Use the low-water dishwashing method. Instead of having the water running the whole time, fill one sink with hot soapy water, then turn off the water and scrub the dishes. Dip them into a second sink filled with clean water, then dry and store them. Install a low-flow showerhead and take short showers. Long showers and baths use a lot more water. Low-flow faucets and toilets work similarly to a low-flow showerhead. Use water-saving appliances, like a dishwasher and washing machine. Fix leaks in your pipes so water isn’t constantly coming out. Don’t leave the water running while you brush your teeth. Don’t water your lawn. Let the rain do the work instead of pumping clean water into your front lawn. If it’s legal in your area, save greywater or collect water rain barrel to use. If you want a green lawn, plant native plants or low-water plants like moss instead.
Use alternative cleaning solutions. Try white vinegar and baking soda to clean your kitchen and bathroom. Reconsider your personal body care items. Replace shampoos, conditioners, and soaps with natural versions. Your body will thank you, too. Try natural pesticides and herbicides. Instead of spraying for weeds, try planting native species that naturally take care of the problem.
Participate in a waterways clean-up day. If there’s a local stream, river, or beach that’s littered with trash or polluted, there’s probably a local water conservation group trying to clean it up. Next time there’s a clean-up day, join in. And if you can’t find a group, organize one yourself! Speak up against water polluters. Thanks to loose governmental regulations, our waterways are often polluted with industrial waste dumped by corporations. Oil and chemical dumping kill aquatic life and the surrounding environment, and it makes water unsafe for people to drink as well. Investigate to see if there’s a campaign for clean water in your area, and sign up to help however you can.
Lower the thermostat in the winter. Instead of heating the house so it’s blazing hot and snowing outside, heat it just enough so that you’re comfortable. Insulating your home helps keep the cold out more efficiently, too. [2] X Trustworthy Source U. S. Department of Energy Official site for the U. S. Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency Go to source See if you can switch to wind or solar-powered electricity, which produces fewer emissions. [3] X Research source Use less air conditioning. In the summer, see if you can handle going without air conditioning on days when it’s not that hot. Save it for the sweltering days. Turn off appliances and electronics when not in use. Computers, TVs, coffee pots, and more should be turned off and unplugged when you aren’t using them. Use energy-saving light bulbs. Incandescent bulbs (the old-fashioned kind) require more energy to burn. Reduce the time you spend on your electronics. While electronics are really fun and likely help you feel connected to your friends, they also use up a lot of energy. Line dry your clothes instead of putting them in the dryer. Dryers can use up a lot of electricity.
Take public transportation. Get familiar with the bus, subway, or train schedule in your city, and start using public transportation more often. Find the bike lanes in your town. More and more cities and towns are putting in new bike lanes connecting all the major neighborhoods. Saving money on not getting gym memberships and getting free exercise is an added bonus of using bike lanes. Make time for walking. If you have time for a stroll, why not walk instead of driving? Any place that’s five or ten minutes away by car should be within suitable walking distance, too. Carpool to work or school with other people instead of driving by yourself.
Look into manufacturing processes. Was it made with sustainable materials, or did its production involve the use of plastics or other chemicals? Product manufacture is also responsible for using (and wasting) a lot of water, so this is an important question to ask for more than one reason. Check labels to see how far items traveled. If it had to travel by boat, plane, or truck to get to your store or door, a lot of gas was burned to allow you to purchase the product. See if you can find a good replacement that is created closer to your home,
Shop at farmer’s markets. During the spring, summer, and fall, most towns have farmer’s markets with selections of local food. Try growing your own food. Join a community garden or make a plot in your backyard or on the patio. Practice “Meatless Mondays. “[4] X Research source Meatless Mondays is a worldwide movement. Followers do not eat animal-based protein on Mondays. This movement helps to minimize water usage as well as reduce greenhouse gases and fuel dependence.
Buy minimally packaged goods. Avoid getting products that come wrapped in layers of plastic, since it’s not usually biodegradable. Recycle and reuse. When you do buy containers made of plastic, as well as containers made of glass or other reusable materials, try to find other uses for them instead of just tossing them out. Stop using plastic wrap and plastic containers for food storage. Store leftovers in glass containers instead of plastic bags and cover food with bees wrap instead of plastic wrap. Start a compost pile instead of throwing out your food scraps. Make things instead of buying them so you don’t have to keep buying new bottles. Cook at home instead of getting takeout, which often comes in plastic or styrofoam containers. Buy a reusable water bottle instead of plastic water bottles to stop plastic from going into landfills. Similar to water bottles, reusable shopping bags reduce the need for plastic bags which help stop pollution. Limit your use of paper. Communicate digitally when possible and recycle paper when you use it.
Plant native trees that will help the soil and provide shade. Don’t cut down trees unless it’s completely necessary. Save as many as you can. See if there’s a local group you can work with to save patches of forest from development.
Don’t use pesticides or herbicides. Let your yard be completely organic. Grow plants that attract bees and butterflies. Have a birdfeeder, a squirrel feeder, and a bat box. Consider beekeeping. [6] X Research source Provide a water source for animals, like a birdbath or a garden pond. Let moles, opossums, raccoons, and other animals thought of as pests live instead of getting rid of them.
Make sustainable eating choices. Eat fish that was caught in a sustainable way, and pay attention to where your fish comes from by checking a source like Seafood Watch. Try to buy all animal products from sources you know and trust. Take care of wild places, like beaches and forests, which are habitats for animals. If you’re out for a hike and you see a sign instructing you to stay on the trail, do it. See if your local state forest or park needs volunteers to help protect animal habitat. Help spread awareness about endangered species. Let others know that you care about animals, and educate them on how important it is to keep them safe.
