6 Green Living Principles Every Household Should Learn
By: Guest
Contributor, Jonathan James More
Sometimes, you are
presented with too many ideas on how to maintain sustainability in your living
space and are unsure which ones are the most effective. The challenge is to put
those concepts together and come up with the best game plan for a greener
living.
Here are 6 green living
principles your household should learn and live by.
1. Your
Electricity Bill Tells a Lot
You can start at home. Try
to consume less energy and you’ll realize that it will not only benefit the
environment, but it would also yield higher savings for your family. Use
natural sunlight rather than electricity during the day. Sunlight is a great
source of vitamin D and can boost your mood.
Obesity rate among
children ages 2-5 decreased 43% in the past 10 years, based on a report from
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February 2014. This means that
healthier habits are being practiced by more Americans. Do your part by
preparing healthy and delicious organic food that your kids would like. As much
as possible, have a good estimate of the food you will prepare for your family
to avoid throwing away leftovers.
3. Make Play Time
More Fun
Aside from preparing
healthier meals on the table, you should also be concerned about your kids’
physical and mental development. Being active in the playground allows children to run around freely
with other kids. Having fun playground time is one great trick that can prevent
your children from watching too much TV, or playing too often using electronic
gadgets, or spending too much time in front of the computer.
Allow them to
exercise at the playground with other kids in your community to make play time
more enjoyable for them. Look for commercial playground equipment that would
not only address their playground fitness, but also develop their cognitive and
social skills.
4. Reduce Waste
Do your share by
purchasing items in bulk to reduce the amount of packaging. Buying reusable
items rather than disposable single-use products can also help in avoiding
waste. And when doing the groceries, bring tote bags to avoid the use of
plastic bags.
5. Transform
Waste into Treasure
Look for second-hand
furniture or previously-owned home pieces that are useful and in great
condition. If there are unused toys or old clothes that do not fit anymore,
hand them down to other people in need. Donating them to the less fortunate is
better than just throwing them away. Glass and plastic bottles are good for
decorating the house. Use your creativity and give the house a makeover.
6. Grow Greens
If you have a spacious
backyard, consider growing various vegetables in it. This can be a source of
food available for your household, so you don’t need to buy them when you do
your grocery shopping. If you do not have a yard where you can plant a fruit tree,
you can still create a small herb garden. Grow them in a pot and place it on
the front porch or windowsill. It’ll be a fun learning experience for the kids
to watch the plants grow as well.
Jonathan James More
is a medical writer. Connect with him via @JJMore022.
