5 Eco-Friendly Life Changes You Could Be Making

When it comes to living a more eco-conscious life, knowing where to start cannot be easy, particularly if you are already set in your ways. You may already be using a reusable water bottle, but that is not enough to fully reduce your carbon footprint.

Being more environmentally does not have to be a hard step, with an eco-friendly lifestyle requiring only a few changes that can ultimately save you money in the long run. 

The following tips should help you make those important steps.

1. Swapping Your Petrol Car For An Electric Car

By getting an electric car instead of a petrol one, you can help reduce your carbon footprint. Many electric cars have the same speed capabilities as petrol cars, with the main difference being that electric cars require electricity to run. Therefore, you will need access to an electric car charging station to charge your car.

Many cities have opted to create public charging stations, and you can also install a personal charging station at your own home. Many reputable charging station manufacturers and electric car cable manufacturers can help the charging department when charging your electric or hybrid cars.

It seems like the world is heading towards a future where electric cars are the standard form of personal transportation, so making a switch now should be something you consider. Particularly with the different taxes on certain types of diesel and petrol vehicles being put in place already.

The best option that many people are given regarding travel and saving the planet is to use public transportation when it comes to going from point A to point B. Buses and trains can carry a lot more passengers than when people use their cars by themselves, thus cutting down on the amount of road traffic used by cars and the resources used all round.

Although it is important to note that many people will not have access to good public transport options due to the locations where they may work or live, which is why mass public transportation as a solution is not yet the way forward.

2. Energy Efficient Everything

Installing energy-efficient appliances is a great way to make an environmentally conscious switch in your home. This can be as simple as replacing your fridge for a model that does the job just as well but requires less energy or even making sure to replace the lightbulbs in your home for energy-efficient ones. Electrical appliances that are energy efficient often work just as well as the standard version, even though they require less energy to run.

You may find that your energy-efficient washing machine operates as great as a washing cycle with cold water instead of generating the power to create hot water for your washing. For this reason, most energy-efficient appliances, such as washing machines, are a great alternative to standard washing machines that also help you save money on your energy bill.

3. Time To Eat More Mindfully

Food production contributes to the environment massively due to the natural resources required to feed the world. Another issue is food waste, which can create CO2 gases that are not great for the environment. By eating more mindfully, we can help cut those emissions down.

A good option is to cut your meat consumption as the meat industry depletes the amount of planetary natural resources we have due to the amount required to raise animals and turn them into meat products. This choice can be as simple as dedicating a day a week to eating only plant-based meals.

By eating locally sourced produce, you can reduce the number of emissions produced in the transportation of foods from around the world. This, in turn, also helps the local economy by supporting the likes of local farmers who grow vegetables at local farms.

4. Swap Out Your Hygiene Products

By changing your hygiene products for more natural alternatives that use less harsh chemicals than their standard counterparts, you can help your overall health and the planet at the same time.

By changing your usual body wash containing many chemicals that might not be the best for you and opting for natural, whole ingredient body wash products that are transparent about their ingredients, you can do your bit.

You may also benefit from simplifying your hygiene routine to just a few products, which will help save you money, as overconsumption is also an environmental problem. Try to opt for plastic-free alternatives, or if failing that, then products that have been recycled repeatedly.

5. Less New, More Reusable

This lifestyle trick is on every eco-friendly advice blog post for a reason. You can greatly reduce your environmental impact by buying second-hand things. Whatever item you are looking for, you do not always need to buy them brand new.

When you only buy brand new products, you could miss out on saving much money through shopping second-hand for those exact items. Many second-hand items will be in great condition at a fraction of the price. Therefore when you reduce the number of new things you buy, you can help save the world and your band account.