How to Live More Sustainably in Everyday Life

Living a sustainable life doesn’t require a complete overhaul from your current lifestyle. By making just a few small adjustments in your everyday habits, you can make a difference – and even save money along the way. Learn how you can become more environmentally conscious and help improve the world we live in for generations to come.  

Reduce Household Energy Consumption

From watching television to charging your phone, much of your life requires the use of electricity. However, unused devices that are plugged in could be draining power and your money. While your devices and appliances may be turned off when you go to bed or head to work, they can still consume energy if they’re plugged in. 

One unused phone charger won’t make a significant impact, but an entire household of devices can increase your energy bill, especially if you’re out of your house for the entire day or a weekend. Unplugging devices when they’re not in use will not only save you money but can also help reduce your carbon footprint. When power plants create energy, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the air, which contributes to global warming and smog. While it may sound like a simple task, unplugging your devices when they aren’t in use can make a difference on the environment and reduce your energy bill. 

Be a Smart Shopper

While plastic bags are convenient, the material is difficult to break down, posing a long-term environmental hazard. Although they can be recycled, most end up in landfills or the ocean. In fact, plastic bags make up 10% of the marine debris found along coastlines. Shopping with a reusable grocery bag can help reduce the amount of plastic that pollutes our planet.

Your local grocery store could also be contributing to the world’s pollution problem in more ways than one. Large supermarkets often source produce from hundreds of miles away, requiring the use of a truck or plane to deliver it to your neighborhood. This creates unnecessary carbon dioxide emissions, which results in excess air pollution. When possible, purchase produce from farmers’ markets or small grocery stores that carry locally grown food.

Reduce Your Plastic Bottle Usage

Single-use plastic bottles may be convenient, but they come with a high price tag – in more ways than one:

• More than eight billion tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year, and plastic bottles account for more than half of that
• Fossil fuels are used in the production and distribution of bottled water
• Consistently purchasing single-use water bottles for your home can be costly over time
• Single-serve plastic bottles have also been shown in studies to contain microplastics, which are becoming a growing concern.

You don’t need to purchase single-use bottles to provide your family with better, cleaner water. A reverse osmosis drinking water filtration system can help reduce your dependency on plastic and supply your loved ones with quality water whenever they need it. A reverse osmosis (RO) system can also help by reducing 99 percent of contaminants, sediment and impurities that may be in your home’s water. Both systems provide the quality water you deserve while reducing your carbon footprint in the environment.

Go Paperless

From bills to books to boarding passes, paper has become a staple in our everyday lives, but it comes with a sacrifice. Your favorite paper products are likely derived from trees, which help convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and keep our air cleaner. As such, it’s important to go paperless whenever possible. Here are a few ways you can minimize your paper usage and help protect the planet: 

• Use e-tickets for your boarding passes, movie and event tickets instead of printing them
• Opt for paperless bills – emails also double as a good reminder when a bill is due 
• Make copies using scanners or scanner apps
• Opt out of junk mailing lists
• Recycle any paper you do have
• Use a tablet or another digital device to jot down notes 
• Buy recycled toilet paper, facial tissue and paper towels
• Download books on your phone or tablet

Additionally, if you have a home office, doing everything electronically can save you money on supplies like toner, ink and paper.

Take Public Transportation

Whether you drive down the block or across the country, you’re adding to the world’s pollution problem every time you get behind the wheel. Cars emit an average of 20 pounds of carbon dioxide per mile, which is about six tons of carbon dioxide per year. The next time you’re heading out, leave your keys at home and choose an eco-friendly option, like:

• Riding the bus or subway
• Carpooling with a friend, coworker or neighbor
• Biking or walking to nearby stores or businesses
• Using a rideshare app

Opting for an alternative can also help you save money on gas as well as maintenance costs and repairs on your vehicle. Reduce your driving mileage and help the environment by taking public transportation, carpooling or riding your bike.  

Monitor Your Water Usage

Research has shown that the average American household uses between 80-100 gallons of water per day, while the average Canadian home uses about 87 gallons. While this can make for a hefty water bill, consumption can easily be decreased by making these modifications:

• Fixing any leaks in your toilet or pipes 
• Limiting how much you flush your toilet – each flush uses about five to seven gallons of water
• Reducing your shower time – a shower can use upwards of  2.1 gallons of water a minute
• Turning off the water when not in use while shaving or brushing your teeth
• Watering your yard only when necessary or during cooler parts of the day
• Waiting to run the dishwasher and washing machine until you have a full load

Living a sustainable life is all about being mindful of the everyday choices you make. Making these small adjustments today can help make for a better tomorrow.