Are you doing everything you can to go green? Is an eco-friendly lifestyle something your family is striving towards? Yes, some sustainable products are expensive, but all of us can make changes in our homes that are budget-friendly and don’t take up a lot of time. In doing so, we teach our children how to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
There is so much that we can do to make the shift to going green, and the transition is made so much easier knowing that living a natural lifestyle brings benefits to the mind, body, and soul.
In This Article
How Can I Reduce My Carbon Footprint?
A great way to start is by using natural body care and cleaning products, and, if you have a baby, switching to cloth diapers. Cloth diapers are not only kinder to the environment, but they also reduce the chances of nappy rash and other skin irritations. Plus, like all other cloth garments, they’re easier to clean. According to Energy Star, 90% of the energy used by a washing machine goes towards heating the water, so it’s more eco-friendly to use a cold-water wash instead.
If you use natural cleaning products you can save water too, as you won’t have to wash harmful chemical cleaning supplies away. Vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, and peroxide are all extremely effective all-natural cleaners that easily replace chemically-laden toilet, oven, all-purpose, and other cleaning products at a fraction of the cost – to both your pocket and the environment.
Stop Using Excess Energy
Small changes go a long way towards being more eco-friendly, and something as simple as changing your lightbulbs to LEDs can reduce your carbon footprint further. LED bulbs use less electricity as they produce a low level of heat, they also last longer, and are more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs so they’ll save you money too.
Your cooking habits can also get overhauled to ensure they’re as eco-friendly as possible. While cooking for a family isn’t always easy, there are simple ways to go green. If you use the oven to toast or grill, rather opt for a toaster instead, and if possible, invest in a slow cooker to save on stove top energy. If you’re an avid baker, see if you can find no-bake recipes that are just as delicious but don’t require any time in the oven. And if you have any food waste, make sure you’ve got a compost bin handy.
Teach Your Children Recycling From An Early Age
Recycling doesn’t only have to be about waste. There are many other ways to recycle, such as organizing a clothing and toy swap with other moms, getting your children to use both sides of paper for drawing, or making fun craft projects from clean waste.
Living an eco-friendly lifestyle is something we can all do, and you can start with small steps in your home. This teaches your children about saving and recycling, and it’s beneficial to the whole family’s health and happiness.
