Going Green: 52 Easy & Inexpensive Ways to Green Up Your Life

Green is the colour of most plant life on Earth. It is synonymous with the environment and its health. However, pollution and overconsumption have taken their toll on our green world.

Humans are the culprits of this degradation, so it is up to us to turn things around. For this reason, learning about going green and living a green lifestyle is incredibly important for us and the planet.

What Does Going Green Mean?

A green lifestyle strives to preserve rather than consume nature's resources. Going green means living in a way that protects the environment and encourages it to regenerate and thrive.

It may seem like we have already done too much damage to make a difference, but that isn’t true. When left alone, nature has the power to heal itself. So, let’s give nature a helping hand.

There are many effective ways of going green. Need some ideas? Here are 52 easy and inexpensive ways to green up your life, protect the environment and reduce your carbon footprint.

Tips for Going Green in Your Kitchen

01. Buy from Local Farmers' Markets

Buying from local farmers' markets reduces the need for long-distance transportation—less fuel for transporting produce results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions and less air pollution.

Going green and buying locally also reduces the need for excessive packaging. You can buy produce loose or in reusable containers, reducing waste that clogs landfills or pollutes our oceans.

02. Avoid Food Waste by Meal Planning

Meal planning has always been a popular way to save time and money. However, it is also an essential part of going green. A meal planning habit can reduce food waste and minimise your carbon footprint.

Almost one-third of our food goes to waste. When you meal plan, you're more likely to use ingredients before they go bad, which means fewer trips to the grocery store and less food in landfills.

03. Take a Packed Lunch to Work

Take a packed lunch to work instead of buying takeaway food and tossing disposable containers in the bin. You can significantly reduce your plastic use, reduce food waste and save money.

Using less disposable plastic containers will help conserve natural resources such as oil and water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It’s an easy and inexpensive way of going green.

04. Reduce Paper Towel Usage

The production, distribution and disposal of paper towels have a significant impact on the environment. Paper products account for around 25% of the total waste found in landfills.

One way to reduce this waste is by using cloth towels that can be washed and reused instead of paper towels. Alternatively, some companies are going green by offering recycled and compostable products.

05. Avoid Paper Plates

Paper plates are a convenient option for many people, especially during events where washing dishes can be time-consuming. However, the environmental impact of this practice is significant.

Conserve paper by avoiding disposable paper plates and using regular ceramic plates instead. You can help the environment by reducing paper waste in landfills and preventing deforestation.

06. Use Reusable Waxed Wraps

Reusable wraps are an excellent alternative to single-use cling films. These eco-friendly wraps help reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions, essential goals for going green.

Try switching your cling film for a reusable candelilla wax or beeswax wrap. You can minimise your environmental footprint while still enjoying convenient food storage solutions.

Tips for Going Green in Your Bathroom

07. Turn Off the Tap When Brushing Your Teeth

You may sometimes leave the water running while you are brushing your teeth. You are not alone. Unfortunately, this results in thousands of litres of clean drinking water going straight down the drain.

A simple but powerful way of going green is to turn off the water until you need to rinse. Reducing water usage also lowers the energy required to treat and pump water from its source to your home.

08. Buy a Bamboo Toothbrush

Dentists recommend changing your toothbrush every three months. You could save significant plastic over your lifetime by going green and switching to a bamboo toothbrush.

Most bamboo toothbrushes have non-biodegradable nylon bristles; however, you can compost the handle once removed. There are also some plant-based bristles now on the market.

09. Take Quicker Showers

Sure, the shower is a great place to ponder your existence, but you waste a lot of water while lost in thought. Going green means taking quicker showers to reduce water consumption and conserve this precious resource.

Besides conserving water, quick showers also help reduce energy consumption by reducing the amount of hot water you use. Less hot water leads to lower energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint.

10. Ditch Single-Use Plastic Cotton Buds

Billions of plastic cotton buds end up in our oceans and litter beaches worldwide. They are on the WWF’s “10 worst single-use plastics list”. Going green means ditching single-use plastic cotton buds for a more sustainable alternative.

Try bamboo or sugarcane cotton buds, as they are renewable, biodegradable and compostable. Once you have used them, you can throw them straight into your compost bin.

11. Fix Dripping Taps and Shower Heads

Fixing dripping taps may not seem important, but it can have a significant impact. Dripping taps and shower heads waste water and contribute to unnecessary water usage.

By fixing dripping taps, you are going green, conserving water resources and reducing your ecological footprint. It also helps reduce energy consumption associated with heating and pumping water.

12. Switch to Shampoo Bars and Conditioners

Switching from bottled shampoo and conditioner to a solid bar is an easy way of going green. Using a shampoo and conditioner bar can save the equivalent of 8 plastic bottles from ever being made.

It may take a while to get used to these bars, but you will find a brand you like after some trial and error. Besides reducing your plastic use, you will also help save water and fuel.

13. Change your Deodorant to a Solid Bar or Paste

Another simple way of going green is to change your roll-on deodorant for a natural solid bar or paste. Pick solid deodorant bars in biodegradable, compostable packaging or deodorant pastes in recyclable tins.

Also, natural deodorants don’t contain potentially harmful ingredients like aluminium, parabens, and phthalates. However, watch out for sodium bicarbonate, which can cause skin irritation in some people.

Tips for Going Green in Your Laundry

14. Use a Clothesline

Using a clothesline eliminates the need to use an energy-intensive clothes dryer. Electric clothes dryers consume significant amounts of energy, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

By hanging your clothes on a clothesline to dry, you can reduce the energy consumed by your household, reducing your carbon footprint. It’s an easy and inexpensive way of going green.

15. Wash Clothes in Cold Water

Washing clothes in cold water has benefits beyond saving you money on electricity bills. Heating water uses significant amounts of energy and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Another benefit of washing clothes in cold water is that it helps to preserve fabrics and colours. High temperatures can cause damage to clothing fibres, leading them to fray or fade prematurely.

16. Use Natural Cleaning Products

Natural cleaning products have become increasingly popular, and for good reason. Traditional household cleaners often include harsh chemicals that can harm humans and the environment.

Going green means using ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and essential oils instead of harsh chemicals. By doing so, you not only protect yourself but also keep these dangerous toxins out of our water supply.

17. Switch to Concentrated Products

Try switching your standard laundry detergent or liquid for a concentrated product. It is an easy and effective way of going green. You can also switch your washing-up liquid for a concentrated version.

Concentrated products use less packaging. They also take up less space when transported than their non-concentrated counterparts, reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

Tips for Going Green in Your Garden

18. Plant a Tree

Planting a tree is one of the best ways to go green. Trees produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide and other harmful gases from the air. Trees also create ecosystems that provide habitats and food for animals and insects.

If there were more trees in the world, it would make a serious dent in the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. If each person planted just one tree, we would collectively make an enormous difference.

19. Water Your Plants in the Evening

Watering your plants in the evening can also reduce your water consumption. Temperatures are higher during the day, causing water to evaporate before it can nourish your plants.

Nighttime irrigation also helps reduce water runoff. Gardeners run a higher risk of water flowing into walkways and other areas during daylight hours rather than irrigating the soil.

20. Start Composting

Composting is an essential part of going green. Composting prevents food waste from ending up in landfills, where it can take many years to break down despite being biodegradable.

Instead of throwing food away, put your organic waste into the ground. The environmental benefits include improved soil health and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

21. Raise Chickens

Raising chickens can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing an alternative source of protein to cows or pigs. The production process for beef or pork generates significantly more greenhouse gases.

Chickens will also eat almost anything you give them, including kitchen scraps and leftovers. By feeding these items to your chickens, you'll go green by reducing the amount of organic waste in landfills.

22. Grow Your Own Food

Go one step further than buying locally grown food by growing your own! Growing your own food is another excellent way of going green. It has many benefits for your health and the environment.

For one, it means less fuel consumption and pollution from transport. You can also compost kitchen scraps and yard waste instead of sending them to landfills, where they contribute to methane emissions.

23. Convert Your Lawn to Food Production

Converting your lawn to food production reduces water consumption. Lawns require regular watering to maintain their pristine green appearance. However, once established, you can water crops less frequently.

Going green and switching from a lawn to a vegetable garden also has ecological benefits. Food crops support more biodiversity as they provide habitats for beneficial insects.

24. Get a Rain Barrel or Tank

Use rain barrels to collect rainwater from your downspouts. They provide an alternative water source for gardening and other outdoor watering needs. Using rainwater helps to conserve our freshwater resources.

Collecting rainwater in a barrel or tank also helps reduce stormwater runoff. During heavy rainfall, water runs off surfaces such as roofs and pavements into streams and rivers, carrying pollutants.

Tips for Going Green in Your Home

25. Adjust the Thermostat

There are several environmental benefits to adjusting your thermostat. These include reducing energy consumption, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, and conserving natural resources. It’s an easy way of going green.

Lowering your thermostat by 1 degree in winter and raising your air conditioning by 1 degree in summer can yield significant energy savings. Installing a programmable thermostat could save you hundreds of dollars a year.

26. Turn Off the Lights When Not in Use

Conserve energy and reduce your electricity bill by turning off the lights when you are not in a room. Make a habit of flipping the switch each time you exit a room until it becomes second nature.

Turning off the lights will help reduce your carbon footprint. When you leave lights on unnecessarily, you are contributing to energy consumption. This results in higher greenhouse gas emissions.

27. Turn Off Electrical Appliances When Not in Use

Turning off electrical appliances is another easy and inexpensive way to reduce your environmental impact. When you leave appliances plugged in, they still use standby power.

Reduce energy consumption by unplugging electronics and other household devices after each use. This simple practice will not only lower your carbon footprint but also your energy bills.

28. Switch to Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

Traditional incandescent bulbs are highly inefficient, with most of their energy disappearing as heat. Energy-efficient LED bulbs consume up to 80% less power than conventional bulbs.

Switching out just one 60-watt bulb for an LED equivalent can prevent approximately half a tonne of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. This reduction in carbon emissions is equivalent to planting ten trees every year.

Tips for Going Green in Everyday Life

29. Downsize Your Lifestyle

Save money and resources by downsizing. Simplify your lifestyle and lower your consumption in the process. You can reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier planet.

Reducing consumption is a key strategy for going green as it minimises your impact on the environment. By consuming fewer resources, you can reduce waste and preserve natural habitats and ecosystems.

30. Don’t Buy Bottled Water

Plastic bottles take hundreds of years to decompose, harming wildlife and polluting our waters. Decrease plastic waste and safeguard ecosystems by going green with refillable bottles.

Another benefit of not buying bottled water is conserving resources. It takes an enormous amount of resources to produce and transport millions of plastic bottles every day around the world.

31. Learn to Sew

Learning to sew is a fantastic way of going green. By making or repairing your clothes or repurposing old fabrics into new garments, you can reduce the demand for fast fashion.

Instead of buying a new item every time something tears, you can simply mend it yourself. Mending saves money and reduces the amount of textile waste that goes to landfills.

32. Donate to Green Organisations

Donating to green organisations is a small yet significant way of going green. Your support of these organisations helps protect the environment and promotes sustainability.

Donations help nonprofit organisations do great things in the world. Set aside money each month to help the world become greener. Find organisations by searching online or exploring your city or town!

Tips for Going Green With Your Transport

33. Carpool to School or Work

Traditional cars run on petrol and diesel. The exhaust fumes from these fuels contain greenhouse gases and contribute to climate change. Reducing the number of vehicles on the road reduces the pollutants in the air.

An easy way of going green is to carpool. By carpooling to school or work, you still get door-to-door transportation while decreasing your carbon footprint. It is also a great way to save money.

34. Walk to Your Destination

When you can, walk to your destination. Walking reduces the use of non-renewable energy resources like oil and gas. These resources are finite and contribute significantly to climate change.

By walking instead of driving, you help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. It’s an easy way of going green, cutting down your carbon footprint and getting some exercise.

35. Bike to Your Destination

Is your work or school within biking distance? Leaving your car at home and riding to your destination is another fantastic way of going green. Biking is an ideal choice for shorter commutes.

The most significant advantage of biking is that bikes don't emit harmful gases into the atmosphere, unlike cars or buses that run on fossil fuels. You will contribute to cleaner air and a healthier planet.

Tips for Going Green With Your Waste

36. Recycle Your Plastics, Papers and Metals

Tried and true, recycling is essential to going green; it helps you and the environment. Instead of throwing away your plastics, papers, and metals, recycle them so they can be reused.

This simple act has many benefits. Recycling conserves natural resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and saves energy. It also reduces the amount of waste in landfills.

37. Sort and Prepare Your Recycling Properly

It is important to sort your recycling carefully. The whole batch can become unusable if contaminated, and your efforts will be in vain. Going green involves taking the time to check what is recyclable so you can avoid this from occurring.

Another mistake is to put all your recycling into a plastic bag. Staff at recycling facilities do not have the time to unpack them for you. Therefore, your plastic bag and its contents will likely go to a landfill.

38. Recycle Your E-Waste

E-waste is electronic equipment that has reached the end of its useful life. It contains a range of hazardous materials that threaten the environment. Managing this waste is an essential part of going green.

By recycling e-waste, you can prevent these harmful substances from polluting our soil, waterways, and air. Recycling e-waste also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, minimises the need for raw materials and keeps waste out of landfills.

39. Dispose of Your Hazardous Waste Carefully

Some domestic items are recyclable but contain hazardous chemicals or heavy metals. These items include car and household batteries, motor oil and paint. Going green means disposing of dangerous waste carefully.

Your local council and some retailers will often accept batteries and motor oil for recycling. You can also usually recycle paint tins kerbside if they are clean and dry. Otherwise, search online for a recycler, such as paintback.com.au.

Tips for Going Green When Shopping

40. Buy Products from a Bulk Store

One simple yet highly effective way of going green is to shop at a bulk store. Bulk stores reduce waste, making them an ideal choice for anyone looking to impact the planet positively.

Instead of buying products in individual packages or containers, you can bring reusable bags and containers. You can purchase what you need without contributing to unnecessary packaging waste.

41. Use a Reusable Shopping Bag

Take a reusable bag when shopping for groceries, clothes, or whatever else. The benefits of using reusable bags range from reducing waste to conserving natural resources.

Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose and can cause significant harm to wildlife. Going green and switching to reusable bags can reduce the amount of plastic, ultimately ending up in landfills or oceans.

42. Take a Reusable Coffee Cup With You

Coffee drinkers discard millions of disposable cups every year, contributing to waste in landfills and oceans. By choosing a reusable coffee cup, you actively participate in reducing this waste.

Many cafes now offer discounts for customers who bring their own cups, providing an added financial incentive to embrace this eco-friendly habit. It’s a “win-win” for you and the environment.

43. Shop Second-Hand

Save money and promote recycling by visiting second-hand stores. The clothes and goods are cheap but perfectly usable. You can also donate your old clothes and other items to thrift stores.

The production of textiles and furniture requires large amounts of energy, water and other resources. When you shop second-hand, you are conserving these valuable resources.

Tips for Going Green in Your Home Office

44. Buy A Whiteboard

Save paper and use whiteboards in your home or office to write ideas, thoughts, memos, etc. If something doesn’t have to go on paper, put it on the whiteboard and save trees!

Simply wiping down a whiteboard with a cloth or eraser removes any markings and makes it ready to reuse. An act that makes going green easy while reducing the impact on the planet's resources.

45. Switch to E-Receipts and E-Bills

Businesses are rapidly shifting to electronic receipts and bills instead of paper. However, the benefits of e-receipts and e-bills extend beyond convenience for consumers.

One of the primary environmental benefits of e-receipts is that they cut down on paper usage. By switching to e-receipts, you can reduce deforestation and conserve energy and water resources.

Tips for Going Green in Your Free Time

46. Join a Community Garden

If you don’t have space for a garden at home, then consider joining a community garden. In a community garden, members share resources and food. It’s a sociable way of going green and saving money.

Community gardening promotes sustainable agriculture practices such as composting and natural pest control. It also encourages biodiversity by providing pollinators such as bees and butterflies with habitats.

47. Teach Your Children About Green Living

Help the next generation learn about going green by teaching your children how to live more sustainably. Ensuring kids have environmental awareness is vital for preserving natural habitats and wildlife.

You can teach your children how our actions affect the environment and why caring for the natural world is essential. Early education on eco-friendly living is necessary for the future of our planet.

48. Take a Staycation

Whether you're driving or flying, traditional vacations often involve long journeys. You can reduce your carbon footprint by staying close to home, minimising the negative impact of travel on the environment.

Going green and having a staycation allows you to explore local attractions without travelling far. You can help the planet and support small businesses in your area by boosting their revenue.

49. Educate Yourself

There are many benefits to environmental education. You can improve your understanding of the natural world and increase your awareness of conservation efforts and issues.

Learn new ways of going green and living sustainably through research. Read books, look up green organisations and what they stand for, and talk to like-minded people to exchange ideas.

50. Visit National Parks

Visiting national parks is a way of going green that may not be immediately apparent. One advantage of visiting national parks is supporting the conservation efforts within them.

National parks protect and preserve natural areas, which ‌helps conserve biodiversity and protects endangered species from extinction. Visiting national parks is also a great way to connect with nature.

51. Volunteer Your Time

Volunteering is a rewarding experience for many reasons. It is also a fun way of going green. Volunteering your time towards environmental causes can make a meaningful impact on the planet.

Many organisations focus on cleaning littered areas or reducing waste through recycling programs. Involvement in these initiatives benefits the local environment and global sustainability.

52. Spread the Word About Going Green

A vital step for going green is to spread the word about environmental sustainability. Talk to everyone about going green and its benefits, including your friends, family, work, church, and school.

When we discuss ways to live more sustainably, it helps raise awareness of the impact that our actions have on the planet. This conversation can lead to positive lifestyle changes that are better for us and the environment.

Going Green Can Be Easy & Inexpensive

Going green doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. There are many easy and inexpensive ways to green up your life. You can positively impact the environment by reducing, reusing, or recycling.

With some mindful choices, you can reduce your carbon footprint. Each choice counts and will contribute towards a better future for us all. Together, we can make a difference, so take action today!