How Can I Become More Eco-Friendly?

Have you ever asked yourself the question, "How can I become more eco-friendly?" If so, congratulations. It's the first step in regard to helping the environment. The more people who make the conscious decision to pitch in to help, the better off everyone will be.

One of the simplest definitions of eco-friendly is "not harmful to the environment." There's nothing complicated about that, is there? One of the greatest things about becoming eco-friendly is that it normally doesn't require drastic lifestyle changes. You can even start out small if you wish.

The following information includes several suggestions for making yourself more environmentally conscious and giving Mother Nature a helping hand. There's no reason to panic; it's probably easier than you think.

Carpool

It's really unfortunate that the vast majority of vehicles on the roadways today are transporting a single passenger. If everyone took the initiative to carpool, even once or twice a week, it would immediately reduce traffic on those days by 50 percent. This represents a HUGE difference! Not only does carpooling save participants' money on gas and car repairs, it also reduces air pollution and helps to prevent the shortage of fossil fuels.

Recycle

If you don't already take part in your city's recycling program, there's no better time to begin. Better yet, it's probably not as much of the hassle as you think. The first thing you need to do is make yourself aware of any specific requirements you may need to abide by. Recycling is sometimes different from one city to the next.

A few of the most common things to recycle are aluminum (cans, specifically), paper, glass, plastic, outdated electronics and batteries.

Buy Local

When you buy locally, not only are you helping local merchants and farmers, you're also reducing your "carbon footprint" by helping to reduce the demand of shipping from point A to point B. Less long-distance shipments means lower air pollution levels, fresher food on the table and a reduced chance of fuel shortages.

Conserve Energy

These are just a few examples on how to save energy, while sticking to your daily routine:

* Place weather-stripping around doors and windows
* Turn out lights when leaving a room
* Turn off water when brushing your teeth
* Use cold water for laundry purposes
* Unplug appliances when not in use
* Replace furnace and air conditioner filters on a regular basis
* Install skylights for more natural lighting

Take a few minutes to think about all of the things you do during an average day. Chances are, you'll think of several more eco-friendly changes you can make to improve the state of the environment. Mother Nature will love you for it!

Plant Trees

Trees are important, in so many ways. They clean the air, provide homes for wildlife, produce oxygen and prevent the erosion of soil... just to name a few. Taking the initiative to plant trees in your yard not only helps support all of these things, it also provides you with a shady spot to relax after a long day.

We've just talked about some of things you can do to be more eco-friendly. Obviously, you don't have to do everything in one day. Taking it slow makes it easier to get acclimated to a slightly different routine.

The changes you make won't help the environment overnight. But, with a little due diligence, chances are high that your perseverance will make the world a better place for your family, for generations to come.