Being eco-friendly is becoming more and more important, but there are things you can do on an individual level to help the planet. Most of these things require small lifestyle changes and little up-front cost. Here are some eco-friendly habits you can try at home.
1. Eat Fewer Animal Products
One of the biggest impacts you can make on the planet is going vegan, but that change isn’t easy. It takes time, money and a lot of trial and error to change our diets. Even so, it’s still true that livestock production accounts for 14% to 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions. More than two-thirds of all agricultural land is used for growing feed for livestock.
To cut down on that number, your family could switch to plant-based protein once a week. Have one day where you eat tofu instead of beef or chicken. Or keep it off your plate entirely. Eating less meat can even make you healthier if you maintain a balanced diet.
2. Reduce How Often You Fly or Buy Overseas
The transportation industry accounts for 15.9% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Whether a plane, train or automobile is transporting food or people, a lot of energy is used in the process.
While not flying as often and switching to energy-efficient vehicles helps, doing so can be expensive if you have to fly or can’t afford to swap cars. Fortunately, you can save energy by doing nothing. You can simply stop buying goods overseas and using planes.
In moments when that isn’t possible, you can try to buy local, carpool or drive instead of flying. Buying in-season vegetables is also good for the environment and your local economy because it’s more likely you’re purchasing from nearby farmers.
3. Decrease the Amount of Food Waste
One-third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted every year. The entire food chain wastes food, with 30-40% coming from farming, 10% coming from manufacturing and 30% coming from grocery stores. Two-thirds of food waste at home occurs because food isn’t being used before it goes bad. You can reduce food waste by using up the groceries you buy.
If you live close enough to the grocery store to walk, take more frequent trips to buy food. If not, plan your weekly meals or batch freeze ingredients. You can purchase frozen vegetables and fruit or canned beans and fish if you need more time between shops.
It can help to have safe recipes that are easy for you to make. Trying out new recipes every few days can be intimidating, and that may make you less likely to use your fresh ingredients.
4. Cut Down on Generative AI Usage
Generative AI energy and water usage is overblown by the media. There are plenty of industries that use more water, but that’s likely to change. And soon. From 2021 to 2050, total electricity demand in Canada will increase by 47%, increasing strain on local energy grids.
By 2027, the water needed to power AI data centers will exceed the total annual water withdrawal of half the United Kingdom. Cutting down on generative AI use is beneficial for the environment, and most of us don’t need it in our day-to-day lives anyway.
However, it’s still hard to reduce the use of generative AI because it’s found in most applications and search engines. You can start by using DuckDuckGo as a search engine instead of Google, as you can shut off its AI features. Look for tools that advertise no generative AI.
5. Use Less Electricity in the Home
There’s a misconception that electricity is cleaner than gas. This can be the case, but not always. Electricity has to come from a source. In the U.S., natural gas and coal make up almost 60% of electricity generation. 21.4% comes from renewable sources such as wind and solar.
Purchasing solar panels is expensive, and you usually need to own a home to capitalize on this energy source. Instead, make some changes at home. Put your computers on power-saving mode, turn your heat down or use fans, reduce hot water usage and turn your lights off. Better yet, do a digital detox. Analog hobbies, like reading, require no electricity.
6. Avoid Buying From Fast Fashion Companies
The EPA estimates that 17 million tons of textile waste are generated annually, and most clothing ends up in landfills. Most clothing purchases in the U.S. include garments made overseas, contributing to transportation pollution. Clothes are frequently made to be worn once before they’re thrown away. Companies should be doing more to reduce overconsumption.
Individually, you can reduce textile waste by buying secondhand clothing. You can find well-made pieces online or in local shops. Consider learning how to sew, as this makes all clothing more accessible. With this skill, you can tailor anything to fit your body.
7. Compost Instead of Using the Garbage
It’s an eco-friendly move to purchase items that can break down more easily. Anything made from organic materials can qualify. For anything we can’t break down, recycling is often suggested. Unfortunately, only 9% of plastic waste is recycled, while 22% is mismanaged.
But simply throwing away organic materials may not achieve the results you think. Organic material that sits on top of non-organic material has a hard time decomposing because it isn’t getting enough oxygen. The solution, then, is to compost. If your city doesn’t have a composting program, you can create your own using a plastic storage tote, dirt, newspaper and worms.
For your compost, avoid cooking oils, citrus, fish, dairy, meat and animal waste, because they’ll smell bad. Or, you could place the box outside, far away from your neighbors.
You Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Home
If you want to adopt eco-friendly habits, start with these. Not only are most of these tips accessible, but they’re also inexpensive for many Americans. Some of these tips can even save you money. When changing your lifestyle, remember to go slow. It can take time to adjust your habits, but with time, they’ll become second nature.
