In today's world, more and more people are interested in living eco-friendly lifestyles. How can you be a part of that? While some things are out of your control, like what companies or corporations are polluting the environment, there are small switches you can make in your everyday life to be more environmentally friendly.

Change Your Transportation Habits

While not always feasible, take public transportation when you can, or drive places with a friend or coworker instead of going alone. Reducing the amount of time you drive alone will reduce the amount of emissions from your car that gets released into the atmosphere. If you are buying a new truck or car, pay attention to the amount of miles to the gallon the car gets. The more miles to the gallon, the less gas you have to purchase. Even better, invest in an electric vehicle. 

Reusable Water Bottles and Lunch Containers

One of the biggest changes you can make to be more environmentally friendly day to day is to reduce the amount of items you throw away. The biggest culprits of items that get into our trash are plastic water bottles and takeout containers. Start bringing a reusable water bottle everywhere so you do not have to buy plastic ones. Try to make lunch at home to bring to work in reusable containers and not plastic baggies. This can really reduce the trash you create and also save you a few dollars in the long run.

Be Mindful Of Electricity

Making your home more environmentally friendly starts and ends with your energy consumption. Upgrading your lighting fixtures to LED bulbs are more environmentally friendly because they are more energy efficient and can last longer than a regular bulb. Upgrading your refrigerator, washer and dryer to more efficient models can also reduce the amount of water and energy you use at home. Make sure you turn the lights off when you leave a room, limit the amount of time the television is on and do not leave faucets running so you waste less energy.

Bring Shopping Bags To the Store

A lot of towns and cities are banning plastic bags from grocery stores and chain stores, so this is both a practical piece of advice and an environmentally friendly way to pick up your groceries. If you keep a few bags in your car or backpack regularly, you can avoid all the plastic bag waste that you would normally generate. 

Eat Less Meat

The agriculture industry is responsible for a large amount of greenhouse gasses that are released into the atmosphere every year, especially due to meat consumption. Meat requires more energy and work because grains and water need to be fed to cows and chickens so they can grow. Vegetables and other produce do not require as much energy to grow. In addition, animal agriculture is responsible for a lot of water pollution and destruction of land due to overgrazing. While sustainable farming practices do exist, reducing your meat consumption can help you live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. 

Cut Out Harmful Chemicals

In your home and outside of it, you probably use a lot of different cleaning products and fertilizers. The most widely used cleaning products and fertilizers are actually full of harmful chemicals. Fertilizers might make your grass look greener, but the nitrogen and phosphorus supplements can leak into the groundwater or runoff into nearby streams and water sources. This can lead to dead zones and poor water quality. Cleaning products can be harmful to animals who might accidentally digest the chemicals. Switch to eco-friendly cleaning products that are gentler and safer to use.