75 Green Living Tips You Can Start Doing Today

Be the Change

Sustainable living isn’t a magic switch you flip on; it’s a process that starts with a desire to learn and make more conscious choices. Create habits in your everyday life that you can stick with and consider the ripple effect of your actions. And last but not least, celebrate sustainability. Make it the “in” way to live.

Download the Green Living Checklist

Download the Green Living Tips checklist and get started living a more sustainable lifestyle right away. Have a tip to add that we missed? Leave a comment below!

Green Living Checklist

1. Recycle all your old newspapers
2. Bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store
3. Buy energy-efficient appliances (look for the Energy Star label)
4. Turn off the lights when you leave the room
5. Take shorter showers and/or install low-flow showerheads
6. Don’t keep the faucet on when brushing your teeth or washing the dishes
7. Line dry your clothes when possible
8. Shut your computer down when you leave work (especially over the weekends)
9. Skip the elevator and take the stairs instead
10. Don’t use pesticides on your lawn
11. Use greener cleaners, or better yet, make your own (baking soda will clean just about anything!)
12. Use cold water when doing a load of laundry
13. Check the air pressure in your tires for better fuel efficiency
14. Turn off the dishwasher’s drying cycle and air dry instead
15. Shop at your local farmers market and/or join a food co-op
16. Start composting
17. Fix leaky faucets
18. Collect rainwater and use it for landscaping and watering your garden
19. Choose reusable instead of disposable products (razors, cups, diapers, etc.)
20. Use rechargeable batteries
21. Unload your trunk (the lighter the trunk, the less gas you use)
22. Print on both sides of the paper
23. Install a ceiling fan in order to improve air circulation
24. Carpool when possible
25. Eat less meat. Opt for more more plant-based foods when possible
26. Start a garden and grow your own food
27. Replace heat/AC air filters frequently
28. Switch your light bulbs to energy efficient types like LEDs
29. Landscape with native plants
30. Use scrap paper as note paper
31. Choose bamboo when possible (flooring, cutting boards, sheets, towels, etc.)
32. Leave only footprints when you travel
33. Don’t litter. Like, ever.
34. Unplug electronics when you’re not using them (TV, phone charger, can opener, blender, etc.)
35. Opt for a green dry cleaner and also bring your own reusable garment bag
36. Drive a hybrid or electric car
37. Use your own reusable water bottles and coffee cups
38. Inquire about where your seafood comes from; opt for sustainably harvested fish to help protect the oceans
39. Give your car a tune-up so it drives more efficiently
40. Eat what is locally in season
41. Pay your bills online rather than mailing in checks
42. Sign up for online banking to stop receiving paper statements
43. Spend more time outdoors
44. Use organic and ethical beauty products
45. Use natural (not artificial) fragrances
46. Shop for reclaimed wood furniture when possible
47. Buy in bulk to avoid excess packaging
48. Pass on the paper towels and napkins (use hand towels and linen napkins when possible)
49. Donate your old cell phones
50. Buy Fair Trade
51. Vote for change and environmentally friendly laws
52. Join a community supported agriculture (CSA) program that is local to you
53. Decorate your home with lots of live plants to help purify your indoor air
54. Reuse your ziplock bags
55. Host a yard sale or donate to Goodwill rather than throwing things away
56. Make sure your home is insulated, especially the attic and basement
57. Opt for a programmable and/or smart thermostats
58. Switch to a kindle or get a library card
59. Borrow, don’t buy anything you will not use very often (such as power tools, ladders, leaf blower, wheelbarrow, etc.)
60. Bring a packed lunch to work in reusable containers
61. Support local restaurants that source food less than 100 miles away, and learn more about the benefits of eating locally
62. Lower the temperature on your water heater
63. Donate to and shop at thrift stores or host a clothing swap
64. Buy organic food (especially milk, meats, fruits and vegetables)
65. Install dimmer switches or motion detectors for your lights
66. Buy low-VOC paint and donate any leftovers
67. Get off junk mail lists and cancel your phone book delivery
68. Fill up your freezer (the fuller it is, the less energy it takes to keep food frozen)
69. Turn down your heat or AC when you’re not at home
70. Switch from plastic to glass storage containers
71. Plan for weekly Meatless Monday dinners at home
72. Lower the brightness of your computer monitor and/or phone screens to use less energy or battery power
73. Reduce your shower time (every 5 minutes in the shower uses appx. 8 gallons of water)
74. Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket
75. Plug small appliances into a smart power strip that can be turned off when not in use