72 ways you can be more eco-friendly

Gen Y is well known for it’s environmental consciousness. 47% of Gen Y will pay more for green brands, and Gen Y takes notice of eco-friendly marketing. Here are 72 ways you can really make a difference to help the environment.

In the Home

Image from Kevin Dooley on Flickr

According to GreenYour, most people can live quite comfortably at a temperature of 78°F. Every degree the temperature is raised above 72 degrees, cooling costs drop by 3 percent and carbon dioxide emissions decrease by 121 pounds.

1. Raise the indoor temperature (during the summer)
2. Lower the indoor temperature (during the winter)
3. Unplug your cell phone charger during the day
4. Spend more time outside
5. Install energy efficient lighting
6. Open the windows to use natural light and air
7. Manage your finances online
8. Pay your bills online
9. Switch to an energy efficient water heater
10. Put caulking around your house for insulation
11. Recycle, reuse, retrofit, and restore old furniture
12. Invest in sustainable power like solar panels and solar wind
13. Use rechargeable batteries for appliances

In the Kitchen

Image from Pink Sherbet Photography on Flickr

Research at the University of Chicago shows that an average burger man (that is, not the outsize variety) emits the equivalent of 1.5 tonnes more CO2 every year than the standard vegan. By comparison, were you to trade in your conventional gas-guzzler for a state of the art Prius hybrid, your CO2 savings would amount to little more than one tonne per year.

1. Eat less meat
2. Unplug all appliances you don’t use often
3. Wait until the dishwasher is full before running it
4. Switch to energy saving appliances
5. Use recyclable paper products
6. Recycle as much paper and plastic as possible
7. Recycle all aluminum cans
8. Get a compost machine
9. Reduce water pressure in the sink
10. Turn off the water whenever it isn’t running
11. Use water and vinegar for everyday cleaning

In the Bathroom

1. Switch to low flow sinks, toilets, and showerheads
2. Take shorter showers
3. Buy eco-friendly beauty products
4. Add a one-gallon jug filled with sand to the toilet tank
5. Reduce water pressure in the shower
6. Use eco-friendly cleaning products like 7th Generation or Method
7. Let your hair dry naturally

In the Laundry Room

1. Get an energy efficient stackable washer and dryer
2. Use vinegar in the rinse cycle as a natural antibacterial and fabric softener
3. Dry clothes on lines when it’s nice outside
4. Avoid purchasing polyester clothing
5. Donate old clothes to charity

In the Office

Image from quapan on Flickr

According to Greenpeace, you can contribute to the Black Pixel Project by turning a small square on your computer black. You can then move the black square anywhere on the screen, where it will keep count of the energy you are saving (about 0.057 watts per hour). So far, 110,345 watts have been saved — the same as 1,003 color TVs or 1,226 fridges, turned off for an hour.

1. Print on both sides of the paper
2. Use printing mistakes as scrap paper
3. Recycle ink cartridges
4. Put your computer on standby every night
5. Go to virtual meetings via Skype, rather than driving to meet
6. Recycle any paper you don’t use
7. Purchase a paper shredder and recycle important documents
8. Switch to electronic billing for clients
9. Do as much as your work online as possible
10. Send packages with as little packaging as possible
11. Using websites with black pixels rather than white (it takes less energy)
12. Bring your lunch to work in reusable plastic containers instead of sandwich bags

In the Yard

Image from Dan4th on Flickr

One hour of mowing your lawn with a gas-powered mower produces as much pollution as driving your car for four hours, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

1. Plant vegetables in your garden
2. Landscape with native or draught-tolerant garden plants
3. Let your grass grow longer than usual
4. Water the lawn on alternate days
5. Water the lawn in the mornings or evenings
6. Plant more trees
7. Use the community pool rather than building one in your backyard

In the Garage

1. Ride your bike to work
2. Carpool to work
3. Drive slower
4. Keep your tires inflated
5. Avoid biofuels
6. Get a hybrid car
7. Get your car tuned up and inspected regularly
8. Dispose of batteries, antifreeze, paint, motor oil, or chemicals at a toxic disposal site

Outside the Home

Image from moriza on Flickr

Every newspaper represents emissions of a half pound of carbon dioxide, according to GreenInc. Marriott hotel instituted a new policy to reduce morning newspaper distribution by about 50,000 newspapers every day or by about 18 million newspapers every year. That would reduce carbon emissions by 10,350 tons each year.

1. Walk wherever you can
2. Use public transportation when possible
3. Shop local for clothing items
4. Rent or download music and media instead of purchasing CDs and DVDs
5. Attend your local farmer’s market (summer)
6. Use reusable shopping bags
7. Buy eco-friendly products when possible
8. Read newspapers and magazines online
9. Drink from reusable water bottles rather than plastic ones

What are some other ways you can be more eco-friendly?