While millennials tend to be the generation that’s most conscious when it comes to living the sustainable movement, according to research company GlobalWebIndex, it’s important for everyone to start following greener habits for limiting impact on the environment. It can even help save you money on your energy costs too.
If you just purchased a home among the Honolulu houses for sale, you’re likely to find yourself among neighbors who are especially concerned about protecting the unique natural environment of the island, but no matter where you live, using products that can help you be more green is always a good idea.
Stainless-Steel Water Container
There are billions of water bottles littered across landscapes and in landfills – in fact, landfills in the U.S. alone contain two million tons of discarded water bottles. Those bottles take more than a thousand years to biodegrade, and if they’re incinerated, toxic fumes are produced. The far better choice is to get a stainless-steel container for your drinking water that you can reuse throughout the day and wash out at night.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
One of the best and cheapest ways to make your home greener is to replace standard light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. It will make a significant difference in energy usage – typically, these bulbs use 66% percent less energy and are much longer-lasting with up to ten times the life of a standard bulb. Changing out a 100-watt incandescent bulb with a 32-watt CFL, for example, saves $30 in energy costs over the life of a bulb. While that may not sound like much, when you add up the savings for each one in your home, it’s probably significant.
Reusable Grocery Bags
Many communities around the U.S. are banning plastic grocery bags but there are still billions being used – anywhere from 500 billion to a trillion, which causes a ton of plastic waste that could be avoided. While it can take a little time to get used to bringing your own cloth or other reusable bags, it’s one of the easiest and cheapest ways to be more green. Lots of supermarkets and grocery stores these days are even providing incentives for those who bring their own bags.
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Reusable Food Storage Bags
We use lots of plastic bags for storing food too, but thankfully there are better alternatives for those too. Rezip zipper-top bags are just one brand, made of FDA-grade PEVA material while being airtight yet easy to open and close. They’re BPA-free and can replace as many as 300 disposable food storage bags.
Low-Flow Showerhead
Conserving water is an important part of being green. You’ll help save the dwindling supply of freshwater on the planet and lower your water bill too. Showering uses up a ton of water, nearly 17% of residential household use according to the EPA. The agency recommends looking for a showerhead with a WaterSense label which ensures a shower that’s equal or better to a conventional showerhead so you won’t have to worry about washing under a trickle. These showerheads are also independently certified, meaning they meet the EPA’s water efficiency and performance criteria too.
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