Tips &
Suggestions

Spreading the word can be as involved as you decide. You can informally talk to friends, family and neighbors about some ways you chose to reduce your carbon footprint. You can also offer to help in one of the initiatives, for example: starting a garden, building a food composting box, making non-toxic cleaning products, help someone change to LED light bulbs throughout the house, etc.

We rated this suggestion as difficult because saving money is not easy for all. Many families live paycheck to paycheck and it is challenging to put aside funds for extra expenses. However, as the systems begin to be upgrade to sustainable ones, you will begin to have a return for your investment, right away. Here are some of the upgrade we suggest: rain water catching system, bio-digester, compostable toilets, home kit wind turbines and/or solar panels, hydro electric system (if you a a creek on your property), and geothermal heating and cooling.

There are a variety of portable solar panels in the market. They are very effective, specially on the go. We have used them to charge power banks, headsets, phones, and other everyday use electronics. You can also use them at home to offset some of your electric bill right away. With 14 hours of daylight during the summer, you can charge all of your electronics everyday using your portable solar panel. In the span of a month it will make a difference in your electric bill.

There are hybrid and completely electric options out there. You could certainly find used cars as well. We all have to switch cars every so often, so why not start putting some money away to upgrade to a more sustainable option when the time to switch comes?

It is a given, unless you already have a self sustaining ecological house, a bigger house uses more of everything. It is more expensive to upkeep, harder to keep warm or cold, and also challenging to keep clean. Downsizing your home will save all around: less cleaning products, less energy, and less room for unnecessary inventory (for those of us that need a reason to halt the overspending and shopping).

Here are a few questions to use when you feel like you need a new item: it is absolutely necessary? Or do you just want it? Why do you want it? Do I already own another item similar to this one or that could do the same job? What is the reason for my shopping? Where is this item going to live in my home? Is there a place for it? We often buy out of impulse, vanity, and sometimes other emotional complexities that we won't cover here. However, seeking to understand the root of our shopping habits will ultimately aid in curbing are cravings for the new item. Buying less is not only good for your carbon footprint, but it is amazing for your pocket and for you mind as you will not have to deal with that item in the future as one more thing to have to inventory.

Several companies have come into existence as the need for sustainable conscious products has arisen. Some well-known companies have also improved their methodologies and/or launched ecological product options. We are all learning and growing. Even ecological or sustainable companies might not be at all perfect because there are so many factors into play. However, it is absolutely important for us to support these companies, as they are making an effort in their right direction. This being said: if I was on the market for new bed sheets, I will now look for a company that does responsible outsourcing of raw materials, the methods of production are low in emissions and pollution, and lastly the products themselves are natural and low in toxicity for my family. It is a big plus if the products are also compostable. In this example: cotton, silk, linen, and wool would be the ideal choices.

Solar panels are a great way to impact your household carbon footprint and monthly budget. Once you have been able to install your new system, you will see a significant different in your energy bill or you might choose to go off the grid all together. Being energy self sustaining is freeing to say the least. You can go with a company on this item or learn to do it mostly on your own if you are handy with such things and have the help of an electrician.

Cooking at home has so many benefits. We all like convenience, however, habitual convenience impact our health, pocket and the earth accordingly. When you cook at home, you have all of the control over where you ingredients were purchased and how they were produced. You also have control in how they were prepared. For example, non-GMO, organic, grass fed meat, free range chicken products, etc. It is a no brainer. If you are a family that prefers to eat out most of your meals, an easy way to start is to choose a number of meals that will be eaten at home and then increase your at-home meals every month.

This one is not feasible for everyone, we know! Now, there are obvious obstacles like land and county regulations. If those two are not a problem, the rest is very learnable and doable. The amazing outcome is having fresh eggs everyday, chicken meat you know is healthy for you. You control what you feed your chicken, you get free compost for a garden, you give enough space for your birds to have a healthy life. This is all amazing everyday you look at it. IF this is not an option for you, consider shopping for your chicken meat and eggs at a local homestead and you will get the same without having to raise chickens yourself.

This option also requires some room. Not necessarily land though. Nowadays we have found great options to offset the lack of land. For example: hydroponics, tower gardens, and planting in pots. If you do have available land, you can do green houses, raised beds, and/or all of the previous options. You can start with herbs and move onto veggies and fruits slowly.

Sweeping and mopping after is most definitely still an option here. However, we are suggesting instead of vacuuming, we rag sweep. You can use a any rag you have slightly damp attached to a broom or any other mopping tool of your liking. We have found that for maintenance of the floors, it is perfect. You can even go a few days without mopping when you do this, which is an additional plus. Vacuuming takes a lot of energy and when compiled with long periods once to several times a week, it quickly adds up.