These days many people are searching for ways to live a more eco-friendly life. And with climate catastrophe on the horizon, the need to do so now is greater than ever. But what eco-friendly means varies from person to person.
Being eco-friendly could mean engaging in more small endeavors like picking up trash from time to time. Or it could mean entirely overhauling your energy system with the goal of limiting your carbon emissions. Building your eco-friendly life is all about finding what works for you and the environment and committing to it. Read on to learn about four ways you can live a more eco-friendly life today.
1. Practice Safe Sex
That’s right, safe sex isn’t only, well, safe — it’s also more environmentally friendly! Or, at least, it can be. You see, though getting down to it is fun, it also tends to use a lot of plastic. In particular, condoms are single-use plastics that don’t deteriorate easily, posing a threat to the environment. Thankfully there are a couple of good alternatives to consider.
The first is to use biodegradable condoms instead of regular condoms. These kinds of condoms are made of less synthetic material, so they deteriorate when exposed to the elements over time. This way you can still enjoy your time between the sheets without sacrificing your safety. By using a biodegradable condom your safe sex can also be guilt-free.
Alternatively, use other forms of birth control instead of condoms. Birth control pills like Sprintec enable you to forgo condoms entirely, at least for concerns of pregnancy. This way you kill two birds with one stone: you save on plastic and don’t have to worry about accidental pregnancy. It’s a win-win-win for you, your partner, and the environment.
2. Leverage Alternative Energy Sources
The good news? Humans learned to create electricity and thereby improve the quality of life for the majority of the species. The bad news? Most of that electricity is generated by using coal, oil, and other pollutants. The best news: these days there are accessible alternatives to toxic power.
Which renewables you can leverage depends on your individual circumstances. But there’s a good chance you can take advantage of solar panels. Solar installations on your roof are great because it can meet 100% of your energy needs. This is especially true if you couple your panels with a battery. That way you can still have solar-generated power rain or shine.
Wind, water, and geothermal are all great sources of clean energy as well. However, they’re usually too expensive and involved to justify a home installation. That said, talk to your local government about your town’s energy consumption. Vote to change to renewables when possible to lessen not only your own but your town’s environmental impact.
3. Take Action Against Trash
Living a more eco-friendly life isn’t just about reducing waste and fossil fuel consumption. It’s also about undoing the damage that’s already been done. Just go outside to look for trash and other junk littered about. It will probably only take you a matter of minutes before you see some. You may even feel dismayed at how easy it is to find and how much there is.
Well, don’t just let that trash sit there and poison the rivers, trees, and animals — pick it up! Schedule time regularly into your day, week, or month to go out and pick up trash. Keep a trash bag with you when you go for a walk so you can pick some up spontaneously. And while you’re at it, take photos of your work. You may be shocked to see the difference between before and after.
While helping the environment can be as simple as picking up trash, that work can get laborious. So don’t do it alone! Look for clean-up groups in your area that you can collaborate with. Or, if there aren’t any already, start your own! Many hands make light work, after all.
4. Embrace the Staycation
Taking a vacation is one of life’s pleasures, but it’s not necessarily great for the Earth. Traveling, especially by plane, uses a ton of carbon. If driving a car is bad because of its emissions, flying by plane is even more so. So, think of some other ways to spend your vacation instead of traveling.
Many people with an eco-mindset embrace the staycation instead of the vacation. As the name suggests, a staycation involves, well, staying in your area. Note that in your area doesn’t necessarily mean “at home.” A staycation isn’t about depriving yourself of fun or relaxation. It’s about enjoying your vacation to the fullest knowing that doing so doesn’t come at the cost of the climate.
To make the most of your staycation, plan for it like you would a regular vacation. Schedule your days with fun and interesting activities, whether at home or around town. The staycation can be the perfect way to reinvigorate your feelings about your local area. Take a cooking class, go on a new hike, or spend time with friends you haven’t seen in a while. There are numerous ways to make the most of your staycation for your own sake and the planet’s.
Get Creative
It’s easy to see living a more eco-friendly life as more difficult or laborious. And it’s true that it can be. But being eco-friendly is a creative and compassionate endeavor at its core. It gives you opportunities to live life in a different way that often asks for new, creative solutions to old problems. The best part is that your efforts are worth it because every little bit helps.
Members of the editorial and news staff of First For Women were not involved in the creation of this content.
