Photo By Bracketing Life Via Flickr

We live in a world where we are constantly on the move, constantly buying things and always creating waste. It has become such a normal part of everyday life that we rarely think about the impact it has on the planet. Even for those who are aware of it, they seldom take action for fear it will cost too much, or take too much time. But the truth of the matter is that every single one of us can easily lesson our impact by slightly adjusting our daily routine to that of a more eco friendly one. Here are some simple tips to help you do just that, without drastically altering your lifestyle.

1.  Reduce Your Home Water Use

For this tip, you have many ways to go about it. You can reuse the water you boiled food with to water your plants, take shorter showers, or even just turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth. Write down a list of all of your daily water uses at home and figure out just what can be cut back, or what can serve a dual purpose. With proper implementation everyone can save at least 5-50 gallons of water a day.

2.  Ditch The Chemical Cleaning Products

Get rid of all those nasty chemicals you use to keep your house clean. All of them can be replaced by something earth friendly at little to no added cost. From dish soap and Windex, to laundry detergent and bleach, you can find a cleaner safer version for all of it that works just as well as the petrochemical filled version.

3.  Walk More, Drive Less

We have legs for a reason. They are the cheapest, cleanest and healthiest way to get from point A to point B. So quit taking the car when your going less than a mile from home and not coming back with a ton of stuff. It’s like a free gym membership that saves you money, and helps the planet at the same time. Plus, you just might actually get to know those in your neighborhood and community in the process.

4.  Quit Using One Use Products

Why waste resources on something that will only get used once when a suitable reusable option is available? Bring your own thermos or cup to the coffee shop/stand, most places will let you. Toss a couple canvas bags in the trunk and keep a few by the door so you never get stuck using paper or plastic bags.  The list of one use products you can do without is almost endless,  you just need to figure out a way that works for you to not use them.

By Mark Johnson