freeze leftovers to avoid having to throw them away.
Compost food scraps for your garden to reduce your waste as well.
9. Switch to Renewable Energy
You can also commit to a sustainable life by switching to renewable energy. Powering your home with fossil fuels is causing a lot of damage to the planet even when you reduce your energy consumption.
By switching to a clean source of energy, you’ll avoid releasing toxins into the atmosphere. Solar energy is one option that’s becoming more popular these days.
10. Change Your Laundry Routine
You can also live a green life by changing how you do your laundry. Wait until you have larger loads to do the laundry. This will help you use less water.
You should also choose cold water when doing laundry. Line dry your clothes instead of using your dryer to reduce energy consumption as well.
Develop a Green Thumb and Live Sustainably With These Tips
If you want to live a more sustainable life, you can do so by developing a green thumb. You can help the planet by growing more plants. You can also live a greener life by eating a more plant-based diet.
Check out some of the other blogs on our site for more sustainable living tips.
Trevor Anderson wrote this article on behalf of FreeUp. FreeUp is the fastest-growing freelance marketplace in the US. FreeUp only accepts the top 1% of freelance applicants. Click here to get access to the top freelancers in the world.
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