The realities of life can make it seem impossible for families to reduce their carbon footprint effectively. Between work, school, and family obligations, who has the time? What’s more, where do you even begin? The push for more sustainable living has led to numerous innovations and improvements. From the foods we eat to the homes we cherish, there’s no shortage of ways to make your household more environmentally friendly.
Don’t believe it? Read on to discover seven effective ways to reduce your family’s collective carbon footprint and achieve a more sustainable lifestyle going forward.
Go green
Sustainable housing lays the foundation for a more environmentally-friendly household. Those currently in the market for a new home can narrow their search down to properties with sustainable living space. The rise of green architecture means more homes are built with energy efficiency and eco-friendliness in mind. Everything from the roof down to the foundation can be built utilizing more environmentally sound materials and technology.
Go smart
Major household appliances use massive amounts of energy and water to operate. With today’s smart technology, these machines provide the same output using a fraction of the power and water. Over time, this adds up to significant savings, both in terms of resources and money. Whether it’s the washer, dryer, furnace, or refrigerator, the key to making your household more sustainable lies with upgrading to smart-generation makes and models.
Reduce waste
Most families are shocked to discover how much garbage they generate in a given week. However, there are several effective ways to reduce this amount of waste and help the environment in the process. For example, use reusable containers as often as possible. You can also buy more whole foods since they’re sold with less packaging than processed foods. Lastly, it still pays to recycle as much as possible.
Eat less meat
From chicken fingers to hot dogs, the average family consumes a tremendous amount of meat in a given year. Unfortunately, eating less meat is essential for reducing our carbon footprint. The good news is you don’t have to give up meat entirely. Start by designating one or more nights a week for meatless dinner. Meatless Monday has a nice ring to it, but it can be any day you think is best.
Make your backyard more eco-friendly
Most homeowners love the look and feel of an immaculately maintained lawn of green grass. However, the classic backyard is inhospitable to most local flora and fauna. They also require massive amounts of water and icky pesticides to keep looking nice. Do your family, environment, and planet a favor by ditching the grass and going with a more eco-friendly backyard design. Swapping grass for native plants will make the landscape more inviting for Mother Nature.
Choose quality over quantity
There’s an old saying in commerce: you get what you paid for. While discount shoes, cheap clothes, and inexpensive household products save money in the short term, these items tend to wear out and break faster than the alternative. What’s more, all that discarded waste adds up to more contribution to the local landfill. All household budgets are different, so we understand it’s not always practical, but opting for quality over quantity will ultimately save you money while also helping reduce your family’s collective carbon footprint.
Many busy parents like the idea of more sustainable living but are unsure how to do so with limited time and money. Luckily, there are several ways for your household to become more environmentally friendly. The utilization of just one or two of the tips mentioned in this post will be more than enough to make your home a greener one.
