Tips to easily and affordably become more environmentally friendly

Earth Day is here once again, and it's time to think about how to reduce your carbon footprint to preserve the Earth. After all, it's not going to be around forever, so we need to do what we can to make it last as long as possible. You may be thinking, "what could I possibly do to reduce my carbon footprint?" It isn't hard, and it certainly is more affordable than you think.

Here are some tips from our staff members here at iMore, as well as our sister sites, Android Central and Windows Central.

Christine Romero-Chan

Staff Writer, iMore

You may have heard of the great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020 (I'm officially calling it that). Toilet paper has been pretty hard to come by since this whole pandemic thing started, and if you are lucky enough to buy a pack of rolls, then it feels like you won the lottery. But what if I told you that there is a better solution? Yes, you could look into a bidet attachment for your existing toilet, which is actually healthier, more hygienic, and much more environmentally friendly than toilet paper. A bidet actually uses about one-eighth of a gallon of water, while a single roll of toilet paper needs about 37 gallons of water to make.

While there are fancy bidets and smart toilets that can be expensive, a simple bidet attachment can be pretty affordable. I actually picked up a basic Bio Bidet attachment from Costco for less than $30 when it was on sale.

Lory Gil

Managing Editor, iMore

I carry a Chico Bag around with me at all times so I'm never without a reusable bag if I make an impromptu stop at a store. Instead of paper towels or napkins in the house, I use cloth towels. I have a huge stack of tea towels for everyday use and a stack of rags for cleaning up spills and such. I also carry a FinalStraw with me wherever I go, so I can use a straw without asking for a plastic one (save the sea turtles!) And if the takeout box from a restaurant is made from plastic, I always keep it around and reuse it to store leftovers.

Luke Filipowicz

Staff Writer, iMore

"Easily" is a bit of a relative term, but here are some suggestions. Take public transit instead of a car whenever you can. Wash your clothes in cold water. While this may seem very minimal, it actually does help reduce your energy consumption.

Oh, and grow your own vegetables — this can be easy, even one or two plants can wield a lot depending on the type of plant. And use reusable bags instead of plastic, as well as reusable coffee tumblers.

Jeramy Johnson

Staff Writer, Android Central

One can always change their Amazon (and other online retailers) delivery options to group deliveries together, so that you get everything on one day a week or even month. This reduces the amount of packing materials needed, as well as gas emissions from the delivery trucks that need to stop by your house. You should also unplug devices that don't need to be constantly connected (the vampire electronics effect), and set up smart home routines for heating/cooling/lighting during the day. And if you are able to, purchase compostable or recyclable accessories whenever possible, such as Pela phone cases.

Richard Devine

Reviews Editor, Windows Central

Get a smart thermostat. It helps out with not heating up an empty house, thus reducing your energy consumption. The same thing applies with maintaining the house at a comfortable temperature for when you do return home. And smart thermostats end up learning how long it takes to heat or cool your home, so over time, it should be on less as it becomes more efficient.

Bryan M. Wolfe

Staff Writer, iMore

I'm trying to switch to reusable containers for certain purchases instead of getting plastic bags whenever possible. On top of that, I am limiting how often I go to the stores to reduce carbon emissions (plus it's not like we can go anywhere right now anyways). I am often implementing smart home practices as well, because it's important for regulating things like energy consumption in the house when no one is home and being more efficient.

Ara Wagoner

Staff Writer, Android Central

Make what you have last longer. I mean, the easiest way to reduce your carbon footprint? It's to buy less stuff, especially clothes. Do you really need that 100th graphic tee? Probably not.

Joseph Keller

Assistant Managing Editor, iMore

Jumping on something Jeramy said earlier (unplugging devices that don't necessarily need to be plugged in all of the time), you should limit your home energy usage overall. For example, don't keep lights on where you don't need them on. Ditto on devices. Limit the use of heating and cooling in your home, especially if you don't have a smart thermostat. Make sure to turn off lights and devices like televisions when you're leaving a room.

Karen Freeman

Social Media, iMore Contributor

I try to use reusable containers instead of disposable ones. Not only for water, coffee, and other beverages, but also for storing leftovers and packing lunches. I'm also trying to buy less "fast fashion," which are trendy clothes you wear for a season and then get rid of, and opting to invest in classic pieces I'll wear over and over.

Sean Endicott

News Writer, Windows Central

Grab an electric monitor that keeps track of how much power you use. You'll catch yourself turning things off more frequently and reducing overall power usage just because you can see how much energy certain activities use.

Cale Hunt

Staff Writer, Windows Central

Shop locally. You'll support your neighbors, you can usually walk to and from the location, and you're not getting involved in the whole worldwide shipping impact. This can also help you create lasting relationships at the same time, and for that you'll be much richer.

Rich Edmonds

Staff Reviewer, Windows Central

Ask your current energy supplier for details on how the electricity is produced that's paid for by your tarrif. See if they have a renewable-only plan available to help minimize your impact on the environment. It's a win-win would be an eco tarrif that doesn't cost anymore than a fossil counterpart.

Andrew Martonik

Executive Editor, Android Central

Unplug unused devices and chargers around the house. While electronics are supposed to be designed not to draw significant power when not in use, the reality is they often are! And that power draw adds up. If you aren't regularly using something, unplug it entirely rather than leaving it plugged in and "off."

What are your tips for reducing your own carbon footprint?

These are just some tips from all of us here at iMore, Android Central, and Windows Central on how you can be more environmentally friendly without too much effort. Do you have any tips that you want to share? Let us know in the comments below!

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