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bookmark_borderHow to Be Zero Waste While Living with Your Parents

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Hey earth muffins! A month ago I moved back in with my parents after moving away from Grand Rapids, MI. My boyfriend and I made the decision that we want to purchase a house instead of renting an apartment. When deciding where this house would be, it just made sense to head back home where both our families are! The housing market is crazy right now, so we are hunkering down with our parents until we find a great first home. 🤞Moving back in with family is amazing, but it also throws a curveball on my eco living habits. Here are my tips for how to be zero waste while living at home with your parents!

Give yourself some time to feel out the situation.

While I visit home often, it has been awhile since I lived with my parents. Obviously, they have different ways of living than I am used to, especially when it comes to sustainability. Instead of just continuing to live the way you were living, I sugget laying low for awhile. Your eco journey can wait a week or so! This will allow you to see how they function and do certain things. Once you observe for a bit, then you can decide where you can continue living the same way and which areas need a bit of an adjustment for the time you are living there. Your parents are doing you a huge favor, so don’t cause any trouble!!

Don’t badger your parents to make a million sustainable changes!

I am lucky that my parents are about as sustainable as my boyfriend is. I’ve written a whole guide about how I live with someone who isn’t as sustainable as myself; I suggest you check it out if you are in a similar situation! It is never a good idea to try and change every single thing your parents do all at once. In your observation period, you may have noticed 25 different areas where your parents could easily change a habit to be more sustainable. Remember, even your own eco journey has been a slow process! Don’t expect your parents to drop everything and join the zero waste movement all at once. While you can introduce them to certain eco products slowly, just do this one small step at a time!

Lead by example.

People tend to make observations about the way other people do things. If you don’t want to directly talk with your parents about new sustainable habits they can make, I suggest just living as eco-friendly as possible in your current situation. Your mom might comment on your makeup – so talk about the latest zero waste brand you are trying out! Bring your parents to your favorite local thrift store and introduce them to the joys of secondhand shopping. There are so many opportunities to share your eco knowledge in an encouraging way once you are under the same roof!

Introduce them to your favorite sustainable documentaries and books!

When you are trying to decide what to watch for the next movie night, suggest a new documentary you have been wanting to see. They might be totally on board with watching something educational. I know my dad is always looking for good book recommendations; if your parents are similar, share some of the best eco books! Just like I was hooked after reading No Impact Man, maybe they will jump on the sustainability bandwagon on their own accord.

Live a little non-zero waste for a bit…

Living with someone who isn’t as sustainable as you can be challenging. During the time you live with your parents, you might just have to cut your losses and realize that you won’t be able to live as eco-friendly as you’d like. This happened with diet for me. I’ve shared my tips for living with someone on a different diet before (my boyfriend is a huge carnivore; I’m a vegetarian). My parents have been supportive with my choice to eat no meat; however, I recently decided I wanted to also cut out fish. But, my parents usually cook a bunch of fish when I am visiting because they aren’t too comfortable with vegetarian recipes. Now that I am living here, I will be eating fish until I move into my own house, just because it makes it easier on them. I’ve cut my losses and my eco journey is still intact! 😊

Final Thoughts on How to Live Zero Waste with Your Parents

Moving back in with your parents is just like moving in with a new roommate… It might take some time to mix your habits and daily routines, but it will eventually work out! It is important to not pressure your parents to convert to living exactly how you were before you moved in. That is never a good suggestion in a “how to be zero waste” post! Instead, lead by example and slowly influence your parents into making small changes. That being said, accept that you might have to cut your losses and be a little non-zero waste for a bit… But that is totally okay! Your eco journey will be stronger than ever again! What is your current living situation? How do you deal with living with people who aren’t as eco-friendly??

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_border8 Amazing Eco-Friendly Products You Can Buy at Target!

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Hey earth muffins! Before I started my eco journey back in 2018, Target was one of my favorite stores. If I find myself needing to go to a “superstore”, it is often my first choice. I have noticed that they are starting to carry more sustainable items in their stores – so exciting! This is awesome because it makes eco-friendly products more accessible to the masses and gives shopper that extra push towards buying a green item instead. Today, I will be sharing a list of some great eco-friendly Target products – let’s jump right into it!

Bath & Beauty Products

Native plastic-free deodorant - a great eco-friendly product to buy at Target!

First up – we have plastic free deodorant! Target actually has quite a few options for this. They have Native deodorant (which I reviewed here), Hey Humans, even Secret and Old Spice plastic-free versions! I really like my Native deodorant, but will be trying out Hey Humans next. In terms of price, Hey Humans is more affordable, so I am interested to see how it works. It is awesome that there are now multiple options to choose from!

Next up, toothpaste in aluminum tubes! I absolutely love David’s Natural toothpaste; check out my full review here. Hey Humans has also jumped on the aluminum tube train… I am currently giving their toothpaste a try and will share my thoughts with you all once I use it up. 😁 Don’t forget to properly recycle your metal toothpaste tubes – check out the step-by-step guide here!

While they don’t carry these in my local store, Target has quite the selection of shampoo bars! I’ve been trying out a bunch of bars throughout my eco journey. Most recently, I use the Montalbano bar from Lush. Target carries shampoo bars from HiBar, Spring & Vine, Faith in Nature, and Love Beauty and Planet. I hope they carry these at my store soon; I have been wanting to give these brands a try!

If you want to buy some “tree-free” toilet paper, see if your local Target carries Reel TP. Their toilet paper is made with 100% bamboo. Bamboo is a great natural resource – a much better option than typical TP. Unfortunately, the Target in my city does not carry this brand either… But I am hoping they will soon!

Hey Human body lotion in an aluminum bottle - a great eco-friendly product to buy at Target!

The next item on this eco-friendly Target products list is body wash and body lotion in aluminum bottles from Hey Humans. This is awesome, as metal is easily recycled without reducing its quality. There are so many nice sounding scents to choose from as well! While I personally prefer bar soap to bottles, this is a great option if you are looking to reduce your plastic usage in the shower! 🎉

Things for the Kitchen

Interested in trying out composting? I love that Target carries a kitchen compost bin! This container isn’t very big; so, you will need to figure out what to do with the compost once it is full. There are many options: get a compost pickup service, have a backyard bin, or these other options. Such a great way to combat your food waste from heading to the landfill!

A stainless steel kitchen compost bin - a great eco-friendly product to buy at Target!
A pack of reusable snack bags - a great eco-friendly product to buy at Target!

I have been seeing Stasher bags all over my TikTok recently… And I love that they are getting more people to try reusable snack/lunch bags. I saw these bags in the school supplies area – such great placement by Target! If I would have seen these as a child, it would have been a no-brainer to opt for the reusable. Definitely check these out on your next Target run!

Last but not least, Grove has concentrated cleaners… And reusable glass cleaning bottles! A bunch of cleaning products were produced during the pandemic, so I love that brands are coming up with ways to make cleaning a little more eco-friendly. If you don’t want to make your own DIY cleaners, this is a great alternative. Just be careful with the glass bottle – wouldn’t want to break it!

A Grove Co multi-cleaner box of concentrated cleaner - a great eco-friendly product to buy at Target!

Final Thoughts on Eco-Friendly Target Finds!

Overall, I absolutely LOVE that huge companies like Target are putting sustainable products on the shelf. There is a long way to go, but it is a nice step in the right direction. While it is still important to look into items marked as “sustainable” (to avoid greenwashing!!), I hope this eco-friendly Target products list inspires you to try out something new the next time you find yourself at Target. If these items aren’t carried at your local store, ask the manager when they will be. Make it known that you want eco-friendly alternatives! 😊 What have I missed from this list? Comment below your favorite eco finds at Target!

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Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderGenusee Sunglasses Review: The Amazing Eyewear with a Circular Economy!

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Hey earth muffins! When the summer sun starts shining extra bright, it is important to bust out your sunglasses to protect your eyes. 😎 I personally wear them any time I am outside during these warmer months or driving somewhere in my car. This summer, don’t just head to a local store to purchase a pair of cheaply made sunglasses… Instead, invest in a pair that is eco-friendly that will last you many years! In this post, I want to share a company that creates awesome eyewear that is both sustainable and fashionable for the summer months. Genusee sent me a pair of sunglasses to try out, and I am so excited to share this Genusee sunglasses review with you all!

What I Love About the Sustainability of Genusee Sunglasses!

First off, I obviously love this brand because it is sustainable (or I wouldn’t be sharing it with you all!). The company is based in Flint, Michigan, which is infamously known for the Flint Water Crisis. During the height of this crisis, the city of Flint used more than 20 million water bottles a day! This is a great example on how all plastics aren’t “bad” – just imagine how many plastic water bottles were used out of necessity. Instead of producing eyewear using new materials, Genusee prioritizes the use of pre-exisiting materials in their supply chain. This means each pair of sunglasses are upcycled from 15 plastic water bottles from the crisis; that is just incredible! Not only are the glasses made of recycled materials, their suppliers are all located in (or near) Flint as well. This supports local businesses in Michigan as well as reduces carbon emissions during transportation.

Genusee also has a circular economy for their eyewear. Once you are finished using your sunglasses, they actually buy them back from you – and give you a credit towards purchasing your next pair! 😊 After receiving your glasses, they evaluate the quality of them and decide between three things: recycling the material back into the supply chain, refurbishing them and reselling at a value, or donating to people in need. This Buy-Back Program is everything you would want for a closed loop system. I am so excited to know that my glasses will be responsibly put back into rotation instead of sitting in a landfill for thousands of years! 🌎 ❤️

What is Great About My Sunglasses

When picking out my glasses, it was hard for me to pick what color I wanted… Because there are so many great options to choose from! I like that the frames of the sunglasses are all the same shape (called the Roeper frames), but there is still a lot of variation. A color of the frame (such as Black) has many different colored lens to choose from. From vibrant mirror lens to Water Warrier Green frames, there is something for everyone in terms of color! After pondering what color to get, I settled on Classic Black frames with brown lens… Boring, I know, but I love a nice pair of neutral sunglasses!

I also love how these sunglasses fit. They aren’t super large and oversized like some can be, and I think the frames would look good on many different face shapes. Similar to other eyewear brands, Genusee has the option to virtually try on glasses before you purchase them. Definitely take advantage of this feature! It is helpful to see how the frames will look (hint hint: they are going to look super cute!). Plus, it can help you decide between colors as well.

Other Things I Admire About this Brand

Their sunglasses are amazing, but the company also does some pretty awesome things for Flint, Michigan as well. Like I mentioned above, the Flint Water Crisis was devastating. Genusee works with the MADE Institute in Flint to employ returning citizens/displaced workers. While there are 5 colleges in Flint, over 88% of the city’s population does not have a college degree. Genusee knows that sunglasses can be manufactured with a basic understanding of the machines used; so, they strive to creating living wage jobs to help support more Flint workers. On top of this, 1% of their profits are donated to the Community Fund of Greater Flint. These donations help the Flint Promise & Child Health and Development Fund to combat the effects of exposure to lead in drinking water. Definitely another reason to support this brand!

What Could Be Better

This Genusee sunglasses review would not be complete if I didn’t talk about price. When I review sustainable products, I always remind my fellow earth muffins that eco-friendly products are often on the pricier side. These sunglasses are no different. Each pair will cost you around $100. This is much higher than those cheap-o glasses you can find at Walmart (that break after two uses though)… But it is actually in line or cheaper than other high-end sunglasses! So, I would suggest supporting this circular economy instead of buying your next pair of Ray-Ban shades!

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Final Thoughts on this Genusee Sunglasses Review!

Overall, Genusee is a brand I would highly recommend checking out. Their circular economy is honestly what every company should strive for. I have never been more proud to share this company with you all! The sunglasses are amazing quality and come in colors for any taste. Plus, this brand actually cares about Flint and is doing its part to help those impacted by the Flint Water Crisis. While the price can be considered high, just compare it to a Ray-Ban and realize that these sunglasses are SO much better in terms of sustainability and social impact. The Genusee goal is simple: to do good for people and the planet using design and collaboration to be the change we want to see. Are you going to support this awesome company this summer? What sunglasses are you currently rocking?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderI Tried the Plastic Free July Challenge – My Thoughts

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Hey earth muffins! Plastic Free July is over – how did you do?? 😊 This month long challenge is a great way to push yourself to reduce your plastic consumption. I have participated in this event for a few Julys now; I feel like each time I do it I learn new things! Now that the challenge is over, it is important to reflect on what went well (and what didn’t). If you were collecting all of your plastic waste during July, now would also be a great time to do a deep waste audit. These are awesome ways to identify where plastic sneaks into your daily life. Here are my thoughts on the Plastic Free July Challenge this summer!

The Plastic Free July challenge 2021 logo

Did I Achieve My Goals During Plastic Free July?

If you are subscribed to my newsletter, you will know I was focusing on two goals this year. First, I wanted to reduce plastic during my move. Moving across a state can create a ton of plastic waste if you aren’t careful. While I didn’t want to go into the Plastic Free July Challenge with unrealistic expectations of avoiding all of this waste, I still wanted to challenge myself! Overall, I think I did a fine job making my move as eco-friendly as possible. I reused boxes from the mail and opted for wrapping my fragiles in clothing instead of bubble wrap. But, I did use plastic tape too… Check out this guide for more tips on being sustainable during a move!

Along with the goal of reducing plastic during the move, I also wanted to stop eating out so much in July. During the move preparations, my boyfriend and I got in the habit of ordering food. This was partly because we didn’t have many groceries in the house but also because we were too tired (and lazy) from packing to want to cook meals ourselves. The week of the move, we ate out three times… Not too bad for 6 days, as we made sure to eat up all the leftovers to reduce our food waste. Now that I am living at my parents’ house, I haven’t eaten out since the move! 🎉

Why I Love this Challenge!

There are so many great things about this challenge that I listed in my “Why You Should Participate in Plastic Free July” post. For me, I love to push myself to see what I am capable of! Whether I am tracking a new habit in my planner or refusing to go on social media during Lent, I find it fun to see the positive impacts on my life during challenges like this. Plastic is an obvious problem to our environment, so I love that one month of the year the Plastic Free July Challenge inspires people to make a difference.

What Could Be Better About Plastic Free July

While a month long challenge is a great place to start reducing your plastic, it is important to remember that you should be reducing your plastic all year. I’ve seen many people join this challenge for the month and then just go right back to their typical usage of plastic when it is over. While they technically are doing the “Plastic Free July Challenge”, its main goal is to teach people about how much plastic they use – and make those lessons stick! I remember I was very new to eco-friendly living when I participated in my first challenge… And it definitely added fuel to the fire to continue my eco journey! Make sure you also strive to reduce your plastic after the challenge is over.

I think it is worth mentioning that with every popular movement, there is the opportunity for brands to take advantage of the good intentions behind it. This is true for the Plastic Free July Challenge. With so many people participating in this challenge worldwide, many companies use it as a marketing ploy to greenwash their not-so-sustainable products. It is important to look out for greenwashing during challenges like this, as you want to support the actually eco-friendly brands over ones that just flood their Instagram with green messages during the month of July. It is annoying to me that companies take advantage of newbie earth muffins during this challenge, but the best thing you can do is learn how to identify greenwashing so you can avoid it!

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Final Thoughts!

I absolutely love the Plastic Free July Challenge; it is my favorite month of the summer! This year, I wasn’t able to participate as much as I would have liked. But, that just means next year I will be ready to go all in! There are many great reasons to push yourself in July, from the alarming plastic statistics to the joys of challenging yourself to accomplish something pretty cool. Fingers crossed the lessons of the month stick with you, as you don’t want to just jump right back into living with a bunch of pesky plastic. We are looking for long-term changes here, earth muffins! Did you participate in the Plastic Free July Challenge? What are your thoughts?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderThe Remarkable Things to Do in Boston, MA: A Weekend Travel Guide to the the Beacon Hill Area!

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Hey earth muffins! Today, I am back with another weekender’s travel guide! The last travel guide I wrote was back in March where I shared my thoughts on what you should do in Ann Arbor, MI. With this pandemic, I haven’t been able to write many of these in the past year…. But I am hoping to post a few of them once I start traveling again. 😊 Check out this page with all of my sustainable travel guides so far! Today, I wanted to share my recommendations from a trip I took before the pandemic started. (I didn’t want to post it during the pandemic because no one could travel, but I figured now would be a fun time to share.) Here are my thoughts on fun things to do in Boston, Massachusetts!

Two feet by a Freedom Trail marker in Boston, MA

What to Do in Boston, MA

Check out the Freedom Trail! Whether you like history or not, Boston is full of some pretty cool sites to visit. I personally love that the trail is marked with a brick path throughout the city. It makes you feel like you are almost on a treasure hunt as you walk around. One of my personal favorites is the Old North Church where Paul Revere hung up the lanterns in the window – such an iconic symbol of American history!

Take a ride in a Duck Tours… (or maybe don’t?). As someone who grew up on the East Coast, I visited Boston many times as a child. The Duck Tours are basically tour buses that end up driving into the harbor where they then turn into boats. While an iconic scene in the city, they aren’t that safe… So maybe just get a picture of one and call it a day!

Enjoy the outdoors at Boston Common. Just like any well known city, Boston has a great park to play in! This park is a great place for a picnic or to soak up some sun. The park is massive and has a bunch of fun statues to look at as well. My personal favorite is Make Way for Ducklings – which they dress up for certain holidays!

Make Way for Ducklings statue dressed up during COVID pandemic

Do some shopping at Newbury Street. There are a ton of fun little shops on this street, including well known brands but also some local boutiques. If you are traveling with someone who likes to shop, this is a great option that will take all afternoon!

Visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum – and see empty frames from the infamous robbery! Whenever I travel I love to visit at least one museum. This museum is full of amazing pieces of art, as well as 13 empty frames from the pieces that were stolen in 1990. If you are interested in learning about the theft, I would highly recommend the book Master Thieves: The Boston Gangsters Who Pulled Off the World’s Greatest Art Heist by Stephen Kurkjian, which I read last year. I’ve always loved heist novels, so it is amazing to actually go to the museum and see the empty frames for yourself.

What to Eat in Boston, MA

Eat a cannoli in Little Italy! If you are by the Old North Church I mentioned above, then you are right next to Boston’s Little Italy. The streets are so quaint and adorable, and it honestly reminds me of my trip to Italy a few years ago. As a girl who loves good cannoli, I recommend checking out Mike’s Pastry. While it is a bit of a touristy location, the cannoli are totally worth it. Definitely a great snack for walking along the Freedom Trail!

Two cannoli from Mike's Pastry in Boston, MA

Find something tasty at Faneuil Hall. If you are traveling with a group of people who have totally different tastes in food, then this stop is for you! This hall is full of tons of different choices from Chinese food to pizza. It can get pretty busy during peak hours; it is best if some people order while others go track down a table. Sometimes it can be hard to find a place to eat when you have a ton of tasty food in hand!

Hit up a classic Dunkin’. Growing up on the East Coast I was around a lot of Dunkin’ Donuts. They are all over the place in Boston, so I would recommend getting a few donuts at least once. There is nothing special (in my opinion) about their drinks and pastries, but it is just an East Coast thing you have to do. 😊

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Final Thoughts!

Overall, I think Boston is a great place to visit. There is tons of history, plenty of fun things to do, and definitely some tasty things to eat. Make sure you are conscious of your choices as you travel – make your Airbnb as sustainable as possible, reduce your impact when flying, and explore the public transportation Boston has to offer instead of driving everywhere. Where will you be headed on vacation this summer??

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHere’s Why All Plastics Aren’t Bad – The “Good” Plastics in Your Life!

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Hey earth muffins! It is crazy to think that Plastic Free July is almost over. The first half of this month was busy with my move, but the rest of it just flew by too. While Life of an Earth Muffin isn’t pro-plastics, this doesn’t mean I am against all forms of it. Meet the “Good Plastics” (and no, I’m not talking about Gretchen Wieners or Regina George)! 😂 Certain plastics, aka single-use ones, are “bad”… But there are actually plastics out there that are good for our civilization as a whole. For today’s post, I wanted to share a short list of these essential plastics; let’s jump right into it!

A woman standing behind a plastic screen

Plastics You Already Have Around the House

When you start caring about the environment and make the decision to go on an eco journey, you might be tempted to toss all plastics in the trash. But, I strongly discourage that! Odds are you have accumulated a ton of plastic in your lifetime. From plastic Tupperware in the kitchen to toys for your kids, there is a reason plastic is starting to be a problem – it is everywhere! I categorize plastics you already have into this “good” category because you can reuse it for as long as it lasts. Which, if taken care of properly, can be many years. There is no point in tossing plastics just because they are made of a certain material. The basis of an eco lifestyle is to use what you have and reduce your consumption – both can be achieved by using up the plastics already in your home. For more ideas on how to use plastics you already have, check out this guide!

Plastics Used in Health Services

I think it is safe to say this pandemic gave me a new appreciation for health care workers! It also made me think about plastics used in the healthcare industry. As I mentioned in my Will the COVID Pandemic Stop the Sustainability Movement? post, we have seen things like disposable masks littering the ground. But on the flip side, there has been a ton of plastic created during the distribution of vaccines – which I think is totally fine! A lot of plastics get tossed each day in healthcare, but this allows for sterilized instruments and literally lifesaving procedures to be performed. If that isn’t “good”, I don’t know what is!

Covid-19 vaccines, creating medical waste

Plastic Water Bottles for Areas that Need It!

If you have access to clean drinking water, there is no need for bottled water. I suggest buying yourself a stainless steel reusable water bottle and getting in the habit of carrying it everywhere. By doing this you can avoid using plastic water bottles for no reason. On the flip side, bottled water is amazing for areas that don’t have clean water! Take an example close to my home, the Flint water crisis. Without bottled water bottles, thousands of people would have absolutely no access to any clean water. This rings true for countries all over the world as well. While plastic water bottles get a bad rep, they have a good side too!

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Concluding Words about “Good” Plastics

Just like with anything, there are good times and bad times to use plastic. For an eco-minded earth muffin, I recommend avoiding plastics as much as possible… But don’t totally condemn them! There are many places where they are truly instrumental in providing clean water, non-contaminated food, and healthcare to folks around the world. Plus, you should use (and then reuse) all of the plastics you already have in your home. Mother Earth will thank you for that as we come to the conclustion of Plastic Free July. What other “good” plastics do you use in your daily life?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderAvoiding the Common Eco-Friendly Mistakes at Your Home

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It’s obvious to everyone that, at this stage, it’s imperative that we do our best to change how we live. While we seem to be hurtling towards ecological disaster, there’s still time to change things. This will involve a collective effort from all parties, including corporations and individuals. However, if we’re going to take steps to improve things, then it’s important that we get things right. Alas, people often make some fundamental errors that undo some of their good work. In this post, I’m going to run through some of the common eco-friendly mistakes people make related to their homes.

The Products You Use

You’ll need plenty of products in your home in order to keep it nice and clean! But it’s important that you’re using the right products. There are many cleaning products out there that use harmful chemicals which don’t actually help. When you’re looking for products to use in your home, it’s important to look at the ingredients of the product, rather than whatever the company says on the front of the bottle. Don’t be tripped up by greenwashing! Look for a badge from an independent certifier of earth-friendly products; this is a sure sign that the product really is good for the earth.

Energy Errors

You’ll need to blow some hot and cold air around your home from time to time, as you can’t expect to live in freezing or overly warm temperatures. However, unless you’re keeping the air inside your property, then you’ll have an overly negative impact on the world. A lot of cool/hot air can be lost through old windows, for example. As such, look at getting new windows from a window replacement company. They’ll both look better and make your home better for the environment. Win-win!

Failing To Upgrade Appliances

Some people think that in order to minimize their impact on the world, they have to get as much use as possible from their existing products. But this isn’t really the case when we’re talking about your home appliances. If your appliances are outdated, then they’re probably using more energy than necessary. Newer models are much more energy efficient, plus they’re generally quieter and perform better. So if you have changed your dishwasher, washing machine, and so forth in a little while, it could be time to make an investment. Don’t forget to donate your old one to someone who wants it in your community!

Not Seeing The Potential

The good thing about trying to live a more eco-friendly life these days is that the sky’s the limit. The basics, such as recycling and being smart with your electricity use and so on, is a good beginning, but it should only be the beginning. At your home, you can look at gardening your own vegetables, for instance, or collecting rainwater. Both of these activities are kinda fun, and they allow you to go deeper into your eco-friendly ways! New ways of operating are coming out all the time. If you have an evolutionary mindset, then you’ll always be up to date with the latest eco-friendly home practices. And that’s good for everyone!

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow to Live an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle This Summer

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The environment is an essential topic to many right now. There are many ways that you can live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, especially this summer. Some people want to save the planet, while others just want to cut their carbon footprint and energy costs. Whatever your reasons for wanting to live an eco-friendly lifestyle may be, there are plenty of things that you can do today! In this blog post, you shall find some easy steps that you can take to make the world a better place.

What is Eco-Friendly?

Eco-friendly is more than just the absence of harmful chemicals or other materials. It’s about putting in a conscious effort to use renewable sources and be mindful of your footprint on the earth.

Rent a sustainable apartment

Many people like the idea of living in environmentally-friendly housing. If you’re renting an apartment, look for one that is sustainable and eco-conscious. A sustainable apartment includes one with insulation, energy efficiency and water conservation features, like water cloud SCADA systems. There are many options to choose from so do some research before you make a decision.

Use an electric car

Many people look to electric cars as a way of living an eco-friendly lifestyle. Electric vehicles don’t need oil changes or any other type of maintenance that you might have needed with your old car. They also recharge from the electrical socket in your house, which means no more trips to the gas station.

Most people have a lifestyle that requires them to drive or use public transport for long periods of time in the day. Unfortunately, this can be harmful not only to the environment but also to your health! To combat this, it’s important to think about ways you can cut your travel times as well. One way is by living close enough to do all your essential work and shopping activities on foot.

Install solar panels at home

Solar power is an excellent way of living eco-friendly! Not only does it help the environment, but it also offers you energy independence, which is great for your pocketbook. However, it can be expensive to install solar panels at home. Hence, some people choose to invest in a hybrid system that combines solar power with other renewable energies such as wind and hydroelectricity.

Buy “green” products

It’s surprisingly easy these days to buy eco-friendly products. Many websites sell green and eco-conscious goods, as well as speciality stores in every major city! You can ask your local store if their merchandise is environmentally friendly or try buying from a provider online.

Switch your lightbulbs

There is no denying that you have at one point purchased those bright CFL light bulbs in the past. However, their mercury content can be harmful if they break or release gases into the air when burned. So why not switch to LED lightbulbs? They’re more expensive but last much longer and use less energy.

Switch your appliances

It’s important to consider the types of appliances you have in your home. If they are old, it may be time for an upgrade. On the other hand, modern appliances such as a dishwasher or clothes dryer can save you money and energy.

Conclusion

To live an eco-friendly lifestyle is to take care of the environment and do your part in making it a better place. By putting just some of these tips into practice, you can make your home more sustainable and healthier for those who come after you.