First and foremost, what is an ecological footprint? It’s mainly the impact that an individual has on the environment and the world around them. If you want to be more efficient, you have to be less wasteful. In doing so, you will not just benefit yourself but the environment as well. Here are some things that you can do:
1. Turn off lights and unplug appliances when not in use. This sounds like a given, but it’s important. If an appliance is off but it’s plugged into an outlet, it will still use energy.
2. Start a compost pile. Things like banana peels will decompose and create more rich soil. Yay, inexpensive fertilizer :)
3. Print on both sides of paper. You’ll save paper. 50 sheets of double sided notes is a lot less than 100 pages of single sided notes.
4. Take shorter showers. By spending less time in the shower, you will save gallons of water.
5. Don’t throw away old clothes. Instead, donate them to others. There are plenty of charities that are willing to accept them and give them to those in need. c.HAIR.i.TEE® even upcycles this way!
6. Towel dry your hair instead of using a hair dryer. You’ll protect your hair from unneeded heat whilst saving energy.
7. Plant trees, flowers, and plants. Trees and plants absorb CO2 and produce oxygen. Not only will your backyard and front lawn be beautified, but you’ll be helping out the environment.
8. Learn what should be thrown away and what should be recycled. You could even print up a sheet from your township of recyclable items so you never put something in the wrong bin.
9. Volunteer! There are plenty of organizations that need some helping hands. You could clean up trash, ask family and friends to donate, or fight for preservation of land.
10. Use better, more natural products. The majority of cleaning products on the market today are filled with harsh chemicals. By switching to organic ingredients, you’re helping the environment and making your home a whole lot less dangerous.