At Home Sustainability

Environmental Friendliness Doesn't Have to Be Expensive

"Throw out all your cookingware, all your clothes, and all your belongings. Start a brand new life."

This is what a lot of sustainable transitions sound like. Not new tips on creating habits or practices, but expensive, materialistic suggestions pushing you to consume, consume, and consume in the very market causing environmental crises in the first place. The reality is, living sustainably doesn't have to start this way. Really, sustainability starts with the exact opposite — keeping and using what you own to its fullest potential.

Here are some of the easiest at-home switches to make sustainable living possible:

See the World, Save the Planet!

The first sustainable swap is as easy as using your own two legs: walking! Walking or biking to nearby destinations instead of driving helps lower your carbon footprint and makes you more observant of your surroundings. See New York City on your own two feet and give back to our Earth.

Glass Is Your Best Friend!

So many purchased glass jars have lives beyond the end of their products. Condiments, pickles, and jams often come in reusable glass containers that can serve a variety of purposes right in your own home. Start your own windowsill garden by planting seedlings (haha!) in jars and watch them grow through the seasons. Make your own jam with old fruit and store it in a reused jar. Make your daily latte in an old pickle jar. The possibilities are endless, so think next time you go to throw out a glass container.

Type Away Your Ecological Footprint!

Sustainability can follow you into the online world. Environmentally friendly search engines are among the newest sustainable switches — and it can be done just by installing a new app! Next time you have a question you're dying to answer, look to Ecosia, Ekoru, or OceanHero as your go-to search engine. These green platforms allocate a large share of their profits to tree planting, litter pick-up, and ocean restoration. Ecosia and Ekoru even run on renewable energy.

Box Away That Waste

Be mindful of your online shopping habits and what you do with cardboard once it arrives. Cancel mail subscriptions you don't need to avoid excess paper and packaging arriving at your home. Avoid paying for speedy deliveries, and lessen the carbon footprint of your order. Reuse cardboard boxes you do have in a multitude of ways: home storage, compost, or line the bottom of garden beds!

The Big One: Energy & Water Consumption

The biggest tip for a sustainable life can really be dwindled down to watching what you consume. Using water and energy mindfully can lessen your carbon footprint and reduce your strain on the environment. Take shorter showers when you can, and don't leave sinks running while you're brushing your teeth or scrubbing your hands. Unplug electronic devices not in use, use LED lightbulbs, and air-dry clothes and dishes whenever possible.