You recycle, you use a smart thermostat, and you remember to hit the lights on your way out the door almost every time you leave your apartment. In other words, you’ve incorporated several eco-friendly practices into your daily life. Still, you feel like you should be doing just a bit more to protect the environment.
If this is the case, try to adopt some green living trends this fall.
Buy Local
Seasonal farmers markets are shuttering up in many parts of the country, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop using locally sourced ingredients. Find a grocer near you that stocks its bins and shelves with fresh fruits, vegetables, and roots from nearby farms, and you can continue to shop local all season long. This is a green living trend that benefits your health, the local economy, and the environment. The next time search for local groceries, don’t forget to bring your reusable shopping bags!
Carry a Thermos
A portable thermos can keep your coffee or tea warm longer than a disposable cup. At a time when a seasonal chill is settling in across the country, this is a major advantage. This green living practice also keeps unnecessary waste out of landfills. Start bringing your own thermos or mug to work or the coffee shop, and feel good about the warming, caffeinated beverages you drink.
Harness the Sun’s Energy
You don’t need solar panels to capitalize on the sun’s strength as a power source. Make the most of the sun in your apartment by opening your blinds on sunny days and drawing them closed on cold, dark days. Assuming your apartment is well-insulated, the sunlight can help warm your apartment even when outdoor temperatures are near-freezing. Allowing as much sunlight as possible to permeate your apartment is a green living trend with the added benefit of boosting your spirits as the days grow shorter and sunlight increasingly scarce.
Use Water Wisely
When the weather is cool, many of us wait a little longer for the water to heat up before stepping in the shower. To keep water waste to a minimum, run water at low-pressure while you wait for it to reach a comfortable temperature. If you’re ambitious, go a step further by collecting this water in a pitcher or pot. It can be used for watering plants, cooking, hand washing delicate articles of clothing, shaving, and several other useful applications.
Start Composting
You don’t need your own yard in order to compost organic waste. All you need is a bokashi bin or other enclosed container. When the bin gets full, you can donate your composted bio-waste to a community garden or farmers’ collective. Alternatively, you can arrange to have your compost picked up at your apartment by a local collector.
Incorporating green living practices into your daily routine doesn’t require much time, effort, or sacrifice. If your experience suggests something to the contrary, try to adopt new eco-friendly practices one at a time. Once recycling becomes second nature to you, for example, start composting or focusing on water conservation. There’s something innately satisfying about knowing you’re giving back to the environment that gives so much to you.
What green living trends do you plan to adopt this fall? Let’s get a conversation going about green living in the comments below.
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View All Posts by Jason Ernst