Becoming conscious about how you live your life, the kind of products you buy and the carbon output of everything you do can help you to make changes for the better; the better of yourself and the world around you that is. As the world becomes more densely populated and we put more demands on its limited resources, there has never been a better time than the present to make those changes. And, it’s a lot easier than you think.

Save Water

Making simple changes to your routine, like not running the tap when you brush, your teeth can save a lot of water without even doing much. If you enjoy a shower, put a bucket underneath the faucet to catch the water you waste while you wait for the hot water to warm up; you can use this water to wash your car or water your garden. To make the most of rain showers, get a storage bucket to collect some extra for when the rains dry up.

Stop Using Toxic Chemicals In Your Home

Start reading labels and becoming familiar with what is in your cleaning products; most of them contain really dangerous substances that you probably wouldn’t choose to use in your home. Be on the look-out for ingredients like formaldehyde, phenol and triclosan, and stay as far away from them as possible.

Save Power

Converting your home to using energy efficient light bulbs can make a big difference to your utilities bill and lessen your dependence on the grid. Turning up your thermostat by just two degrees can also give you savings of up to eight percent on your power costs. Also, just becoming more aware of the lights you have switched off, and turning them off in rooms that you are not using, can make a big difference to the amount of electricity you consume.

Recycle

Instead of filling landfills with waste, try and recycle paper, glass, tin and plastic. Try and find ways to reuse your own waste and make a concerted effort to purchase products that use biodegradable packaging.

Go Organic

Start buying organic products that have not been grown with chemicals or pesticides, produced by companies that are making an effort to reduce their carbon footprint. Your family will be healthier for it and it will take less of a toll on the environment. Start eating free range eggs and meat, and consider going a day where you do not eat meat, as animals reared for food are some of the biggest sources of methane gas on the planet.