2022 has passed; some could say it was their best year yet, and some could say it was one of the more challenging ones. But the new year is now here, and there is always time to start taking small steps toward living in a more environmentally friendly fashion. When nature wins, everyone living on the planet does, too, right? So, when you’re setting your New Year’s resolutions, think about these tips.
Learn How to Compost
Composting is an important step toward helping the environment and reducing carbon footprint. Food waste is a large contributor to environmental issues. When food is wasted, it ends up using more water and contributing to rises in greenhouse gases, both detrimental to the air we breathe and the environment we live in, so it’s important to learn how to put our leftovers to good use. The EPA is a good resource for first time composters, check out their page here.
Cook at Home
Eating at home is still both a safe and environmentally friendly option to do. Crack open those cookbooks or search for new and exciting recipes online to keep cars off the road and create a fun culinary experience for you or your family. Check out some mouthwatering home-cooked meals easy for any home chef here, and vegan options here.
Use Reusable Bags and Cups
Reducing the number of plastic bags, plastic cups and bottles you use is an easy and convenient option that helps our environment. Whether you’re headed to your favorite coffee spot or the grocery store, using reusable containers and bags will keep you from having to dispose of countless bottles and bags. Don’t contribute to the nearly 4,200,000 tons of plastic bags, sacks, and wraps disposed of by Americans each year according to the EPA. Check to see if your local grocer has reusable bags to purchase and pick up some reusable bottles to start your new year off sustainably.
Take Public Transit
If you’re planning on taking any trips that you can use public transit options like DART, Trinity Metro, or DCTA for, think about using those instead of driving. Make sure to bring hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes if you’re able to go the extra mile towards keeping safe and clean. Using public transportation will keep the roads less crowded, reducing emission amounts and improving the quality of our air.
Conserve Electricity
Unplug this year. Conserving energy by turning off lights and appliances when you leave the house is an easy way to help reduce the amount of electricity you use. Replacing bulbs with LEDs instead of using fluorescent or incandescent bulbs will also save you money in the long term and help improve our air quality at the same time. Using your phone less seems to improve general lifestyles, as well!
Learn About Air Quality
Air quality is one of the most important things we can protect, and many don’t know how it affects our everyday living. Check out airnorthtexas.org to learn more about how air quality affects your life and learn how to be more sustainable. Learning how air quality affects you is an important step towards sustainable actions and protecting the environment for future generations.
Taking these actions and learning about how air quality impacts daily life is the first step towards eco-friendly living in a new year. Every action matters no matter how small, so take your first step this year!