How To Go Green In Your Home, Office, And Everyday Life

In these difficult times, you want to do everything you can to save money. But some things may not be worth skimping on.

For example, while it may be tempting to drive your car everywhere and buy cheap products that are made of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials, this will lead to a lot of waste in landfills and oceans in the long run.

Luckily, there are simple steps we can take at home and at work every day that will help us go green without breaking our budgets or making life too complicated!

How To Go Green at Home and Work

Takeaways
Going green in your home, office, and everyday life can have a big impact on the environment and your daily habits.
Simple changes like choosing eco-friendly furniture, conserving energy, and reducing waste can make a difference.
Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances and choosing sustainable travel options are also great ways to go green.
There are many resources available to help you live a more sustainable lifestyle, from practical tips and guides to eco-friendly products and businesses.
Going green is about making small changes that add up over time, and ultimately creating a more sustainable future for all.

Shower With A Bucket

Use a bucket. In order to conserve water, use a 5-gallon bucket and take showers that last no longer than two minutes. Set the timer on your phone or watch before stepping into the shower and follow its instructions as if you were in boot camp!

When you’re done, move onto step two: using the water for your plants. It’ll be cold when it comes out of the faucet, but once you’ve heated it up a bit with some sunlight or by putting it under running hot water in another sink/tub/or container (I like to make a little makeshift greenhouse out of an old mason jar or Tupperware container), your plants will love their new “bath.”

And there’s no need to worry about killing them with too much love—the worst thing that happens is they get more than enough nutrients from all this extra H2O!

Make sure not to leave any excessive amounts of residual moisture behind when using buckets for bathing because mold spores can grow in such environments which may cause respiratory problems among other things.”

Creating a green and sustainable home doesn’t have to be complicated. As our article on 10 simple tips shows, small changes can make a big impact on the environment and your daily life.

Skip the Plastics

Plastics are made from oil, which is a non-renewable resource. When you use plastic water bottles, plastic bags, and other disposable plastics, you’re using up the Earth’s finite supply of oil. Furthermore, plastics take hundreds of years to decompose!

So if you use something that’s made from petroleum-based chemicals instead of sustainable materials like glass or metal (both can be recycled), you’re actually contributing to environmental degradation in more ways than one.

Plastics are also made from fossil fuels another non-renewable resource and they aren’t biodegradable either: they sit in landfills for hundreds of years without breaking down into smaller pieces as happens with food waste or paper products. In short: skip the plastics when possible and opt for sustainable alternatives whenever possible!

Use Natural Cleaning Products

While many people are aware of the dangers of using conventional cleaning products, it can be difficult to find natural alternatives. Luckily, there are several options available that don’t require much effort to use and are just as effective.

The first step is to make your own cleaning products. Some common ingredients include baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice.

These items work well on their own or in combination with each other to remove tough stains from pots and pans without causing harm to your skin or clothes.

Compost Food Scraps

Composting food scraps is a great way to reduce waste and create a nutrient-rich soil amendment. It’s also easy to do, no matter where you live or how much time you have on your hands.

You can compost in your backyard, compost at home in small batches with a compost bin or worm bin, or even compost in the kitchen while preparing meals. Just follow these simple steps:

Collect organic materials like vegetable peels, fruit rinds, coffee grounds/filters (not paper), tea bags (not paper), egg shells (crushed), bread crusts/broken pieces of bread or crackers/ginger snaps/cookies/etc., cut up straw or hay from bales kept outside for animal bedding; avoid meats and dairy products because they attract insects.

Choosing eco-friendly furniture and decor is a great way to make your home more sustainable. In our article on how to choose eco-friendly furniture and decor, we share practical tips and recommendations for creating an eco-friendly and stylish living space.

Plant Flowers

Plant flowers. Flowers are easy to grow and they add color, texture, and smell to your home. They can be grown in pots or planters on your desk, windowsill, or patio. You can also make a small flower bed in your backyard or balcony garden.

Go To The Farmer’s Market

The next time you want to go grocery shopping, try hitting up a farmer’s market. I know what you’re thinking: The food at farmer’s markets is more expensive than what I can get at my local supermarket. Well, yes and no.

Many of the vendors at farmers’ markets sell their produce directly from the farm, so there are no middlemen involved in the transaction—and zero transportation costs for them or for you (and therefore for me).

This means that your dollars go straight into the hands of small-scale organic growers who are working hard to care for their land and animals responsibly—and it provides an opportunity for them to sell their products directly to consumers, who can then feel good about supporting healthy food while also helping out some small businesses.

Buy Local and Organic Produce

In addition to buying local produce, you should also consider buying organic. Organic produce is grown without pesticides and chemicals that can be harmful to your health and the environment. It’s also grown without genetically modified organisms (GMOs), synthetic fertilizers, irradiation or artificial ingredients.

Buying organic helps keep farmers in business by providing them with a market for their products instead of sending their earnings straight to corporate farms that use chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances can save you money on your utility bills and reduce your carbon footprint. Check out our ultimate guide to energy-efficient appliances to learn more about the benefits of upgrading and how to choose the right appliances for your home.

Grow Your Own Herbs

Growing your own herbs is a great way to save money, especially if you use them often. You can grow them indoors or outdoors, depending on your climate and preference. Herbs are easy to grow and maintain, they look great in any setting, and they’re an excellent investment!

If you want fresh basil for your pasta sauce or rosemary for your meatloaf without having to trek across town (or even out of town), growing some of your own herbs will help you do that!

If you don’t have space for a garden but still want greens outside the home, check out container gardening ideas for inspiration on creative ways to grow organic food without taking up too much space.

Use Natural Light, Not Electric Light Bulbs

The best way to cut back on your electric bill and go green is to use natural light as much as possible. Natural light is better for everyone: it’s better for your health, the environment, productivity, mood and sleep.

Natural light helps you stay focused because it increases serotonin levels in the brain that make you feel less stressed out and more relaxed.

You’ll save energy by using less electricity by turning off lights when they’re not needed.

Pros	Cons
Can save on electricity costs	Not always reliable or consistent
Reduces carbon footprint	Limited availability during certain times
Can have a positive impact on mood and productivity	May not provide sufficient light for certain tasks
Promotes a connection to the natural environment	May require additional windows or architectural changes

Drink Tap Water, Not Bottled Water

Bottled water is expensive. A case of 24 16-ounce bottles costs at least $3 per bottle, which means you’re paying $36 for that same amount of water. That’s more than twice as much as the cost of 2 gallons (9.5 liters) at your local grocery store!

Bottled water isn’t as safe as tap water. Most municipal systems can produce safe drinking water with only minimal additives and dechlorination, while bottled waters often contain extra fluoride or potassium, both naturally occurring minerals in the municipal supply but not necessarily added to every household’s tap supply.

Tap water is more environmentally friendly than bottled water: it takes 3 liters (about 3 quarts) of water to produce just one liter (about 1 quart) in a plastic bottle; this adds up over time considering how many people drink bottled waters every day!

Also consider all those empty plastic bottles they take centuries to decompose in landfills because they don’t biodegrade like other materials would; eventually they will break down into tiny pieces called microplastics that end up in animals’ stomachs where they might cause harm to their digestive system or even contaminate food sources for humans!

Instead of buying single-use bottles from convenience stores or vending machines on campus try buying a reusable stainless steel canteen from home instead so you’ll always have something convenient when running errands around town between classes at school or work throughout the week too 🙂

Traveling can be a wonderful experience, but it can also have a significant impact on the environment. In our article on how to reduce your carbon footprint on your next vacation, we offer practical tips and suggestions for traveling more sustainably, without sacrificing the fun.

Recycle Old Electronics and Old Clothes

Recycle the old electronics you no longer use. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends recycling all of your old electronics, including cell phones, computers and tablets by donating them to a local school or charity.

Donate old clothes. You can also donate used clothing to charities that accept them, like Goodwill or the Salvation Army. While you are at it, get rid of old shoes too!

Get rid of old books by keeping only those that are relevant to your interests and donating any others to a local library or thrift store. You can also sell books on Amazon Marketplace if they’re in good condition

Pros	Cons
Reduces waste and environmental impact	May require additional time and effort to find appropriate recycling options
Can conserve resources and reduce energy usage	Some materials may not be recyclable
Supports sustainable and ethical production practices	May require additional fees or costs for recycling services
Can benefit local and global communities through donation or repurposing	May not be accessible or available in all areas

Take Public Transportation When Possible, Walk and Bike When You Can

Public transportation is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. The average household in the United States emits about 20 tons of carbon dioxide each year, but if you take public transportation instead of driving your car, you can lower that number by at least five tons.

Walking and biking are also good for the environment because they don’t require any fossil fuels or electricity to operate. Plus, it’s good for your health!

A study conducted by Stanford University found that people who walk are more likely to live longer than those who do not exercise regularly. You’ll also save money on gas and parking fees if you decide to leave your car at home one day per week and take public transportation instead!

If it doesn’t make sense financially (i.e., if there isn’t any nearby public transportation or walking/biking paths), try taking a short drive when possible—just once in awhile will help keep things green around here!

Saving the planet can start with small actions and habits. In our article on 15 simple habits to help save the planet, we share easy and practical tips for reducing waste, conserving energy, and living a more sustainable lifestyle.

Conclusion

We hope that you’re now inspired to go green! We know the feeling, and we can help. Our team is here to provide expert advice on how to make a difference in your home, office and everyday life while being kinder to yourself, others and the planet as a whole.

FAQs

What does it mean to “go green”?

Going green refers to making lifestyle choices and taking actions that are environmentally friendly and sustainable. This can include conserving resources, reducing waste, and choosing eco-friendly products and practices.

What are some benefits of going green?

Going green can have a number of benefits, including reducing your environmental impact, saving money on energy and resource usage, improving your health, and supporting a more sustainable future for all.

What are some simple ways to go green?

There are many simple ways to go green, such as conserving energy and water, reducing waste, recycling, using eco-friendly products, supporting sustainable businesses, and reducing your carbon footprint through transportation choices.

How can I make my home more eco-friendly?

There are many ways to make your home more eco-friendly, such as upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, using eco-friendly cleaning products, reducing waste, composting, and incorporating sustainable design elements.

How can I reduce my carbon footprint?

You can reduce your carbon footprint by making sustainable choices in areas like transportation, energy usage, waste reduction, and food consumption. This can include driving less, using energy-efficient appliances and lighting, reducing waste and recycling, and eating a plant-based diet.

Hellen James

I am Hellen, I’ve been passionate about sustainability for as long as I can remember. It’s something that my mom taught me from a young age, and it’s something that has shaped my life in so many ways.