20 Unbelievably Easy Changes to Make in Your Home by Earth Day
What Is Earth Day?
Earth day was founded in 1970 with the purpose of educating on environmental issues. The idea came from US Senator Gaylord Nelson, who was invested in making others more aware of the need to protect the planet. Since then, Earth Day has been recognized in many countries across the world with rallies, initiatives, educational campaigns, and more.
Ways to Celebrate Earth Day
You can make small changes in your home with your family even before Earth Day. Every small choice matters and adds up to make a big impact! Zulily’s Sustainability Shop is an easy way to shop reusable, recycled, or products recognized by third-parties for their dedication to creating eco-friendly products.
Earth Day is celebrated every April and offers a great opportunity to think about eco-friendly changes you can make in your home. These changes do not have to be elaborate, but simple and easy lifestyle shifts that can make a big difference. Read on for 20 ideas that will inspire easy changes you can make now.
1. Try Meatless Mondays
Reduce your carbon footprint by decreasing your meat intake. Picking one day a week to cut out meat can reduce your footprint and allow you to get more creative in the kitchen.
2. Enroll in paperless billing
Are you still getting mail for bills you pay online? Chances are these bills go straight to the trash (or recycling). Cut down on paper usage by going online to enroll in paperless billing. Many banks, utility companies, and other companies now offer paperless billing and you just need to go online to enroll.
3. Use Reusable Shopping Bags
The average US family takes home 1500 plastic grocery bags a year according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. That is more bags than you can fit in your pantry for emergency bag needs. Next time you go to the store, opt for a few reusable options to lessen the impact of single-use plastics.
4. Use Your Ceiling Fans
Take advantage of the spring air and turn on your ceiling fans. Compared to the usage of an air conditioner, ceiling fans use less energy.
5. set up an in-home recycling area
If you do not recycle, start small. You can start with all soda cans or glass bottles. Find something your family uses frequently and set up recycling. See if your area offers pick up or find a drop-off location near you.
6. Set Up a compost bin
Put your food scraps to work with a compost bin. You can start with a small bucket in your home or on the porch for food scraps and continue to grow your compost from there. Eventually, food and natural waste will decompose and can be turned into soil for your garden.
7. look for eco-friendly labels
Toys, cleaning supplies and other household items have more and more eco-friendly alternatives. Bamboo is a common eco-friendly part of toys. Reusable food bags are a great alternative to plastic storage bags.
8. Cut down on gas usage
Reduce your emissions by finding alternatives to driving your personal vehicle. For example, opt to walk or bike to a nearby location, rideshare with a coworker or a friend or find public transportation to an event.
9. switch to LED lighting
LED lighting is popular for good reason. LED light bulbs are known for energy efficiency, lower electric bills, a longer bulb life than incandescent bulbs. LEDs are also much safer because they are cooler than incandescent lights, reducing the risk of fire or burnt fingers.
10. use a smart thermostat
Smart thermostats can ensure that you are not over heating or cooling your home when you are away. Not only can it save you money, but you are saving energy. For many families, it does not take long for the savings to surpass the cost of using a smart thermostat.
11. Wash Laundry in Cold Water
Many loads of laundry can be efficiently cleaned with cold water instead of hot. Dark or colorful laundry can be washed on the cool cycle. Laundry without heavy stains can also be washed in cold water.12. Hang dry
Do you have memories, like me, of clothes drying on the line at your grandparents home? Revisit the practice with a line outside your home or a drying rack inside to save electricity,13. reusable coffee, tea, or beverage containers
Cut back on disposable cups with reusable containers for the drinks you consume often. The good news is there are so many cute options from Hydro Flask or Klean Kanteen that you can help the earth and make it a great accessory.
14. Collect Rainwater For Your Plants
Are you are taking care of all of those pandemic plants you added? Watering a garden this year? Collecting rainwater is a great way to cut down on water usage and take care of your favorite plants (they love rainwater!).
15. Use Cloth Towels or Napkins
Meal times and clean ups can account for so many paper napkins and paper towels. Cut down on these disposables by using washable cloth alternatives.
16. Switch to period undies or a menstrual cup
Disposable hygiene products add up through the months and can be harmful to sewage systems. Products like period underwear and menstrual cups can be washed after every use, then reused month after month to cut down on waste.
17. turn off the lights
Teach the whole family to turn off the lights when you leave a room or when leaving home. Kids can make a practice out of turning off the lights in their rooms or playroom. Make it game by timing how long it takes to turn off all the lights in the house.
18. Turn Off the Faucet
When brushing teeth, washing dishes or your hands, or other times that you are running the faucet, turn it off when possible. For example, turn off the water to scrub your hands or the dishes before rinsing.
19. Toy and Book Swap
If you have friends with children similar ages to yours, start a toy or book swap. This allows you to swap a bin of toys your child is no longer playing with and receive a bin of new fun toys for your home. This cuts down on the amount of toys that end up in a landfill.20. Plant a Tree
Create a fun craft with the family by adding to nature. You can plant a tree, build a birdhouse, put out a hummingbird feeder, or find another way to add to the nature already around you!Earth Day is a great time to evaluate your home and family choices. You can opt for more eco-friendly alternatives, teach your family about ways to conserve energy, and celebrate the planet with small, intentional choices.
When you shop Zulily’s Sustainability Shop, you aren’t only bringing planet-friendly products into your home, you’re also helping to plant trees through Conservation International, a non-profit organization which has been fighting to protect nature for over 30 years. Zulily is donating $50,000 to help Conservation International’s Forest Restoration Program plant 25,000 trees. You can help double that contribution! From April 6 through April 30, 2021, for every eligible $35 purchase by a U.S. resident makes with at least one item purchased from The Sustainability Shop, Zulily will donate an additional $1, up to a maximum total donation of $100,000, to help plant another 25,000 trees internationally. Thank you for your help to make our planet a cleaner, healthier place!
