At the start of the new year, our minds may be focused on self-improvement. And a great way to better yourself is by incorporating green practices into everyday life. By doing so, you can create a more sustainable household—one where family members are conscious of waste production and work toward minimizing negative impacts on the environment. Here are three easy tips to consider when getting started in your own home.
Start Small
When starting something new, begin small. Focusing on making green choices in your everyday tasks can help create a successful sustainable home. And if you start by developing manageable habits, it’ll build a strong foundation going forward.
- Stay aware. Be conscious of how much energy you use in your house. For example, not using the living room? Switch off the lights.
- Minimize shower time. For example, consider water usage—especially in the shower. Experts say that 10 minutes is a realistic shower length, so anything longer may be wasteful.
- Choose to reuse. To cut some plastic waste from your life, opt for reusable water bottles instead of disposable ones.
Even though these practices seem small, they snowball into green habits that positively impact the world around you.
Recycle
Recycling can be easily incorporated into everyday life. Start by reviewing the guidelines set by Waste Management to refresh yourself on what is and isn’t recyclable.
- Identify what can be recycled. You can usually recycle cans, bottles, paper, and cardboard.
- Only recycle approved items. Keep any food or drink out of your recycling. That means a pizza box filled with crusts and a greasy liner isn’t recyclable—but an empty box is.
- Watch out for wishful recycling. This is when people assume an item is recycling and throw it in the recycling bin. Having one contaminant—like a wax paper cup—in a recycle bin contaminates the entire bin and makes it unusable for recycling.
Make it a Team Effort
Once you’ve identified the green practices that work best in your house, involve the entire family!
- Start a garden. Starting a garden is a great way to bond with children and reconnect with nature. It also teaches kids about accountability and patience.
- Grow fruits an vegetables. Incorporating home-grown fruits and vegetables into your diet helps you to stay healthy and feel a sense of accomplishment.
- Get outside. Another way to make a sustainable household is to get out and appreciate nature! Explore the natural landscape around your house. Take a walk, go on a run, or ride your bike. Taking a break from screens and stress does wonders for your mind and mental health. Invite your family along and chose a different hike for each outing. You’ll learn more about your community—and each other.
Focusing on sustainable living is a great way to start the new year. To set yourself up for success, you can start small and develop healthy practices until they become second-nature. And once you have good habits established, you can focus on recycling and minimizing your waste output. Long Ridge Construction is here to help make a home that helps make sustainability easy. So contact us to learn more about building your new dream home.