5 Steps and 18 Ways to Transition to "Being Green"

More people are thinking of ways to “be more green,” as they say. I know some people who want to but aren’t sure how. Others don’t think they can. Often the things we do that provide the ultimate convenience aren’t very earth-friendly. But like anything, you can’t just wake up one day and get it all done at once. You know this about exercise and losing weight and about organizing your home.

1. Choose one thing. One item I started with is zippered plastic bags. I decided never to buy any of them again. (Single-use plastics are one of the worst environmental hazards.) By starting with just one thing, I could make it easier on myself to handle the changes and figure out solutions. I’d also be giving myself time to adjust to a new way of doing something without having to remember the new way for six other habits at once.

2. Get your family/roommates involved. The transition will work best if everyone in your house is on board. Explain your goal and reasons and then list some of the changes. You don’t want to overwhelm everyone, so focus just on the first thing you chose to change. Your housemates may also have ideas about what to change and how to make the transition easier. This brings us to the next step.

3. Figure out a system. If you’re changing how you do something, such as how you store food, you’ll need to find alternatives. In my zippered plastic bag example, I bought more food storage bowls with lids (glass ones) and found useful products online such as wraps made of beeswax. I also put the remaining zippered bags on the top shelf of my pantry so that I can’t easily reach for them without thinking. Instead, I must turn to my other options.

4. Smooth the system. Give yourself at least two weeks with the new change before adding another one. You may try a month, even, depending on what the change is. For example, I found some zip-style bags made of silicone for food storage, but I disliked them. So it took me a while to finalize my new system and feel like I had a bowl, beeswax wrap, or some storage solution for any type of food.

5. Choose another and repeat. Then, when you’re ready, choose another thing. You might even make a list so that you have a bunch of ideas ready. This time you can stick with something small (getting reusable grocery bags) or try something bigger.

Ways to Be More Green

By forming the new habits one at a time, you can transition more easily. Here are some other ways to “be greener” in life and around your house. These are in varying levels of difficulty and adjustment. But every small thing can help.

Recycle if you don’t already. (Pro tip: When recycling, rinse the container and remove the cap to put those separately in your city’s pickup bin.)
Re-use as much as you can. We buy large containers of yogurt, which means fewer small ones (and those ones aren’t recyclable). The large ones are easily washed and re-used for storing other things. It reminds me of Depression-era thinking. But although we may have teased our grandparents, they were onto something.
Move closer to your workplace so you don’t have to drive as far, using less gas. Look for activities and stores closer to home. Can you ride a bike or walk to get places?
Borrow instead of buy for items you will rarely use.
Join a “never buy” group or start one. I’m part of one on Facebook. Or first shop for free or low-cost items on Freecycle or Craigslist.
Plant more trees or native shrubs in your yard if you have one. Start a small container garden if you don’t. Bonus: you can plant herbs!
Compost organics. If you don’t have space in your yard to start a compost pile, see if you can find a local service. In the Raleigh, NC area, we have CompostNow.
Avoid disposable anything. You can buy disposable pads that clip to the end of a toilet brush. Use once and toss. Sure, it’s convenient. But then those little sponges are trash after about 60 seconds of use. If you look, you can find a million examples of this. Search for products you can re-use.
Reduce paper towel use by using washcloths to clean. Get some cool bamboo paper towels for putting over food in the microwave.
Cut down on buying things in plastic bottles. Water for sure. But also cleaning products and food. I switched brands of applesauce so I can buy one in a glass jar. When I buy orange juice, I opt for the cardboard carton. I started buying bars of soap instead of those in plastic bottles.
Ditch the sponge and bath poof. Kitchen sponges are full of disgusting bacteria anyway. Plus, sponges slowly put microplastics into our water. Use a washcloth for dishes and then get a fresh one each day. Your loofah/bath poof is the same (germs included). Get a natural one.
Buy solar panels for the house. This is a big one, obviously. But you’ll also lower your electric bill!
Turn up the thermostat in the summer and lower it in the winter. Reduce your energy use by adjusting it one degree up/down from your usual. Even that one degree can help.
Host a neighborhood cleanup and invite your neighbors.
Adopt a section of the greenway or street to pick up trash regularly.
When your lightbulbs burn out, get LEDs.
Look for energy-saving appliances when you have to buy new ones.
Wash laundry on cold. It’s actually better for your clothes anyway.