[ECO]12 Small Habits With a Big Impact on Your Emissions

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12 Small Habits With a Big Impact on Your Emissions

Sustainably minded people get excited to make big changes that help the planet. While investing in an electric car or purchasing solar panels are great ways to minimize your carbon footprint, they’re also expensive. 

You can still have a positive planetary impact by adopting new small habits. They’ll have a big impact on your emissions over time, which still helps the planet.

1. Turn Off Your Ceiling Fans

You’re likely already turning off lights when you leave a room. When was the last time you also flipped the switch to your ceiling fan? They’re easier to miss if you’re not using the bright light fixtures attached to their base. Remember that they’ll still consume electricity to cool rooms no one’s using if you forget to turn them off as well.

2. Reduce Your Water Heater’s Setting

Check your water heater to see what temperature it sits at. Keeping it at 140 degrees Fahrenheit

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, which doubles as wasted electricity usage. Turn it down by a few degrees to automatically have a big impact on your emissions. Any time you use your laundry machine, sink or dishwasher, your home will consume less carbon-producing electricity.

3. Try a Smart Thermostat

If you own your living space, consider swapping your thermostat. A smart unit accurately heats or cools homes with Wi-Fi-enabled sensors. Older thermostats run on a single sensor or a timer. Changing to a smart thermostat will optimize your passive HVAC usage throughout the year, decreasing your carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

4. Layer Up During the Winter

Keeping warm in the winter is a bit more challenging for anyone with an eco-friendly lifestyle. While others might turn on their gas-powered fireplace or ***** wood to warm their home, you might not want to do either. Instead, layer your clothing.

Wearing an undershirt beneath your sweater or two pairs of socks will retain your body heat, keeping you comfortable throughout the day. You’ll also avoid using your fireplace or requiring your HVAC to heat your home as frequently.

5. Schedule Car Maintenance Reminders

Although reducing how much fuel your car burns is better for the environment, it’s not the only way to improve the natural world with your vehicle. Schedule reminders to keep up with your car’s standard maintenance needs.

Something as simple as keeping your tires in alignment improves gas mileage

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, which wastes less fuel and produces fewer emissions per trip. A local mechanic can advise what work your vehicle needs and how often you should schedule maintenance appointments.

6. Wash Clothes in Cold Water

When was the last time you purposefully adjusted the water temperature on your washing machine? Keeping it on its coldest setting will have a big impact on your emissions. You won’t use your water heater as often, reducing your weekly electricity usage. Any effort that minimizes your electricity consumption also minimizes how much CO2 your local electric plant creates to power your home.

You could even make a more considerable difference for the environment by skipping the dryer. Hang your laundry on a clothesline in the backyard during the summer. A foldable laundry rack is another way to air dry your clothes if you don’t have a yard.

7. Reduce Your Alcohol Intake

Enjoying a hard beverage every now and then is relaxing. If you keep your drinking habits that way, it could help save the planet. A single liter of *****

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, so opting for one ***** with dinner instead of two would have a big impact on your emissions.

If you prefer wine or liqueur, research the alcohol you tend to drink more often. Once you realize the environmental impact of your second or third hard beverage, you may feel motivated to find other ways to enjoy your evenings. Try sipping on a mug of tea instead or buying your alcohol from a brand that offsets its carbon emissions.

8. Turn On Your Phone’s Low Battery Mode

Your phone uses its battery throughout the day. Depending on its age, you might ***** it up to the nearest charger frequently. That daily electricity usage adds up quickly, so try keeping your phone in low battery mode. You’ll stretch its battery between charges, so it uses less energy.

9. Open Your Windows Strategically

Your windows are powerful climate change resources during warm weather seasons. Open them while you’re enjoying breakfast or relaxing in the evenings. You’ll use the naturally cooler air to make your home a comfortable temperature. While your windows let in a fresh breeze, your HVAC unit will remain powered off. It’s a small habit that marks a significant impact on your emissions compared to relying on your air conditioning during all hours of the day.

10. Enjoy Meatless Mondays

Meat-based diets

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as plant-based diets. Raising and processing animals requires natural resources like temperature-controlled plants and industrial refrigerators. If you swap your ground beef dinner with a bean-based burrito, you’ll automatically make your diet more planet-friendly. You might even discover enough plant-based recipes that your meatless Mondays become more frequent.

11. Grow a Natural Meadow

Meadowscaping is the latest way people are transforming their landscaping into an eco-friendly haven. It allows the local flora to spread through your yard. The resulting flowers and tall grasses support nearby wildlife. In return, you get to reduce your annual emissions by reducing or eliminating how often you use your lawn mower.

Even if you have an electric mower, it still adds to your carbon emissions while it charges. This is a helpful and time-saving sustainability tip if you don’t have Homeowners Association (HOA) rules governing your landscaping abilities.

12. Shop at Thrift Stores Occasionally

You might avoid shopping unless it’s necessary due to the fashion world’s planetary impact. Unfortunately, there are unavoidable times when you need to get new clothes. When your favorite sweater rips or your shoes fall apart, check a nearby thrift store for replacements before going to the mall.

You’ll continue keeping your money from fast fashion manufacturers by wearing previously loved clothing. Thrift stores also prevent those clothes from clogging landfills. Have fun exploring the racks to see what you’ll find. You might just discover a high-quality, name-brand piece of clothing for a bargain price you never would have found at a traditional clothing store.

Reduce Your Carbon Emissions

While you might not think small habits will have a big impact on your emissions, it depends on the changes you make. Washing your clothes in cold water, layering in the winter and changing your landscaping routine are just a few things that support the planet’s well-being. See which ideas would fit most naturally with your current routine to upgrade your sustainable lifestyle without overhauling what already works for you.

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