This year, Earth Day is on April 22 and leans into the catchphrase, "Our Power, Our Planet." The ethos: Every action counts, including simple sustainable habits you can nurture in your home to reduce plastic waste, save energy, and use water more mindfully.
Small habits really do lead to sustainable impact, and these Earth Day activities could even save you and your household money.
Earth Day Tips at Home: 10 Sustainable Habits
Each of these eco-friendly habits is simple to start, and implementing even a few of them will have a positive effect on your local and wider environment. See which Earth Day tips you can implement today.
1. Plan Your Meals
Winging it every night might seem the easiest way to cook for you and your family. But the fact is that without a plan, you'll waste both food and money. The United States wastes more food than any other country in the world: around 120 billion pounds per year.
Planning meals, buying only the ingredients you need, and storing food correctly so it doesn't perish are all ways you can lower that number.
2. Switch It Off
Done using something electrical? Switch it off to save electricity. Leaving appliances on or in standby mode uses significantly more energy than turning them off completely. Saving power reduces your carbon footprint, contributing positively to the environment.
You can also check if devices have power-saving modes. For example, many smartphones have a battery saver mode, which, when used, means you don't have to charge them as often.
3. Shop Mindfully
Where your products come from can have a big environmental impact. Shopping locally is one way you can make a positive impact:
- It supports local businesses
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Goods don't have to travel as far, reducing their environmental impact
- The packaging cost may be lower than goods that come via air freight
You can also become a more mindful shopper by taking reusable bags to the store with you, and sticking strictly to your grocery list is another way to help reduce wasted food.
4. Recycle Where Possible
Splitting trash into recyclables and non-recyclables can seem time-consuming, but it's a regular habit that makes a big impact. Recycling slows the drain on natural resources by repurposing materials over and over. Plastics, glass, metals, and paper should all be easily recyclable in your local area.
If there's no local curbside recycling pickup, use an online locator to find your nearest recycling center. Many of them take batteries, electronics, and household waste. Simply tossing batteries into your standard trash is harmful to the environment because batteries leak dangerous chemicals that eventually end up in the soil and groundwater. Proper recycling prevents this from happening.
5. Start Composting
Much of the trash that can't be recycled can be composted. Composting is the process of breaking down organic materials into nutrient-rich compost, which is ideal for using in the garden. Plus, it diverts waste away from landfills, reducing harmful greenhouse gases.
If you have an outdoor space, consider investing in a compost bin. Save your veggie peelings and non-meat food waste to place in the composter, and soon you'll have natural fertilizer to make your garden blossom.
6. Say Goodbye to Single-Use Water Bottles
Stop buying bottled water where possible. The waste from single-use plastic water bottles is problematic for several reasons. These bottles take years to break down in landfill sites, and when they do, they contribute to the increasing volume of microplastics in the environment.
Invest in reusable bottles that are durable and easy to clean, and consider integrating water filtration solutions to improve your overall water quality and safety, as well as the taste of your tap water.
7. Create a Refill Station
Support your better water habits by creating a refill station that the whole family can access. Free-standing water coolers are one way to achieve this. Have one in the kitchen or hallway, with everyone's reusable bottles cleaned and stored nearby. Implementing refill stations in office settings can reduce plastic bottle use in the workplace and encourage sustainable habits throughout the day.
8. Keep Cold Water Accessible
Refreshing cool water is the most satisfying way to hydrate, which is why so many people still reach for the single-use water bottle when they're thirsty. You can support better habits by making water more accessible. Consider countertop water coolers and dispensers. They fit into even the smallest space, meaning everyone can do their part to cut down on plastic waste.
9. Maintain Appliances and Pipes
Appliances that use water, like your washing machine or dishwasher, will gradually become less efficient without regular cleaning and maintenance. Inefficient machines use more energy and water and can break down.
Learn how to do simple tasks like cleaning the washing machine filter or running a drum clean cycle. Whole-house water filtration systems can help here. Cleaner water means pipes and appliances are better protected from the potentially damaging effects of contaminants.
10. Repair Before You Replace
Replacing a faulty appliance is expensive and contributes to the escalating use of natural resources. Plus, there's the carbon footprint associated with ordering and shipping a heavy device. Repairing a household appliance is usually less costly than replacing it, and in most cases, much better for the environment.
Why Water Matters This Earth Day - And Beyond
How you use and consume water can make a huge difference for your environmental impact. By switching to filtered water at home, you can reduce plastic waste and minimize your carbon footprint.
This year's Earth Day focuses on environmental progress, with safe water cited as essential for everyone. Small changes, from ditching the plastic bottles to updating your filtration systems, can help ensure that you're making water safer, cleaner, and tastier for the people that are important to you.
Build your refill-first home setup: Explore Brio's full range of eco-supportive water filtration solutions and take your sustainable habits beyond Earth Day.
