With the Trump administration's destruction of the many environmentally focused endeavors of our country (the Paris Agreement) as well as President Trump's flagrant dismissal of climate change in general, it seems more crucial than ever to use our agency to make environmentally conscious decisions. With folks like Lauren Singer who reduced her waste-production rate to a jar every four years, it can be overwhelming. So, here's a list of five easy, cheap steps to decrease your carbon footprint a bit.
1. Drink from a reusable water bottle or glass.
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Everyone's heard this one. Although it's easy, since most of us already have glasses and reusable water bottles, it was a hard habit for me to tackle. I was so used to grabbing a plastic Deer Park water bottle before school, rather than fill one up. I kept forgetting. To negate this, I keep my reusable on my desk and in sight!
2. Eat at home more.
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It's hard to give up going out— Especially with all these healthy choices like Panera or Saladworks to convince us that we're making the right decision! But, just think of all the money you'll be saving if you eat at home!
3. Cut out at least some of the animal products in your diet.
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You don't have to go completely vegan/vegetarian to limit your impact! Even cutting out meat for three days out of the week or only eating white meat like chicken can make a big difference!
4. Shop at second-hand stores.
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Shopping at a thrift store is like another form of recycling, along with supporting your local communities' businesses. Don't be fooled— I've found some nice finds, like a Gucci wallet for nine dollars, so don't think that it's all "dumpy."
5. Do an activity that doesn’t require electricity.
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This could be reading a book or going for a walk outside. It could even be cleaning your room. Perhaps, instead of staring at your phone/computer, you could do something for an hour to give you a greater sense of accomplishment while also decreasing your carbon footprint.
Hopefully, these tips are easy to incorporate into your daily schedule and help you save a bit of money in the process too!
