40 Lifestyle Changes to Help the Environment

In order to save the future of our planet and preserve its natural resources, we must all participate. There are plenty of environmental reasons to adopt a vegan lifestyle; and these are just some of the other changes (big and small) that we can all make daily to help the environment. 🌎

Change IS happening

Global warming, the climate crisis, climate change. Regardless of what you call it, change is happening, and humans are destroying the planet at a rapid rate. 

We have created this mess; now it’s up to each and every single one of us to help fix it.

Climate Change

Climate change is defined as a long-term change in the average weather patterns. These changes are primarily driven by human activity.

Human activity leading to climate change includes:

• Increased burning of fossil fuel (such as coal, natural gas, and oil) 
  • i.e. use of electricity and transportation 
    • leads to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions
• Increased methane production (especially from livestock)
• Deforestation (especially for raising livestock and growing livestock feed)
• Use of fertilizers

Our Actions Have Consequences 🌏

So what exactly are the repercussions of these changes in our climate?

→ changing weather patterns and increase in natural disasters

→ health concerns

• cardiovascular and kidney disease

• respiratory complications 

• increased risk for heatstroke 

• injury from natural disasters

• increased risk for insect-borne diseases from wetter climates

→ pollution and dirty air

• i.e. increase in mold and pollen

→ rising seawater

• threatens ecosystems and low-lying land areas

→ increased risk of animal extinction 

→ ocean water absorbs 25-33% of fossil fuel emissions, so warmer and more acidic oceans threaten marine life

Changes We Can Make to Help the Environment 🌍

Now the good news–we can make a difference. Each one of us can make choices daily to live more sustainably. These changes benefit the planet, our bodies, and vast ecosystems.

Home

1. Weatherize your home (heating and air conditioning account for almost half of the home’s energy use)

• Adequate insulation
• Seal drafts in windows and doors
• Change HVAC filters routinely and perform scheduled maintenance (more dirt means more work for your heating and cooling system)

2. Use a smart thermostat

• My husband and I use Ecobee and love it

3. Install energy efficient light bulbs and appliances

• LED light bulbs use at least 75% less energy and last up to 25 times longer
• Energy-Star certified appliances use 10-50% less energy

4. Turn lights and electronics off when not in use

5. Put food in the oven right away, and only preheat the oven when baking

6. Save water and only use when necessary

• Don’t leave shower water running
• Don’t leave water running when brushing teeth
• There is no need to pre rinse dishes before putting in dishwasher
• Shower instead of bathe (in general, taking a shower uses less water than taking a bath)

7. Dry clothes on the clothesline (just like grandma used to do!)

8. Only run the washing machine when you have a full load

9. Wash laundry in cold water

• About 75% of the total energy use and greenhouse gas emissions produced by a load of laundry come from warming the water

10. Use renewable energy (which comes from naturally replenished resources)

• Sunlight, wind, waves, geothermal heat

Transportation

11. Utilize public transportation or carpool

12. Use cruise control when driving (can improve mileage–and gas usage–by 20%)

13. Drive electric or fuel-efficient vehicles

14. Hand wash your car

Waste

15. Recycle (this goes without saying!)

16. Donate, fix, or repurpose instead of throwing away

17. Buy recycled paper and other recycled products

18. Cut down on paper usage: keep documents electronically and print as little as possible

19. Subscribe to electronic bills and not paper bills

20. Use environmentally friendly baby diapers or reusable cloth

21. Don’t waste napkins; only take what you need or save them and use later

22. Get creative with wrapping and concealing gifts

23. Recycle mobile phones (which contain lead and mercury)

24. Use rechargeable batteries

25. Cut down on food waste

• Plan meals
• Freeze fruits and vegetables before they go bad

Retail

26. Buy products in sustainable packaging 

27. When purchasing online, place large orders to decrease the amount of shipped packages

28. Buy local, in-season produce (which is more sustainable)

29. Buy food in bulk

30. Eat organic (lack of fertilizers and pesticides → less pollution, higher quality soil)

Health and Beauty

31. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products

32. Use eco-friendly beauty and personal hygiene products

33. Plant a tree

Lifestyle

34. Decrease plastic usage

35. Adopt a vegan diet or eat vegetarian meals more often

• Meat, dairy, eggs, and fish have a much larger carbon footprint than plant based foods

36. Compost organic material

• Reduces methane emissions from landfills and lowers your carbon footprint

37. Buy reusable water bottles and lunch containers

38. Use reusable “Ziploc” bags (for sandwiches, snacks, etc)

39. Stop using plastic straws

40. Get the kiddos involved (it’s never too early!)

• NASA Kids has great information and ways to involve kids, including some fun activities

Our planet can heal, but it’s going to take all of us working together, doing our part. 💚

What are some changes you have made to be more environmentally friendly and live more sustainably? Comment below!