A Few Ways to Live More Sustainably
Libertana values the health, safety, and well-being of our employees, clients, and community. We also do what we can to protect the earth. Zero-waste living can be an ideal goal for many of us, but with the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, some of us need ways we can casually reduce our waste and live more sustainably. With conservation and convenience in mind, here are some practical ways you can live more sustainably through your water use, clothing choices, and energy consumption.
1) Empowering Showering
Conserving water is one of the best ways to do our part to help the environment…particularly living in California, where persistent drought has become a common occurrence. Have you heard of greywater systems? Greywater systems can be installed to reuse water from various water sources in your home – the shower, sink, and washing machine all benefit from these systems that help water your plans and keep your gardens lush. Greywater is a great solution for long-term sustainability.
Don’t have the time or resources to install a greywater system? No problem! There’s another simple way to reuse your water waste daily: buckets! Many of us let our shower water heat up before we get in. This is the perfect opportunity to throw a couple buckets in the shower, catch the unused water, and use it to water your plants later!
Curious if you can save multiple gallons of water without greywater systems or buckets? By cutting your average shower time by just a few minutes, you can save a significant amount of water. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that standard showerheads spout 2.5 gallons of water per minute – when you “thoughtfully shower,” you can prevent excess wasted clean water without much hassle.
2) Fashion Faux Pas
Mindful shopping can prevent unnecessary waste and disincentivize unethical production processes that often occur in fast fashion companies. Second-hand shopping is also a great way to buy clothes that are brand new to you and give them another life!
Another method of clothing conservation is creating a capsule wardrobe, which focuses on intentional, minimalistic shopping.
A capsule wardrobe means buying a few practical pieces that can be reused in several different outfits, helping to limit over-purchasing and excess consumption. Those who use capsule wardrobes have even reported less stress and increased awareness of consumption habits.
3) Easing-down on Energy
Did you know that even when your devices are powered off, they still drain electricity? A simple way to reduce the electricity drain is to unplug products like toasters, blenders, and phone chargers when they’re not in use.
Conservation can be made easier with the right tools – one handy device is a power strip with an on/off switch. These strips help ease the burden of trying to remember to unplug every electrical device to limit unnecessary energy usage.
Every action counts! Let’s work together to minimize our carbon footprint one step at a time. To learn more about living sustainably, visit https://www.cdc.gov/sustainability/lifestyle/index.htm.