How to Live a Greener Life

Co-authored by Bekah Rife

Last Updated: June 24, 2024 Fact Checked

As awareness of the civilization’s impact on the environment increases, people are becoming more willing than ever before, to accept clean lifestyles. But some people aren’t totally sure where to begin.

One doesn’t have to start out with leaps and bounds. It would be great to install a full solar system on your home, or switch to a hybrid car. But, while large steps require planning and financing, smaller steps can be taken right away.

In many cases, your choices will depend upon various factors: where you live, the natural resources available to you, your lifestyle, and others. Also, living greener means different things, like emitting less carbon, saving water or maintaining biodiversity. Therefore there is probably no “one-size-fits-all” solution to going green (or at least, greener).

But there are plenty of things you can do to live a greener life, through your day-to-day activities, and most of these apply to just about anyone.

Steps

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Have fewer children. You can have the biggest, positive impact on the environment by having fewer children. Sadly, there is no way around this. Because no matter how green we are living, we all have to live somewhere, eat, move around and wear clothes. All these activities have an impact on the planet. And having a child simply means that one extra person will have an impact doing all these things for a whole life.
The most effective way to cut down on your carbon emissions is to conserve on energy in your home. Install energy-efficient light bulbs, turn lights off when they aren’t in use, make sure your walls and floors are properly insulated and windows are fully sealed, and keep your energy consumption to a minimum. You will save energy and money at the same time.^{[1]
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Every drop of tap water you use consumes energy. Remember, it needs to be transported, filtered, and purified (even before it reaches your tap). It might just be water, but a lot of fossil fuel is consumed in processing it. In some places, water itself is scarce. You can turn the tap off while brushing your teeth, switch to more efficient washers and dryers, and collect rainwater for use in your garden.^{[2]
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If a hybrid car is not an option at the moment, you can take other steps; walking or biking to work, or whenever you have to travel a short distance. If your work place is too far for a daily bicycle commute, consider using mass transit. You can carpool with a friend or coworker if that works. For long trips, consider the fuel efficiency of your different options.^{[3]
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Eating is one thing everyone has in common, everywhere in the world. But did you know that eating the type of food can make an impact in the environment? Agriculture has a big impact on our planet (carbon, water and biodiversity). Also, the food industry contributes substantial carbon emissions in the process of shipping their products around the world. One particular group of foods has the biggest impact on the planet: animal products. Livestock emits more carbon, pollutes and uses more water and reduces biodiversity more than non-animal food production. When you eat plant-based, seasonal, local, and organic food, you help to conserve the environment – as well as improve your own health.^{[4]
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Instead of buying brand new wooden furniture for your home, you can search for good used furniture online. You can even visit garage sales, where you might find exactly what you need. Think before making a purchase, no matter how big or small it is. Buying grocery items in bulk can save money and conserve on energy and packing materials. Also, be sure to buy high-quality products that will last for a long time and not just wind up in a landfill a year from now. Whenever possible, buy products that have a fair trade label. That means that people were paid fairly for their work and usually ensures environmental care as well. Shopping online is another good way to conserve on fuel. When you receive a purchase through the mail, the amount of fuel used to ship that purchase is nowhere near the amount of fuel you would have used to drive to a store and buy it offline. Furthermore, you can also save a considerable amount of time and money by shopping online, and many online stores offer free shipping.^{[5]
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EXPERT TIP

Alena Le Blanc
Personal Stylist
Alena Le Blanc is the Personal Stylist and the Founder of Le Blanc Label. Based in San Francisco, California, Le Blanc Label is the leading personal stylist brand for sustainable style transformations. Alena and her team specialize in seasonal wardrobe refreshes, closet edits, styling for special events, travel, photoshoots, and general personal needs. Alena has been featured in podcasts including EMPOWERED BY WMN, I Am Fearless, and Mind Power Meets Mystic. Alena received her BFA in Fashion and Apparel Design from the Academy of Art University.

Alena Le Blanc
Personal Stylist

Invest in well-made garments that are eco-friendly. Look for natural, sustainable fabrics like organic cotton or recycled synthetics. Look for durable denim with a high cotton content (around 98-99%). Prioritize quality over quantity to extend your closet's lifespan and reduce your environmental footprint.
Years ago, many considered waste management to be the main environmental issue of concern. As long as one reduced, recycled, and reused, one was a friend of the environment. Things are not that simple these days, but waste conservation is still a big part of living green. It takes a lot of energy to process and dispose of waste, whether it’s recycled or dumped in a landfill. So conserving on waste is important, even if you do recycle. You should also compost your biodegradable waste materials.^{[6]
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Your choice of clothing can make a considerable impact on the environment. One of the most heavily sprayed crops across the globe is cotton. Chemicals which are used as insecticides harm the environment, and harm people’s health. Fortunately, there are other alternative fabrics available in the market; such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and flax. Try to find and purchase clothing that uses these natural and nontoxic materials. Wearing such clothing is also better for your health.
If you look carefully at many of the products you use every day, such as cleaning and personal care products, you might be quite surprised at the harmful chemicals they are made from. Use products made from natural and nontoxic ingredients. They aren’t hard to find – even Amazon has an entire section dedicated to green products. And what's more, by shopping at Amazon you can find nontoxic and environmentally friendly products more easily, while also saving money and conserving resources by doing your shopping online.
You should read up on the subject of environmentalism, and how your personal carbon footprint can affect global pollution levels. There are plenty of resources available online, and you can visit your local library for books on related topics.
You can increase your happiness and it doesn't have to cost the earth. This is called sustainable happiness.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do I make a cake vegan?

Bekah Rife
Certified Plant-Based Chef
Bekah Rife is a Certified Plant-Based Chef based in Los Angeles, California. Bekah has over eight years of professional experience and studied plant-based cooking in culinary school. Currently, she specializes in diet consulting and recipe development. She also offers cooking lessons and catering services.

Bekah Rife

Certified Plant-Based Chef

Expert Answer

There are numerous fantastic cake recipes available online, but often, when you're opting for a vegan version, you'll find the need to replace eggs, and one common substitute is the flax egg in the plant-based culinary realm. It's quite straightforward: you simply acquire milled or crushed flaxseed from the store (not in its whole form), creating a powder-like substance. The ratio is one tablespoon of flax meal to three tablespoons of water. Allow this mixture to sit on your counter, and the flax will take on a gelatinous texture, acting as a binder akin to traditional eggs in recipes.

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How is shopping online going to make your life greener when transporting items increases carbon in the atmosphere?

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Shopping online can help you shop exclusively for eco-friendly items. But if transport is the issue, shopping locally might be a better idea for you.

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Does greener eating mean healthier eating?

Donagan

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"Green" and "healthy" can be related to each other, but "greener" with regard to eating really means causing less damage to the environment and consuming fewer natural resources during the production of food.

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