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What is a carbon footprint? -

As a refresher, a carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases—including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and others—that you produce through your lifestyle. Transport, electricity, fuel, landfill waste, agriculture, and more can all contribute to increased emissions, which have a direct impact on global warming. But we don't have to completely change our lives to cut down.

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Plan meals ahead of time, reuse leftovers -

Not only will you reduce your food waste, but you’ll also make sure you’re not ordering food last minute, which will reduce how much money you spend and the carbon costs of delivery and packaging.

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Pick better vacations - Instead of dishing out tons of money for environmentally harmful cruise ships, for example, opt for actually traveling to a place and staying locally, where, with a little digging, you can enjoy more authentic stays and food at lower prices.

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Shorter showers -

One of the simplest ways is to cut your shower time down, which can admittedly be hard once you’re enjoying the warm water, so set a timer to help. Your hydro bill will thank you!

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Install a low-flow showerhead -

If you can’t give up your long showers, install a low-flow showerhead instead, which will still help you cut down on your water consumption.

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Reuse what you can -

Plastic containers like tubs of yogurt can be repurposed, used dryer sheets can dust off electronics, plastic bottles can be used as pots for plants, shoeboxes can be turned into picnic baskets, old clothes can be used as cleaning rags—the possibilities are endless.

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Avoid environmentally destructive foods -

This largely involves livestock (meat and dairy), which also usually tend to be the most expensive items on grocery bills. Luckily, there are tons of other ways to get your protein, and cutting down is just as important an effort as cutting it out.

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Buy seasonally -

Farmers markets often sell their produce cheaper because they’re cutting out the middleman and they’re selling seasonal produce that doesn’t have to be shipped in from great distances.

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Don’t buy fast fashion -

This one can be deceiving because fast fashion appears to be cheaper than other options, but it is worse quality and won’t last you so long, so you’ll end up buying more in the long run. Instead, thrift or buy vintage.

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Buy water filters and a reusable bottle -

No more repeat spending on plastic water bottles! Getting a water filter and a reusable water bottle will be an investment now, but it will easily pay itself off in the long run.

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Drive less -

Though not everyone can get rid of their cars—with the expensive insurance, gas prices, tune-ups, and more—you can still opt to walk when you can, or take public transit, or even just carpool. It reduces CO2 emissions and frees up your budget.

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Drive smarter -

Use traffic apps like Waze to avoid getting stuck in jams, avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration, combine errands so you don’t have to take the car out more, and keep your tires properly inflated to increase your fuel efficiency.

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Sell instead of throwing out -

It might be a little more effort, but selling items you no longer use to consignment shops, in yard sales, or online can actually earn you money while you’re decreasing waste.

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Compost -

You’re adding unnecessary waste and throwing away good fertilizer every time you toss food scraps in the garbage. Start composting for great garden payoff.

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Wash on cold -

You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again because it’s one of the easiest, no-brainer ways to save on money and help the environment by just clicking or twisting a button. If you’re worried about cleanliness, the enzymes in cold water detergent are actually designed to clean better in cold water.

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Line dry -

The natural elements offer the cheapest and lowest-impact technique when it comes to drying your clothes, and it will save you money as well as doing away with the risk of shrinking or damaging your clothes.

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Turn off the tap more -

While brushing your teeth, turn the tap off so you can focus on a quality scrub and reduce unnecessary water use. The same goes for when you’re washing the dishes. Give everything a scrub in the sink and then rinse it all in one go.

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Buy only what you need -

Buying in bulk is great if the items are non-perishable, but don’t fall prey to sales designed to make you spend more than you intended in the name of a 'deal.' Make a list before you shop so that you only buy what you need to avoid unnecessary waste and spending.

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Mend your clothes -

Instead of throwing out clothes that have tears or no longer fit, spend a little money on mending it. It’ll be cheaper than buying new, and you’ll be reducing your waste while also not supporting an environmentally damaging market.

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Get a reusable bag -

Those few cents cashiers are charging for bags at checkout might not seem like a lot in comparison to the investment of a few dollars for a reusable bag, but in the long run you’ll be saving a ton of money and reducing your waste.

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Switch off, unplug -

When you leave a room, turn off the lights, and when you’re not using electronic devices, unplug them to skip the phantom charge.

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Cool it on the air conditioning -

Getting a fan could cut down on your costs and energy use immensely. Making sure your home is well insulated may be pricey now, but it will pay off through your bills.

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Cool it on the heat, too -

Even turning down the heating by a degree or two can make a huge difference over time.

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Do full loads of laundry -

Though your favorite shirt might be in the hamper, waiting until you can throw in a full load of laundry will cut down on your bills and energy use.

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Use a rain barrel -

Collect free water from Mother Nature in barrels to water your plants. Plus, rainwater is superior to tap water when it comes to watering plants (it contains more oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide).

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Don’t leave things to charge overnight -

It can be tempting to leave your phone or laptop plugged in overnight so that you’re ready with a full charge in the morning, but it’s also accumulating unnecessary costs.

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Ditch disposable napkins and towels -

Instead of buying paper towels and napkins, invest in cloth alternatives, which can be tossed into the laundry and reused.

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Get energy efficient products -

Energy efficient products and appliances might occasionally be marked at higher prices, but they’re the best investment when it comes to saving energy and money in the long run.

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Avoid airplanes -

Even though it may take more time, opting for a train where possible will save you money and emissions.

See also: What is greenwashing, and how can you spot it?

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