Green living isn’t the inaccessible, fringe lifestyle it was once made out to be. In fact, not only is it easier than ever to make eco-friendly changes to your day-to-day routine, it’s also more important. The more the world practices eco-conscious lifestyles, the more sustainable these lifestyles are in the long run–without putting further strain on the planet. 

If you’re looking to alter your habits to reflect a greener mindset, you’re in the right place. Check out this simple guide to help you make environmentally friendly choices without a complete overhaul of your life.

Cut Down on Electricity Use

Power plants generate a great deal of greenhouse gases, and the more power each household demands, the more emissions enter the atmosphere. While it may not be possible to turn off all appliances daily, such as your refrigerator, freezer or alarm system, a number of things in your household can probably go unplugged more often than not. 

To cut down on your home’s power use, and your power bill in the process, look around each room for devices that can be powered down or unplugged to reduce your household demand for power from your local grid. If you’d like to generate your own electricity, look into a solar panel calculator to get started with your own solar energy system. 

Eat Less Meat

Animal agriculture is responsible for a significant percentage of greenhouse gas emissions through the cultivation of feed, processing plants, transportation fumes and deforestation concerns. You don’t have to commit to a completely meat-free diet. Just choosing a vegan or vegetarian meal a few times a week adds up. Plus, there are more tasty vegetarian options available at mainstream restaurants than ever. 

Invest in Reusables

Single use items, such as plastic bags, straws, food containers and beverage bottles, demand a great deal of water and natural resources to produce and often end up in landfills where they will take years and years to even begin to degrade. Whenever possible, opt for a reusable option, such as an insulated water bottle, metal straw, mason jar or reusable grocery or produce bag. 

Look for ways to reuse items you already have on hand, too. An old, ripped t-shirt can be used to wash the car next saturday, while the empty jar from dinner's pasta sauce can be washed and used to store leftovers in the fridge. 

Donate Your Used Items

The more you can divert waste from landfills, the less stress you place on the earth’s ecosystems. Landfills have become overcrowded thanks to improper disposal of the items you no longer have use for. Instead of throwing your old printer in the garbage can, consider asking your friends and family if anyone might have a need for it. Donation centers and even unconventional recycling centers are generally always accepting donations, too. 

Go Paperless

Paper is one of the most common materials found in recycling bins, but it’s still better to avoid paper when you can. Recycling can be a fairly labor intensive process, and with today’s digital options, there is little need for a mailed bill, receipt or statement. If you haven’t already, log on to all of your utility companies’ websites and switch over to paperless billing. 

Buy Gently Used or Previously Owned

New consumer goods place a lot of stress on Mother Nature through the manufacturing process. It’s nice to buy things that come straight off the shelves of a big box store, but you can often find what you need through other alternatives. Whether it’s time to upgrade your computer, replace your old bicycle, replace the lamp in your living room or get a new coat for the winter, there are dozens of resale marketplaces that have what you’re looking for. 

If you have an aversion to buying used goods, fear not. Resale marketplaces often have discounted items that are still in the box or with tags attached, or are being sold by neighbors who only had use for the item one or two times. Used goods are not only easy on the planet, but they’re easy on your wallet, too.