- Today is Earth Day, which helps remind us that individual actions can help environmental issues and the planet.
This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” serves as a reminder that the actions we all take can help tackle climate change. And it turns out, there are little things everyone can do to reduce our carbon footprint while saving us some money, too.
The folks at The Climate Coalition suggest these simple ways we can reach both of these goals.
- Buy from second-hand stores - From vintage shops to thrift stores, you can find all kinds of pre-loved items for your home and wardrobe without buying anything brand new. Thanks to sites like eBay, Thred Up and even Goodwill, you can shop from home and score stuff on the cheap, while keeping it from ending up in a landfill.
- Eat sustainably - Food waste is a huge problem, but one that we can make an impact with. By planning ahead for what you’ll need for meals, buying produce that’s in season and using all your leftovers, you’re helping the planet and your budget.
- Walk more - Not only is it free, it’s good for you and reduces your carbon footprint, too.
- Switch to eco-friendly cleaning products - These days there are a lot of options to choose from and many of them are a lot cheaper, especially those that come in smaller packaging and can be diluted with water at home. You’ll not only save money, you’ll be buying fewer plastic bottles, making it a win-win.
- Find ways to save on energy - Drying your clothes outside or on a line instead of in the dryer will save a lot of energy, and so will keeping the thermostat set a little warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter. Investing in heavy heat-resistant, light-blocking curtains can help keep it cooler inside, too.