Living in a more environmentally friendly way is a growing trend as there are more and more people choosing to live mindfully and adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle. However, there are many misconceptions about eco-friendly living, as people often think that it is expensive and inconvenient to change their lifestyle and choose products that promote green living.

Fortunately, living green is not that hard and you can take one step at a time to help the Earth. It is not only individuals but businesses and governments around the world that should be joining together in this movement. For your part, focus on making small changes in your daily habits, and an eco-friendly lifestyle can both preserve our environment and benefit you physically as well as financially.

Here are 6 effective ways to live an eco-friendly lifestyle in 2020.

1. Cutting Back on Meat Consumption

Reducing your consumption of meat can benefit the environment greatly. According to a study conducted by the United Nations, livestock accounts for around 9 percent of the total CO2 produced by human activities, as well as many other harmful greenhouse gases. Moreover, 30 percent of the Earth's surface is being used by the livestock sector and 70 percent of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed.

Understandably, going completely vegan is not for everyone due to various reasons. However, cutting back on eating meat can not only help save the planet but is also good for your health as it adds variety to your diet and saves you money. You can start replacing meat with other choices such as vegetable-based food and seafood.

2. Supporting Eco-Friendly Fashion

Eco-friendly fashion is the practice of making clothes with the focus on minimizing the effects on the environment, protecting consumers' health, and ensuring good working conditions for people in the fashion industry. The experts at https://www.beeco.green/ explain that there are so many great eco-friendly products being made from sunglasses to flip flops. Eco-friendly clothes are usually made from organic materials without harmful chemicals and bleaches, recycled textiles, and even recycled plastic and eco-friendly clothes are made to be more durable so they can last longer.

3. Say No to One-Use Items

The negative effects that one-use items like plastic bags are having on the environment and the lives of wild animals are clear and detrimental. Fortunately, shifting your daily habits to more eco-friendly choices is easy. Start with small steps such as using canvas bags instead of plastic bags to shop our store items. If you do use plastic bags, remember to recycle them. Keep in mind that every small change can make a huge accumulated impact.

4. Use Your Car Less

Daily commuting and frequent travel on planes cause significant negative effects on the environment by leaving a huge carbon footprint behind. Walking is a simple, and cost-effective alternative to cars and motorbikes which is also great for your health. For daily commuting needs, as well as walking short distances, riding a bicycle, carpooling, or using public transportation can save you both fuel expenses and reduce your carbon footprint.

5. Invest in Energy-Efficient Appliances

There are many ways you can start cutting back on your energy usage at home. Some people are turning off their appliances when not in use to save energy, but there are some easy steps you can take which will significantly reduce your consumption of energy. You can start investing in energy-efficient appliances such as washing machines, air conditioners, and lighting units.

Energy Star Appliances can be more expensive, but in the long run, these appliances will save you from expensive utility bills, plus high-quality and energy-efficient appliances are more durable and environmentally friendly. For instance, an energy-efficient washing machine will use less energy and up to 50% less water, as compared to standard machines.

6. Make Adjustments to Your Home

By carefully insulating your home, you can find it easier to keep it at the ideal temperature which will save energy. Whilst the upfront cost of new insulation might seem discouraging, as with energy-efficient appliances, you can fully enjoy its benefits over time. When it comes to room temperature and air circulation, you should make full use of fresh air whenever possible. Not only is fresh air good for your health, but it will also save you money from running the air conditioner and heater. The same principle applies to lightning as well, so make good use of natural daylight as much as possible.

With these 6 effective tips, you can easily adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle without sacrificing the conveniences of your daily life. An eco-friendly lifestyle can benefit you, your community, and our planet. Remember that every small change can help make a big difference.


WRITTEN BY

Daria Brown