11 of the Easiest Ways to Go Green

I know I've said it before, but I am a huge believer in balance in all aspects of my life. This means that I don't lay in bed binging on Netflix 24/7 (I mean I try not to), but I also don't spend every spare minute of my time at the gym or at Cross-fit. I don't buy all organic fruits and vegetables, but I also don't fill my cart up with sweets and trans fats. I don't obsess over doing everything I can to live a green lifestyle, but I do make frequent decisions that help decrease my carbon footprint. Nothing flashy, it is merely about taking a higher responsibility on planet Earth. These steps are all simple and very easy to incorporate into your everyday life, and I encourage you to do just that.

1. Be conscious when using utilities. This one is pretty straightforward. Just pay closer attention to the resources you're using, and whether or not you absolutely need to use them as much as you do. Take shorter showers. Turn the water off when brushing your teeth. Don't blast your heat/AC unless you really need it. Unplug things when you aren't using them. Shut the the lights off when you leave a room. Don't run the dishwasher/washer until you have a full load. Nudge your thermostat down 2°F during non-summer months and you’ll stop 500 pounds of carbon dioxide gas from entering the atmosphere over the course of a year, says The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook. The chances to conserve are pretty endless.

(grab a sweatshirt and turn the thermostat down a bit!)

2. Recycle and compost. I live in Oregon, so recycling is second nature for me. It always surprises me to learn this isn't true everywhere else. Recycling and composting are so important for the future of our planet, and a crazy percentage of households don't do it. For a list of things you can recycle, check here. For more info on composting, click here! It is a huge part of sustaining our resources, and if you make it a daily habit, it will soon become second nature for you as well.

3. Buy larger. When buying products you use regularly, getting the largest size available, or buying in bulk, usually means saving some materials used for packaging. If you buy the 16 oz. shampoo instead of the two 8 oz. shampoos, you're saving plastic! Many products offer small containers, and then the option to buy large "refills". The same goes for food. Try to avoid buying the small individually packaged foods. Instead of buying the pre-packaged and individually wrapped, buy the food items and portion them into food containers yourself.

4. Use your car less. If you haven't already, please check out my blog post about The Alternative Travel Project. I outline the benefits of escaping your car, and using alternative means of travel to get around. One of the huge benefits is reducing the toxic chemicals you release into the air. Car emissions make up 1/3 of all air pollution in the US. Giving up your car for even one day a week can make a huge dent. Ride your bike, walk, or take public transit!

5. Reconsider your cleaning supplies. Most store bought cleaners are surprisingly toxic, and can do damage to your lungs, thyroid, skin, etc. They can also pollute the water and the air. A great alternative is a mix of 9 parts water to 1 part vinegar in a spray bottle. Click here for more non-toxic substitutions.

6. Green up your gift wrap. With Christmas coming, consider the ways that you can reduce your waste this holiday season. Rather than buying new gift wrap, try wrapping your gifts in the paper you already have hanging around. Wrapping in newspaper, magazines, or left-over gift wrap can add a cute DIY flair to your gift. While you're at it, don't be afraid to regift (I love doing this.) If you own something you never use, and you know someone else would love it, send it their way! You're minimizing your clutter, saving money, and giving someone a gift they will enjoy.

7. Consider meatless Mondays. Being a vegetarian has many health benefits, but if you're like me, you might not be able to completely give up meat just yet. You can still reap some of these benefits from giving up meat for just one day a week, and you're helping the environment when you do. According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, the meat industry generates nearly 20% of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions. If you absolutely can't skip meat for one day, try to go for grass-fed.

8. Use reusable bags and coffee cups. This is one that I could be better at. It really comes down to remembering to bring your bags with you into the grocery store, and your cups with you into the coffee shop. Starbucks offers a reusable cup for $1, and you save $.10 on your drink each time you bring your cup in instead of using one of their paper ones. Most other coffee shops that I've been to also offer a discount when you bring your own cup. I leave mine in my car so it's always available to me. These days they also make reusable shopping bags that fold into a pouch that is smaller than your fist. Drop those babies in your car or purse, and bring them with you to any shopping excursion!

9. Air-dry your hair. Reducing drying time by even 5 minutes a day saves almost 45 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year, says green living expert Sara Snow. Not to mention all of that heat is awful for your hair! Give it a break, and go au naturale.

10. Use glass containers, instead of plastic ones. Glass containers are awesome. I'm a big fan of pyrex. Plastic food containers contain chemicals that are released when microwaved. Not only do these chemicals leach into the air, but also into your food. Glass containers don't contain these toxins, they don't stain, and they last longer. They are well worth the investment.

11. Avoid air fresheners and scented candles. Imagine my disappointment when I learned that candles are not as innocent as they seem. Most are made of paraffin wax, and when burned release known carcinogens like toluene and benzine. You can also typically find artificial scents, dyes, and lead in your common candle. You're not any better off using air fresheners. Most contain toxins like propane, butane, formaldehyde, and acetone. These toxins cause a wide array of health problems, and pollute our air. Try Beeswax candles, which actually help clean the air, and avoid air fresheners all together.