101 Ways to Be Eco Friendly

OK, I know we’re bombarded by the “be earth friendly” message on a daily basis but there’s a reason for that…we’ve done so much damage to her that it’s time we were friendlier. And at the expense of getting up on my soap box (trust me, you don’t want that to happen), all I will say is that we all have a responsibility to be part of the solution.

I must have been born with an innate need to respect Mother Earth because when I was about 5 years old, you could often find me walking up and down the foreshore where we lived hauling my trusty, bright orange and much loved trailer, picking up rubbish. According to Mum, this was without prompting from anyone. It seems, even then, I was on a mission.

This mission for me is a part of living well and was compounded even more thanks to living in one of the most beautiful and thankfully, protected, parts of the world for 2 years, Banff National Park. If there’s anything that could turn you into an environmentalist, living in a national park would be it. The locals are fiercely protective of their town and the surrounding park and rightly so. Who wouldn’t want to protect this;

Or this;

Sooooo, in light of all of that, I decided to compile a list of 101 ways to be eco friendly. Whilst I don’t expect everyone to partake in all 101, my hope is that we all make some modifications and choose at least a few to do consistently.

1. Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
2. Religiously recycle whatever containers, cardboard, paper, cans and bottles you can.
3. Reduce waste overall – donate/sell unused items, compost, reuse, re-purpose.
4. Buy organic food and products. Use this eating green calculator to understand how your diet affects the planet.
5. Support environmental causes – volunteer, donate, promote.
6. Plant a tree/garden/shrub/flowers.
7. Never, ever, ever litter (a 5 year old should not have to pick up other people’s litter, or a 35 year old for that matter).
8. Don’t buy bottled water. Buy a reusable water bottle instead.
9. Reduce consumption and buy only what you need.
10. Walk, ride a bike or take public transport when you can.
11. Use eco friendly cleaners, washing powders and detergents (vinegar and salt is a natural weed killer). These are becoming much more widely available and often work just as well as their chemical laden competitors.
12. Wash clothes in cold water.
13. Dry your clothes on a clothes line instead of in a dryer where possible.
14. Adjust your thermostat for your fridge, freezer, air conditioner, hot water system, heating. Even 1 degree makes a difference.
15. Use energy efficient light bulbs (they last much longer than normal bulbs anyway).
16. Turn the water off when you brush your teeth.
17. Stop junk mail. Call the offending company and ask to be taken off their list and/or put a “no junk mail thanks” sign on your letter box.
18. Use water saving taps and shower heads.
19. Don’t hose your driveway or footpaths. Sweep instead.
20. Use natural fertilizers and pest control in the garden and home. Buy organic versions or search Google for recipes you can make.
21. Replace old, energy sapping appliances.
22. Stop using plastic bags. Use reusable cloth or canvas versions instead.
23. Use Tupperware or better still, glass containers to store food instead of using cling/saran wrap.
24. Support green businesses and buy green investments.
25. Replace leaky tap washers.
26. Don’t waste food. Buy only what you need and base meals around what needs to be used up first or freeze if possible.
27. Reduce transportation pollution and costs by buying locally.
28. Have at least one meat free night a week. Land for livestock is cleared for precious bushland.
29. Ask your bank/utility companies to send statements and bills by email instead of snail mail.
30. Use both sides of any printed paper. Put it through the printer again or use for scrap paper.
31. Reuse parcels, boxes, packing material, envelopes and bubble wrap when possible.
32. Reuse gift wrap and ribbons from presents when possible. 
33. Use recycled paper. It’s now just as good a quality as non recycled paper.
34. Use grey water (ie waste water) to water the garden.
35. Install tanks to capture rain water.
36. Carpool if possible to reduce pollution and save money.
37. Hibernate or switch off your computer when it’s not in use for more than 30 minutes.
38. Download music through the likes of iTunes instead of buying CDs.
39. Rent or download movies too.
40. Use rechargeable batteries.
41. Use lead free paint and recycled building material if you’re renovating.
42. Use a digital camera and save processing and prints.
43. When staying in a hotel, take up their offer of reusing linens when possible.
44. Buy a hybrid car if possible or hire one when you need a hire car.
45. If you own a car, have it serviced regularly and cut down on emissions. Also keep the tyres at the correct pressure. Deflated tyres results in less efficiency and more fuel consumption.
46. Pay your bills electronically.
47. Skip receipts when you can (eg automatic teller machines).
48. Use recyclable nappies/diapers.
49. Teach your kids to be environmentally responsible.
50. Grow your own food. Start a veggie patch and/or herb garden. If you live in an apartment, grow herbs in a pot.
51. Buy second hand or used.
52. Pick up litter when you see it (especially on beaches, near waterways or in forests/bushland).
53. Wash your car on the lawn (gives the lawn a water at the same time) and only use the hose to wet down and for the final rinse. Use a bucket and sponge for the actual cleaning.
54. If you use a car wash, choose one that uses water efficiently.
55. Grow drought resistant plants and lawn. They need less water.
56. Cover swimming pools to reduce evaporation.
57. Purchase energy efficient appliances (saves you cash too).
58. Use the economy cycle on dishwashers and washing machines.
59. Only use the washing machine when you have a full load.
60. When peeling veggies or rinsing plates, half fill the sink instead of using running water.
61. Simplify your life. The less you have the less you throw out, waste and have to maintain.
62. Use cloth versions of napkins and paper towels.
63. Purchase in bulk instead of over packaged single items.
64. Take your own lunch to work. Less packaging, less waste, healthier and cheaper.
65.  Use reusable mugs instead of paper coffee cups. Reduces waste and stops having to double cup when it’s too hot to handle.
66. If you smoke, please put your buts in the bin. Better still, quit smoking. 
67. Donate old computers (eg here), eye glasses (eg here), mobile phones (eg here), ink cartridges (eg here). Do a Google search for places close to you that recycle items like these.
68. Give old trophies to junior sports clubs or sports for the disabled. As I found, your clutter can be someone else’s gold.
69. Get your street together and organise a swap meet or garage sale.
70. Buy durable, good quality products and take care of them.
71. Save and reuse items like paperclips, rubber bands, twist ties, boxes and plastic bags.
72. Loan books, magazines, CDs and DVDs from the library instead of buying them.
73. Join with neighbours and buy lawn mowers, garden implements and tools that you can all use. You can do this with bulk food too.
74. Dispose of toxic waste like paint, motor oil, chemicals, car batteries, etc at the hazardous waste section of rubbish tips or hazardous waste facility.
75. Eat as little processed and packaged food as possible.
76. Only buy tuna that is labelled “dolphin safe”, fair trade, organic coffee and free range eggs.
77. Watch the eye opening movie, “The Corporation“. While you’re at it, check out Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth“. At the very least, they’ll get you thinking.
78. Buy green energy. Some utility companies now offer this option.
79. Consider buying carbon emmission offsets.
80. Use roof and wall insulation in our home.
81. Close blinds and curtains to keep the sun out and the house cooler in summer.
82. Mulch gardens to retain water and keep plants healthy.
83. Water gardens at night when there is less evaporation.
84. When hiking, camping, climbing or enjoying the outdoors leave zero evidence you were there. Pick up rubbish, stay on trails and in designated camping areas, disturb the vegetation as little as possible, etc.
85. Get involved in a community clean up like Clean Up Australia Day.
86. Where possible, buy clothing that is made from organic cotton or hemp.
87. Use natural, organic, cruelty free personal care products like shampoo, moisturiser, cosmetics, etc.
88. If a recycling program hasn’t been started at your workplace, then take the initiative and start one yourself.
89. Instead of giving gifts, donate to your favourite cause on the person’s behalf. You could even buy them a goat gift.
90. Cut Christmas cards you receive in half and use them as gift tags on presents the next year.
91. Use chemical free products on your pets. Try organic shampoos, natural flea treatments and chemical free food.
92. Chill out when driving. Heavy braking and accelerating is inefficient and causes more pollution.
93. Dress for the season. Instead of turning up the heat, put on another layer.
94. Feel the wind in your hair. Wind down the car window and turn off the air conditioner.
95. Consider solar power for your house and/or use solar lights in your garden or driveway.
96. Take shorter showers to save water and have a shower instead of a bath.
97. Don’t have spare money to donate to causes, donate by clicking instead. Choose a cause here; Click2Donate. 
98. Shake, invert, cut open, squeeze or water down to use the last bit of shampoo, toothpaste, dish washing liquid, etc.
99. Have smaller meals. Less food, less packaging, less waste, less cost and healthier.
100. Keep appliances like air conditioners, dryers and fridges running efficiently by cleaning lint and dust out of filters.
101. One day a week, turn off the tele and turn on real life plus save some electricity in the process.

Got any fave tips that didn’t make the list? Which eco-friendly tips do you plan to focus on? 

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