Exercising more, eating better, and saving money are common New Year’s resolutions. While these are great goals, another resolution to consider is living greener. Drastic changes in weather, rising ocean temperatures, and melting ice caps are all signs that Mother Earth is pleading for some TLC. While you may feel like your efforts are insignificant, any commitment to do better for the environment can make a difference.
So what does living green look like? Recycling, taking public transportation, and reducing paper usage are all changes you can start making today. But if you want to ramp up your eco-friendly resolutions, there are larger initiatives to consider. Outlined below are long-term resolutions to spark your sustainability living practices in 2024.
1. Install Solar Panels
Are you tired of seeing your electricity bills increase month to month? Well, solar power may be the solution for your wallet, and it’s definitely a better choice for the environment. Solar technology works by taking the sun’s energy and converting it into electricity. This power can be used to run any electric device, from light fixtures to appliances to baseboard heaters. Since solar power burns no fossil fuels, it plays a role in reducing greenhouse gasses, therefore lessening climate change.
Solar installation used to be an expensive investment. The up-front cost alone deterred many households from making the switch to this clean energy source. Solar leases, however, have made this technology available to the wider population. Better yet, you can start saving money on your energy bills almost immediately after solar installation.
To see whether your home is suited to solar panels, you’ll need an expert to assess your home and determine how many panels are needed. The number depends on the size of your house as well as how much shade you have and when the sun hits your roof. Based on where you live, you may need to obtain some permits before the installation can begin. After these details are taken care of and the panels are installed, you’ll feel a bit greener every time you turn on the lights.
2. Reduce Single-Use Plastic
Single-use plastics are meant to be disposed of after immediate use — it’s right there in the name. You’re likely not hanging onto your iced coffee straw, for instance, or looking to reuse the plastic tub your spinach comes in. These plastics are convenient, but they are devastating to our environment. Single-use plastics are contributing to the global environmental crisis, as they take hundreds of years to break down. While decomposing, they release dangerous chemicals into the environment, endangering wildlife and polluting our oceans.
While it’s nearly impossible to eliminate all single-use plastic, there are ways to reduce your use. Buy a reusable water bottle and fill it up instead of grabbing a plastic one while you’re out. This change alone can help reduce the 15.9 billion gallons of bottled water that were sold in the U.S. in 2022. At home, using glass containers for food storage instead of plastic baggies or cling wrap can also help. Purchasing reusable silicone storage bags for your and your kid’s lunches is another environmentally friendly tactic.
When it comes to your beauty products, look for brands that are committed to being green. Many skincare and makeup companies are now utilizing refillable packaging. Being mindful of when and how you’re using single-use plastics is a step in the eco-conscious direction.
3. Prevent Food Waste at Home
According to Feeding America, 80 million tons of food is wasted in the U.S. every year. This staggering number is equivalent to 149 billion meals. Throwing out food is a waste of your money; it’s also a waste of the energy and resources it takes to get that food to your table. Plus, when food goes to rot in a landfill, it produces an odorless but flammable gas called methane that contributes to climate change.
Preventing food waste takes some preparations on your end, but it’s well worth the effort. Before you go grocery shopping, make a list of what you actually need. Are there items in your fridge that you need to use up before buying more? Could you take all the veggie odds and ends and make a broth or soup out of them? Going to the store with a plan will help you save money and avoid overbuying items that you may not eat in time.
It can also be beneficial to spend an afternoon meal prepping. Put on a podcast or a great playlist and start chopping your vegetables or cooking batches of plant- or animal-based proteins. Having already prepped and cooked ingredients will make it easier to throw together a meal when you might otherwise order takeout. And when you have leftovers, be sure to store them properly so you can eat them the next day. Food that has gone bad and needs to be tossed only contributes to the food waste problem.
Green Living Takeaways
Living sustainability doesn’t need to completely disrupt your life. Simple changes to your routine can make a positive impact. Rather than going 100% plastic-free, focus on reducing plastic usage in one part of your life — and then seek others. As you begin to make more environmentally friendly swaps, you’ll feel motivated to continue down this green path.