Without a doubt, the world needs to stand up to climate change, so we can leave a better plant behind for future generations. However, this tends to be a bit hard in the summer months when the heat is so bad that you just want to max out the power to keep cool and entertained. There are many ways that you can do your part this summer though, without sacrificing your comfort. These ten ideas will leave you feeling good about your part in changing the way we live and will even leave you with a boost in your budget. So, enjoy your summer, but also make this season a time to treat the planet with respect.
1. Turn off the A/C
When it is hot outside, it is incredibly hard not to want to blast the air conditioning all day long. This summer, you might want to do yourself a favor and turn the air conditioning off for a while. This doesn’t mean you can’t turn it on. Instead, you might want to consider scheduling the periods of time in which you have it on. For instance, late at night and in the early morning, you might find that the temperature is bearable outside. Even if it is still slightly warm, you can probably bear the warmth for a couple of hours before you actually become uncomfortable. This is the perfect time to let your home air out too, which is great for your health. With the help of a fan, you shouldn’t feel too put out by this method. You should notice a huge change in your power bill too. You might also consider keeping the thermostat a bit higher. Just because it is summer it doesn’t mean you have to live in the artic whenever you’re home. Try a moderate temperature to keep your air conditioning bill down.
2. Ditch the Lights
One of the great things about summer is you don’t really need to turn on the lights for very long. On average, the sun begins to rise before 7 in the morning and doesn’t go down until after 8 at night. This leaves you with a wide amount of time to go without the lights, which can help save you a huge amount on power. Try opening up the blinds early in the morning and into the evening to squeeze in the light you need to function in your home. You should still get ample light in the home even if you do leave the blinds shut or slightly cracked in the afternoon. This technique combined with efficiency bulbs should leave you saving a lot of money while ensuring you’re doing a lot to save the planet.
3. Water Less
When it comes to keeping up with a garden, summer time can be especially hard. This usually requires you to water more in order to keep your plants thriving. Keeping a lawn is even harder too and many people resort to sprinklers to help make sure the lawn stays green and healthy. During the summer months, it is okay to let your lawn go. Although it may be an eye sore, you will be saving a lot of water in the process. If you do want to keep up with your lawn then make sure not to water every day. This can be hard if you have plants, particularly food, that you’re trying to keep alive. You may want to look into a system that uses less water to help keep your water budget down. There’s many tutorials online for this. You may even find that your fruits and vegetables thrive using this method.
4. Shop at the Farmer’s Market
There’s nothing quite like biting into a fresh piece of fruit or a vegetable. This is why you should try to shop at your local farmer’s market if you want to save money and the environment. Local farmers are the backbone of an economy, even if they are only growing in their backyard. In this day and age of frightening practices for growing food, keeping your local farmers thriving is the best way to keep your family healthy. The local farmer’s market is also a great place to see what is going on in your community. This can help you find other ways to help keep the environment clean and help out your community.
5. Recycle
It is hard to believe that many communities still do not support recycling. If you live in one of these communities then you might want to take measures into your own hands. This may require you to stock up on your recycled goods and take them to a special recycling plant once a week or month. Although it is extra work, it is well worth it to help keep the planet clean. Of course, recycling in the traditional sense isn’t the only way to recycle. You can always reuse the goods you have to suit other needs in the household. For instance, you can turn some plastic containers into food storage containers. You might even find some supplies make great toys or forms of organization. There’s lots of ways to recycle though, so use the summer months to get into a routine, so you’ll be ready to handle it throughout the rest of the year.
6. Go Solar
Solar power is one of the best ways to help the environment while saving you some money. In fact, often when you use solar power as your main source of electricity, you often get money returned to you for producing excess power. Of course, getting a solar system can be incredibly expensive, so going this route might not be an option for many. However, there are other solar options to consider. For instance, your garden lights or security lights can be powered by solar energy. These are very inexpensive to buy too, which will help with your budget. There are even a wide variety of options when it comes to the home too. For instance, you cab buy solar powered phone chargers and fans. These certainly come in handy when you experience a power outage too.
7. Plant Native Plants
Planting a wide variety of vegetation can be one of the best things you can do for the planet. You should consider looking up items that are native to your region though. This will help you use less water while ensuring your items will grow without a whole lot of work. This is especially handy if you live in the desert, because your water bill can really skyrocket during this time of the year. Many native plants that grow indoors can work as natural filtration for your home too. This will help cut down on devices meant to do this job. Of course, make sure to research the plant to make sure it is pet friendly if you have animals in the home.
8. Hang out Laundry
Having a washer and dryer in the home can be one of the best conveniences. Of course, they also take up more energy in your home. Even if you have energy efficient items, you may find that shutting off the dryer is one of the best things you can do during the summer months. The dryer actually heats up the home when in use, so you will have to pay more electricity for your air conditioning use, which cancels out the energy efficient element. It doesn’t cost a thing to hang up a laundry line in the backyard though. This will help get your clothes try and fresh without forcing you to use any energy at all.
9. Smart Cooking
Cooking can really bring up the heat in your home. Using the stove, oven and air conditioning takes up a lot of power, so try to find ways to avoid doing this every day. One option is to cook in bulk. This will allow you to eat leftovers for a few days, so you won’t have to keep cooking. If you don’t like eating the same foods over and over then cook a few meals and freeze them. This will allow you to have access to a meal in no time. Using the crockpot is another option. This takes up very little energy, won’t heat up the home and allows you to make effortless meals that everyone will love. Of course, it is hard to avoid cooking outside during the summer too. Many forms of cooking can be bad for the environment though, namely using coal. One of the best things you can use is propane, but new and cleaner developments are also available.
10. Travel Clean
Staying in during the summer months isn’t your only option. You should get out and enjoy yourself. However, when you do you might want to consider cleaner modes of transportation. For instance, if you’re making a small commute then walk or ride a bike to your destination. It’s an easy way to cut down on your carbon footprint and may even allow you to skip the gym. If you plan on going a bit further then use public transit to do so. This method of transportation even allows you to sit down and think. Of course, vacations can be troublesome when it comes to this, but there are options. You can always take the bus or a train. You may even be able to relax more using this method because you can spend more time bonding with family and less time staring at the road.
Summer is a hard month to get through when you’re thinking about the environment. There are a lot of things you can do to do your part though. These ten ideas are only a start, but they will help you make good habits when it comes to helping with the crisis the planet is facing.
