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The planet can become a better, safer, and greener place if we take appropriate steps. Making small changes in our lifestyles can have a significant impact on the environment, benefiting both the present and future generations.

In Lansing, authorities have been consistently working towards promoting eco-friendly choices, including energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and waste reduction. This places a responsibility on individuals to contribute positively.

Sustainable living is a conscious choice involving products that support climate, reduce carbon footprints, and minimize environmental harm. Here are a few ways you can transform your lifestyle to create a better quality of life for yourself and those around you: 

Make Your Home Energy Efficient

One of the ways of moving toward a greener lifestyle is by promoting energy efficiency using renewable energy sources. Commonly used non-renewable energy sources like coal, fossil fuels, etc., have an impact on the atmosphere. Their combustion results in tons of greenhouse gas emissions that pollute the environment. Opting for renewable and energy-efficient options, such as installing solar panels on your home, can create an impact. Also, opt for energy-efficient lightbulbs and appliances. 

Consider roofing alternatives such as cool roofing materials and insulation upgrades. It can significantly improve your home’s energy efficiency while reducing your carbon footprint. To upgrade your roof, take the assistance of an expert Lansing, MI Roof Replacement company. Taking these steps not only benefits the environment but also helps you contribute to Lansing’s sustainable goals.

Add Indoor Plants

Indoor plants can make a positive impact on the atmosphere and add to the beauty of your house. Indoor plants absorb all the harmful toxins from the air and release oxygen into it, thus improving the air quality inside your house and reducing pollution. Indoor plants have also been linked with better mental and physical health, relieving stress and tension. 

Choose plants that can adapt to indoor conditions, such as bamboo and lily. Furthermore, Lansing is known for its urban forestry; therefore, making your house greener will not only look trendy but also give it a fresher vibe. 

Eco-friendly Transportation Options

The easiest and most applicable way of promoting sustainable living is to choose eco-friendly transportation options, which can be done in multiple ways. The smoke from vehicles destroys the environment around us more than anything else. Here are a few ways in which you can help the environment:

• Walk or use a bicycle when covering short distances, for example, going to a grocery shop nearby. Consider running multiple errands at once to reduce the number of trips.
• Use buses when covering regular long distances alone. Also, commuting by bus for work reduces the number of cars on the road by accommodating more people at once, thus reducing the carbon footprint. Many countries have eco-friendly, electricity-powered public transport, which is a plus point. 
• You can also use the option of carpooling with your friends at work or institute, which also reduces the number of cars on the road. 
• You should switch to electric vehicles if you want to travel without compromising on your convenience as well as make an impact on the environment.

Avoid Plastic at All Costs 

The worst thing about plastic is that it cannot be destroyed! The only way to destroy it is through thermal treatment, which has massive health hazards. Around 14 million tons of plastic end up in the sea, thus making up almost 80% of all marine debris. Numerous marine animals die every year due to ingesting plastic, which is why you should avoid plastic as much as you can. 

You should opt for reusable bags when doing groceries and avoid materials such as disposable water bottles as much as you can. Remember that every bit of plastic that you avoid makes a difference. It is always the individual effort that matters in the long run. 

Save Water 

Saving water is also one of the most important aspects of sustainable living. Water is an essential need of every living thing, which is becoming scarce day by day as the population is increasing. You can conserve water by educating yourself on the things that end up wasting gallons of water. 

One such example is denim jeans. The amount of cotton enough to produce one pair of jeans requires almost 1800 gallons of water. The least you can do is avoid denim and go for other alternatives. 

Moreover, you can reduce your shower time and do your best to fix leakages in your bathrooms, etc. Choose growing plants in your garden that can thrive in drought climates as well as provide habitat for certain insects and birds. 

Save Wildlife

Many everyday products are manufactured at the cost of animal lives. Cutting down on the use of such products is another way of making a positive impact on society. These products may include leather shoes, purses, jackets, and more. 

Additionally, many products are created by harming endangered species for their skins or by encroaching on their habitats, for example, using up the water they need to survive. To avoid contributing to this harmful act, go for products that are made of sustainable materials, such as bamboo, and eat at restaurants that do not serve endangered species like bluefin tuna, etc.  

Revise Your Diet

Lansing plans for a 59% reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases by 2030. To make this plan successful, you need to revise your diet plan. The processes used in the farming of animals that we mostly eat, especially beef, add a lot to a region’s carbon footprint. You can make your impact and reduce that by shifting to more plant-based meals that nourish your body as well as help you benefit your surroundings. Such foods promote biodiversity and conserve natural resources. 

Cutting meat from your diet can reduce your carbon footprint by almost 34%. Opt for foods that are locally produced to reduce the consumption of fuel in transportation, thus reducing its negative impact on the environment. 

Conclusion

Initiating change in the environment is a gradual process, and it’s the journey that holds significance, not just the result. Every step you take toward improving your environment makes a difference. Begin by educating yourself and others about the environmental impacts of conventional lifestyles. Earth is our home, and it entrusts us with the responsibility of making life choices that benefit both us and our environment.