Six Easy Changes to Live More Sustainably

Here are six ways to be more sustainable for Earth Month:

1) Save Water 

Did you know that the average American uses about 90 gallons of water each day? Almost half of that water used is unknowingly wasted. Try being mindful of the amount of water that you use each day. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and try limiting your shower time to under 10 minutes. Don’t keep the water running while you wash the dishes. These easy and mindful practices will make a big difference in the amount of water Americans waste each year.

2) Go Paperless

How much junk mail do you think you throw out every year? The average American throws out 41 pounds of junk mail each year. Limit the amount of paper mail that you get by opting to go paperless. If there is an option to choose to receive digital mail and notices, opt to go paperless. It will reduce the amount of paper that ends up in landfills. You can also choose to send digital invitations instead of mailing paper invites. One more tip: at the store, if you can, opt to receive a digital receipt, it’s a sustainable solution and you won’t lose it if you need it! 

3) Ditch Single-Use

An easy way to incorporate sustainability into your everyday life is to get rid of single-use plastics. We know that single-use items provide convenience for a lot of people, but incorporating reusable items saves money and keeps our planet green. Things like resealable plastic bags, plastic cutlery, and plastic straws are among the easiest single-use items to replace with reusable items. Using reusable storage bags, cutlery, and straws will reduce the amount of waste that you produce.

4) Use LED Lightbulbs

A simple and easy way to make your home greener for Earth Month is to switch out lightbulbs. Traditional incandescent lightbulbs aren’t the best choice when it comes to conserving energy. LED lightbulbs use about 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. LED lightbulbs also last 35x longer than traditional lightbulbs and are cheaper to use too. Talk about a bright idea!

5) Upcycle & Reuse

Before you toss out those old glass jars and containers, think about reusing them for something else. Glass jars can be reused for storage or even drinking glasses. You can turn that old plastic cottage cheese container into storage as well. A used Maola milk carton can be made into a planter, a flower vase, or a lantern. Get creative, the possibilities are endless! 

6) Buy Local

Rather than purchasing food or goods from a business that is across the country, try buying from a local business like Maola. Not only will the food be fresher (because of the reduced time to transport), but it takes less energy to transport your food and goods. This means that there is less air pollution and less fuel used to get your products to you.