Eco-Efforts that YOU Can Do While Living With Parents
As a teen, you don’t often get to decide what brands your household buys, or what appliances you get. So, lots of people wait until they are out of the house to start living sustainably. But, there are some things you can do to live more sustainably NOW.
01
Unplug & Turn Off
Unplug anything when you’re not using it. Even when electronics are turned off, they are still drawing energy from the outlet. Not only will unplugging electronics help reduce your carbon footprint, but it can also help save some money on energy costs in your home.
02
Create a Compost Bin
Composting reduces the amount of food waste your family sends to the landfill. It also adds nutrients to the soil, benefitting organisms like earthworms that provide a vital role in the health of your garden.
03
Get LED Lights
Not only are these lights trendy but they also save energy! I read an article from Rocket Homes that energy-efficient light bulbs like LED’s use less energy and actually last longer than regular light bulbs.
04
Start a Vegetable Garden
Starting a vegetable garden is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint by reducing the amount of gas you use to get from your house to the grocery store and back. I’d suggest starting out with a very small garden with just a couple plants. As you learn the tricks of gardening you can add more!
05
Talk to Your Parents!
This may be the easiest tip I have, but it is also really important. Make sure to have a conversation with parents about how their shopping choices on appliances, furniture, supplies, and clothes impacts the environment. Small changes like switching the brand of glass cleaner you buy can make a difference!