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Climate change is a growing threat and has become a hot button topic that we just can't escape. There is still some debate over what is effective and what isn’t, but many Americans are trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle and reduce their carbon footprint. The idea is that if enough people adopt these sustainable practices then we could potentially slow or halt climate change. So what exactly can you do at home? Here are some ways that you can change your home life to be more sustainable.
Fashion
Fast fashion is slowly killing the planet. Did you know that it is the biggest polluter in the world? Retail stores are creating cheap stylish clothing that becomes outdated within a few months. As a result, consumers buy the clothing, wear it once or twice, and then throw it away. A process like this is extremely wasteful as a lot of resources go into making clothes. If you want to be more sustainable, then you should wear the clothes you already have. This doesn’t mean that you have to limit yourself to two or three outfits. It just means that there isn't a need for you to be purchasing clothes at the alarming rate that most Americans do. If you want new items for your wardrobe, consider buying second-hand goods from thrift stores and consignment shops. If you want to help even more, you can donate your clothes to a local charity or thrift store when you’re done with them, further reducing the carbon footprint from your home.
Plastic Use
A big concern in today’s society has been our plastic use and how it is affecting our wildlife. In response to this, some areas have begun banning plastic straws and plastic bags in an effort to limit the amount of plastic we use. However, you can take this a step further and work towards limiting your plastic use at home. Try to buy containers and packaging that don’t contain plastic, but are instead biodegradable. If plastic bags or straws aren’t banned in your area then you should still use alternatives such as reusable bags or metal straws. But, I personally have just stopped using straws altogether, as they are not an essential function to drinking. You could also cut plastic water bottles out of your life. Simply use a water filter and reusable bottles.
Energy
Energy use in the home has always been a major topic relating to sustainability, and as such there are many methods to reduce your home energy usage. First, you should look for any sustainable energy sources that are available to you in your area. Common sources of renewable energy include solar power and wind power. If you can’t secure a renewable energy source, there still are ways to reduce the carbon footprint stemming from your energy use. For example, you should never leave a light on during the day or when the room is empty. Avoid having any electronic appliances turned on when no one is using them. Finally, you should always unplug chargers from walls, as even when devices are fully charged they can still drain “phantom energy”. These methods may not seem like much, but combined they can greatly reduce your energy use in the home and can help you live a much more sustainable lifestyle.
Travel
The truth is that running a standard car creates a lot of emissions and uses up nonrenewable resources. The same occurs to a greater extent when planes are involved. While it's obvious that cars and planes are necessary over long distances, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t rethink your travel options for typical and common commutes you may have. Perhaps you might want to walk or bike into work or around town? Not only can alternative modes of transportation allow you to live more sustainably, but they can also save you some money on things like gas.
Food
We also have to pay attention to the type of food that you consume. Meat requires a lot of resources to be grown and produced, and cows have been linked to climate change because of the methane they produce. As a result, limiting your consumption of meat or cutting it out of your diet altogether can lead to a much more sustainable lifestyle. In addition, purchasing foods that are produced close to home can also lead to a more sustainable lifestyle. Food that must be transported across the world can lead to some high carbon footprints, something that can be avoided by eating locally. For example, if you choose to live in North Carolina and buy one of the Charlotte houses for sale, there are several farmers markets that are open year around where you can buy fresh meats, fruits and vegetables from the growers themselves. This is a collaborative post written by one of our blog partners.
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