4 Ways To Go Green This Summer

There’s nothing nicer than sitting under the shade of a large, leafy tree on a hot and sunny afternoon, and enjoy nature in full swing around you. Summer is as good a time as any to make environmentally friendly choices to give back to nature, so let’s take a look at how to take steps to do so.

Finish your leftovers

Day old food always seems less interesting than it was when you first made it ordered it, but throwing it away is not just wasting the ingredients and energy that went into it in the first place, you’ll also have to put new food and energy into making a new meal. All in all, you’re taking the resources needed to make two meals to feed yourself once, which is very inefficient.

Whether they were from a picnic, a backyard BBQ, or a simple summer dinner with the family, leftovers can be enjoyed the next day. To make your leftovers more palatable, change it up to make it interesting by pairing it with a new side, putting it into a sandwich, or adding one or two ingredients to modify the flavour.

Staying cool without the air conditioner

It’s tempting to turn the air conditioner on a higher setting every time the weather gets hotter outside. Instead, cool yourself without relying heavily on your home’s a/c:

• drink cold or iced water
• use a handheld fan
• if it gets warm at home during the day, go outside to a cooler place
• wear lighter clothing, both in colour and weight
• avoid strenuous activity

You don’t have to cut down on cleaning

Use cold water when possible for washing your clothes, and consider relying more on your dishwasher to help you do your dishes.

Not only will that cut down on the time you spend cleaning, but you can also use less hot water to get the job done since per dish it takes more water to wash by hand. Make sure to load the dishwasher properly to make the best use of space and only turn it on when you have a full load.

Ride your bike

Instead of taking your car, why not get to your destination using your bike? Some things are just easier when done by car, such as when doing groceries or commuting long distances for work, but if you’re dropping by the corner store for some milk, biking is a great alternative. And you’re getting great exercise under the sun while you’re at it!

Going green can be fun and easy with a little bit of planning, so enjoy weather and stay environmentally friendly.