If you’ve been bitten by the Green bug like most of us have, and you are determined to make eco-friendly changes all across the house, beginning from today, then you are in for a treat. Little changes add up to make a huge difference in your endeavour towards going green.
Here are some handy tips that will help you to make a smooth transition from your current lifestyle into green living.
1. Switch chemical cleaners for green cleaning agents
You will discover that swapping popular household cleaners for green cleaners can not only help in reducing air pollution, both outdoors and indoors, but will also help in minimising you and your family’s exposure to allergens and asthma triggers. More importantly, you will also be getting rid of the harmful chemicals in the daily cleaners that are known to trigger off a whole range of disorders that can prove to be detrimental to your health. Look out for green-based products from specific companies who manufacture and promote only plant based or natural products.
2. Begin the week without meat.
If you are a hard-core carnivore like most Americans, you would have had your fill of meat on Sunday, and hence it is a great idea to go meatless the following day as you begin your week. A simple meal of pasta or a hearty vegetarian soup is not only good for your health, but goes a long way in conserving the environment. Here’s how: according to experts, having just one meatless meal every week can place the same impact on the environment as driving a hybrid vehicle. There has been unquestionable debate on the amount of greenhouse gases produced on raising live-stock hence refraining from meat even one day per week can make a world of difference.
3. Sustainably raised meat is your best bet.
Although the term, sustainable, is not certified by the USDA — just as organic is — sustainable means that the meat has not been plied or injected with antibiotics or hormones. Animals raised in sustainable environments are given ample of room for grazing and are generally raised in a stress free surrounding. While shopping for meat, look out for labels that mention no antibiotic, free range, organic and no-hormones.
4. Beef up your installation.
Look out for leakages on your doors, windows, ducts and walls and insulate them before it gets too difficult to handle. Insulating the key areas within your home can cut down your home’s energy consumption by over 30%. If it is not possible to redo the entire installation, due to budgetary reasons, opt for thermal shades for your windows. Thermal shades are a great idea in a home as they not only help in blocking the sun during the summer months but also help in retaining the heat during winter.
5. Use ceramic or glass in your microwave, but not plastic, never!
Reheating your food in a plastic bowl or plate can cause harmful and carcinogenic chemicals to leach into the food. These contaminants and harmful hormone disrupting compounds are not only dangerous for your health but also detrimental for the environment because of recycling issues. If you are looking to pop anything into the microwave, go for ceramics that are safe to be used in the microwave or tempered glass items.
6. Stop dumping, start donating.
According to expert estimates, every item of clothing that is donated to a needy person saves you over 28 pounds of carbon emissions. That is if you are not purchasing another item that you don’t already need. Sort out the items that you do not require or the ones that have become old and you will discover that many of them might be of good use to someone in need, to be reused again. Take these items to a thrift store or a charity organisation that takes in donations and hand them over, to help some unfortunate soul.
About Manmohan Hebbar
I am the founder and director of 01webdirectory.com and chief editor at 01webdirectory.com/blog.
