Do just one thing
ENERGY EFFICIENT BLINDS
The National Wildlife Federation estimates as many as 4 billion birds are killed every year by household cats. While hunting birds is instinctual behavior for cats, it takes a heavy toll on bird populations. One classic solution that definitely doesn’t work is a brightly colored collar with a bell on it. The NWF says this old trick is ineffective because bells aren’t “something that wildlife associates with predators or danger,” and most birds don’t see color anyway. The best preventative measure? Keep your cats indoors, or keep a watchful eye on them if they are outdoors.
‘LIGHT POLLUTION’
They may look pretty, but outdoor lights for holiday decorating or for simple illumination are considered “light pollution” by the international citizen-science campaign Globe at Night. According to the nonprofit, holiday lighting is often so bright that it can be seen from space. It also can obscure the stars in the sky, which nocturnal animals and birds use to navigate. It’s also a big waste of energy. If you must have holiday lighting, the best thing you can do is to minimize it and turn the lights off before you go to bed.
MAINTAINING AIRPODS
Do you use Apple Airpods? These wireless buds use a small rechargeable battery, and when the battery dies, it can be nearly impossible to replace. (Apple currently does not offer a service to replace the battery.) Instead of recycling your dead Airpods, you can save money by simply using a service that installs a brand-new battery. For a fraction of the price of buying new, services like Podswap do the work for you. They also sell lightly used, fully refurbished Airpods (they call them “Extra Loved”) for a third of the price of new.
BROKEN TERRA COTTA POTS
Terra cotta pots are great for container gardening and are an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic pots (plus they also look better in your garden or on your patio). But what to do when they break? Instead of tossing the shards in the trash, use them to improve your garden. In rainier climates, mix the shards in the soil under the eaves of the house where rainwater can build up on stormy days. The shards will help with drainage, since terra cotta absorbs water, and you won’t see them, since they’ll be mixed into the soil.
‘COMPANION PLANTING’
Smart planning for your flower beds around the house can lead to significant water and time savings. According to National Geographic, “companion planting,” which consists of grouping certain plants together, can help them mutually grow. By planting taller, sunloving plants in the back with shorter, shadeloving plants in front, the plants can help each other thrive. The taller plants block the sun’s rays and also help reduce evaporation of water from the shorter plants. The symbiotic planting will help your flower beds thrive and almost grow all on their own.
RECYCLING STEEL
Did you know the most recycled and most valuable recyclable material is steel? Not only is 88% of old steel recycled, it’s also 100% infinitely recyclable and can be used over and over. And recycling steel uses 75% less energy versus the manufacturing of virgin steel. Why is this important? Because the demand for household recyclables like glass and plastic is dwindling, it’s important to consider buying food stuffs in tin cans instead. When you recycle cans, you can rest assured knowing they are truly getting recycled into new metal products.
UNWANTED ITEMS TO CHECKER
When grocery shopping, if you change your mind about buying something and don’t feel like returning it to where you found it, you should still bring it to the checkout line with you. Many people will leave unwanted items in places where they don’t belong. Over time, misplaced items can be damaged and/or reach their expiration dates, leading to food waste. If you change your mind about an item, simply bring it to the checkout and hand it to a cashier; they have a system in place to reshelve items properly so nothing gets wasted.