This past year has been interesting, with many unforeseen challenges. Our daily lives have been impacted significantly by the novel COVID-19 pandemic, during which millions of non-essential workers and students were ordered to shelter in place and had to transition to working and/or studying from home. With all of this going on, it’s understandable that our focus this year may have diverted from sustainability. That’s why we should each take the opportunity to reprioritize the health of our planet as we enter 2021.
When you think of establishing a New Year’s resolution, some likely things that come to mind might be – drinking more water, exercising more, and eating healthier. While self-improvement is undoubtedly important, why not make a New Year’s resolution about bettering the Earth, as well as yourself this year?
We admit that living a sustainable lifestyle does take a bit of effort and adjustment, but it is by no means an unattainable goal. The neat thing is that the more you learn about the issues our planet is facing, the more focused and determined you’ll become about making environmentally conscious choices in your daily life. One of the best things to keep in mind when you want to transition to a more earth-friendly existence is that every little thing you do counts, so even the smallest of changes can make a difference.
Keep reading below to learn some easy ways to make 2021 your greenest year yet!
1. Shop Locally for Your Groceries
This is a common, yet impactful green-living recommendation, and one you have probably heard before – and with good reason! Most of the food we consume regularly travels a long way before it makes it onto our grocery store shelves. So, an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint is to purchase groceries that have been produced locally. Shopping locally doesn’t just reduce transportation emissions, but it also helps support community farmers and the overall local economy. Local ingredients tend to be fresher and often tastier than ingredients that have traveled great distances before reaching our plates.
2. Repurpose Old Clothing Into Cleaning Rags
Since COVID-19 made its way into our lives, paper towels have been in high demand and low in stock on our grocery shelves. You don’t necessarily have to keep purchasing paper towels to keep your desks, tables, bathroom vanities, kitchen countertops, and other surfaces clean. Instead, consider repurposing your old t-shirts into rags that you can reuse time and time again. When your homemade rags get dirty, just rinse them and throw them in the washer on the hot water cycle (to ensure they are properly disinfected).
3. Combat Energy Vampires by Investing in Power Strips
From coffee machines and toasters to computers and phone chargers, you might be unaware that you’re contributing to higher greenhouse gas emissions by keeping your household appliances and electronics plugged in while they are not in use. “Vampire power” is the energy wasted by devices that keep running in standby mode. Switching to a smart power strip will allow you to monitor and maintain all of your devices, and using less energy is a great way to contribute to a healthier planet (and wallet).
4. Opt for Eco-Friendly Transportation
Did you know that just by driving to and from work each year, you’re creating about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions? Chances are that you’re still working and/or studying from home (either part-time or full-time) and not traveling as often, but these figures still demonstrate how much driving contributes to global warming. Play your part by driving less in 2021, and when possible, choose more sustainable modes of transportation – such as cycling or walking. These earth-friendly alternatives to driving are healthier for you and the environment!
If you want to ensure that your 2021 is your most sustainable year yet, be sure to sign up for Spring Power & Gas’ innovative energy and natural gas products. For every customer that enrolls, we contribute to the Ecogold Environmental Fund, which helps support non-profits running environmental projects.
Here’s to a happy, healthy, safe, and green New Year!
