With April 22, 2020 marking 50 years of officially celebrating Earth Day, Good Housekeeping published 45 Tiny Lifestyle Changes You Can Make Right Now to Help Save the Earth, which is a great read. The first few lifestyle changes to save the earth are below. We highly recommend reading the entire article!
Turn the Faucet Off
Did you know you can save up to eight gallons of water a day just by shutting off the faucet when brushing your teeth? Similarly, you can conserve a lot of water while washing your hands — just turn off the tap for those 20 seconds you’re scrubbing with soap.
Unplug Appliances When Not In Use
Yes, your households appliances are wasting energy even when they’re not turned on! Instead of leaving things like your coffee makers, toasters, and even your lamps plugged in indefinitely, make the small effort to unplug when you’re not using them.
Wash Laundry in Cold Water
About 90% of the energy your washing machine uses goes towards heating the water. To save energy, wash your laundry on the cold water setting for at least one load a week. Plus, cold water may even be better for your clothes — it can remove many stains from clothing, while hot water tends to shrink, fade, or wrinkle certain fabrics.
Turn off the Heat Dry Function on Your Dishwasher
The same goes for your dishwasher: Instead of using the heat dry function on your dishwasher, consider selecting an air-dry cycle to dry your dishes. This will save about 15 percent of your dishwasher’s energy use! If you don’t have this option on your dishwasher, just crack open the door to let your dishes dry once your load has finished washing.
Shop Eco-Friendly Household Products
When it comes to your household products, shopping eco-friendly goes a long way. Instead of single-use, disposable items, look for “green” products that are reusable, sustainably sourced, or made of recycled materials.