What does Living Green mean? Quick tips for a greener life

So much more than just recycling, living green is the adoption of certain lifestyle changes that are designed to be more friendly to the natural environment and sustainable for the earth.

It means being more environmentally aware and understanding the need to embrace practices that have little or no negative impact on our environment, both immediately and in the future. This includes sustainable choices about what we eat, how we travel, what we buy, and how we use and dispose of items.

For some, this is a gradual process, but any steps you take, big or small, to contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle, makes a positive impact on the environment. 

Wherever you find yourself in the ‘green-scheme’ of things, here are some basic tips and hints to help you on your way:

Conserve Energy – when you leave a room, save power (and your electricity bill) by switching off the lights as you go. Also, many household electronic devices use up power even if they are turned off – take a moment to switch off any devises at the power point to avoid wasting ‘phantom energy’.

Conserve water – this can involve taking shorter showers (adopt a 4 minute shower timer in your household), turning off water while brushing your teeth, fixing dripping taps and plumbing, and running your washing machine and dishwasher only when you have a full load.

Bring your own shopping bag – Remember to bring your own reusable bags when heading to the grocery store. Luckily most stores have started implementing the ‘pay for plastic bags scheme’ to help you with this one…

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – wherever possible keep this in mind for all your day-to-day purchase. Reduce the amount of products you buy lots of packaging materials, avoid individually wrapped items, or buy products with long shelf life. Reuse water bottles or invest in a personal water bottle, chose durable or reusable items rather than single use items. Finally, purchase items which include recycled packaging or can be recycled, and take the time to filter your plastics, papers, and tins and drop them off at your nearest recycling collection point.

Remember, every small step makes a difference. What steps are you currently taking to live a greener life?