It’s 2021. More than likely, you’ve at least thought about how you can do small things to live a more sustainable lifestyle and reduce your carbon footprint. And if you haven’t, that’s cool. But know that it’s easier than you probably realize, and there are simple sustainability tips that can help get you on the right track.
We’re going to outline just how easy it is to make a difference and reduce your carbon footprint with a few sustainable practices. Whether it’s reusing straws for your favorite margarita recipe, saying goodbye to plastic bags, or never again buying plastic cups for that same party, every little bit helps to reduce waste.
Trying to be 100% sustainable, 100% of the time is a recipe for burnout, which is why it typically works best to start small and work your way up. Let's take a look at some top sustainable living tips that are easy to implement and practice.
3 Sustainability Tips to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Sustainability Tip #1: BYOC: Bring Your Own Cup
Small sustainability practices can have big results when it is something done repeatedly. For example, if your day starts with coffee from your favorite café, we completely get it. But look into getting a reusable cup instead of using single-use ones every time. If you think about that and have roughly one cup a day for a year, you alone will keep at least 300 cups a year out of a landfill, producing less waste and improving your environmental footprint.
Sustainability Tip #2: Dinner, Hold the Utensils
Or if you love getting meals delivered to your home, check the box that lets the restaurant know you do not need plastic utensils. If there isn’t a box, just let them know in the instructions. Besides, those knives never cut anything anyways. This way the restaurant can save money and you can enjoy your favorite meal while reducing waste.
Sustainability Tip #3: Cut the Meat When You Can
Staying on the topic of food, another small step you can make is giving Meatless Mondays ago. The meat industry tends to be a big polluter when it comes to carbon emissions, so eating less meat is good for your health and our planet. This is your prime opportunity to venture into vegetarian/vegan cuisine. And who knows? If you love it, Meatless Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and weeks may soon follow. On the other side, though, if an entire day without meat seems way too daunting, we get that, too. Start small. Maybe just do one meal a day with meat—instead of all three. The beauty is that there’s not a wrong way to eat less meat and every time you do, you’re helping the planet save energy and reduce greenhouse gases.
These are just a few suggestions, so it's important you explore and find what sustainability practices work best for you. Whatever you decide, just know it’ll take time to get used to—as it does with any change in life. Don’t beat yourself up if you accidentally use a plastic fork or forget a reusable bag at the grocery store. We’re human. But being human also means we have a duty to keep Earth as healthy as we can while we’re on it. Sustainably is a long-term goal so it’s best to think of it as a marathon, not a sprint.
On your mark, get set, SUSTAIN!
Texas Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Lifestyle
Looking for more sustainability tips to help reduce your carbon footprint, conserve energy, and help your local community? At Rhythm, we're proud to offer 100% renewable energy plans to Texas residents who want to live a more sustainable life. Check out our electricity plans online to see what makes us different or get a quote online!
