Want to know how to save our environment without having to leave the comfort of your home? Get started with helping to save our Earth with these activities!
Want to know how to save our environment? Here's a hint: small changes can make a big impact, even from just one person.
We only have one planet, and it's up to each person to do their part in practicing sustainability for future generations.
While the old "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" mantra might spring to mind, there are tons of other ways you can make a positive change.
Use this guide to discover how to save our environment without much effort:
Use Cruise Control
There's a rumor that simply driving slower will use less fuel. But the truth is that when you drive too slow, your car shifts into a lower gear, which uses more fuel to maintain.
Instead, let cruise control do the driving for you when possible. Cruise control will optimize your fuel usage based on your speed and can help you get more miles per gallon.
Generally speaking, the ideal speed-to-fuel-usage ratio is about 50-60 miles per hour.
Line Dry Your Clothes
There's no doubt that your home dryer is an energy zapper. Every time you use it, you're contributing to your total carbon footprint.
Instead, switching to line drying saves the average household around $200 per year in energy costs. In addition, you can reduce your home's carbon footprint by about 2,400 pounds each year.
There's another benefit less talked about here, too: the less you use your dryer, the longer it lasts. Most dryers are used like a workhouse and last about 10 years. But if you slash its usage, you could easily extend its lifetime.
Clotheslines are significantly cheaper to install and will outlast any dryer if taken good care of.
Swap Single-Use Items for Reusable Products
About 40% of all plastic items are single-use. Single-use products aren't just expensive to produce and purchase. Many of them also take a heavy toll on the environment.
Some of the worst single-use items are usually plastic, including straws, water bottles, grocery bags, cotton swabs, lids, cutlery, and cups.
Instead, try to make some simple changes from single-use plastics to higher-quality materials that are sustainable and made to last.
For example, if you prefer drinking with a straw, purchase a set of bamboo or metal straws that you can wash and reuse. Trade the free plastic grocery bags for a set of canvas bags that can also be washed.
If you're having a party and need single-use serving items, opt for paper plates and compostable cutlery.
Once you start making some small swaps, you may find it's a lot easier to continue trading everyday items for more sustainable solutions.
Cut Back on Meat Consumption
Many experts agree that reducing meat consumption is the single best thing you can do to lower your carbon footprint.
Meat production simply isn't beneficial to the environment. For starters, animal agriculture is believed to contribute to 14.5% of all greenhouse gases. For comparison, this is more than the exhaust of ALL transportation around the world.
The meat industry is also a major polluter of freshwater sources and the ocean. It contributes to deforestation, and livestock consumes a lot of food that could otherwise be used to feed hungry families.
Last but not least, animal farming accounts for about 80% of all farmland. This means that only 20% of farmland is being used for fruits, vegetables, and grains.
If we were to reduce our meat consumption and repurpose some of the farmland for other crops, some sources say we could end world hunger by 2030.
Choose Vegan Leather
One way to reduce meat "consumption" is by opting for vegan products, such as vegan leather handbags, jackets, and shoes.
Our ultimate goal is to inspire others on how to save our environment, and it begins with making conscious choices in everything we do (including what we wear).
Start a Compost Heap
All those food scraps you toss in the trash could be put to better use. Start a compost heap or purchase a composting bin to put nutrients from wasted food back into the earth.
You're reducing your trash, plus you're nourishing the land you live on.
Something else to consider is composting on the go. A reusable travel cup with a lid makes an excellent vessel to collect and store food scraps when you eat out. Just toss it in your bag and bring it home to compost.
Once you get started with composting, it doesn't take much effort to continue. Any bits of food you'd discard while cooking can be tossed into the pile.
Buy Fewer Clothes
The fast fashion industry is deadly for our planet, contributing millions of pounds of clothing to landfills each year. The industry as a whole contributes to about 10% of all greenhouse gases.
Given the "fast" aspect of this fashion niche, it's safe to say that these clothes aren't exactly designed with quality in mind.
The shorter lifecycle of these garments is a growing problem, especially for fabrics made with plastic and won't break down.
One solution: buy fewer clothes. Prioritize sustainable, eco-friendly friendly fabrics like bamboo or merino wool instead of polyester or non-organic cotton. Focus on quality clothing that will last more than a few washes. This way, you don't have to replace clothes as often. A great place to shop for American made and sustainably made merino wool is RamblersWay.com.
Switch to Low-Flow Showerheads and Faucets
One of the simplest tips on how to save our environment without trying is to replace your showerhead and faucets with a low-flow version. Water pressure is still satisfactory, but you won't be using nearly as much water per use.
Once you make the replacement, you don't have to give it a second thought.
Learn How to Save Our Environment
Knowing how to save our environment isn't a luxury, but rather a necessity. We all must do our part to make better choices and ensure a bright future for the next generation.
At RamblersWay.com, we're committed to helping consumers make better choices when it comes to clothing. Check out our collection of sustainable clothing at RamblersWay.com and make the world better with every step you take.