This April 22, we’re celebrating Earth Day and it’s the perfect opportunity for all of us to look at our own carbon footprint. Since single-use plastic and CO2 emissions are some of the biggest sources of pollution, this is a great time to look at how your habits at home might be contributing to pollution. But not to worry, we have some simple eco-friendly choices you can make at home that will lead to a greener future.
Wash your clothes in cold water
Did you know that up to 90% of the energy used by a washing machine goes toward heating the water? So skip the heating and just use your washing machine on the cold water setting. This way, you not only reduce your carbon footprint but you also keep your clothes lasting longer, as hot water can deteriorate the fabric and make your colourful clothes less vibrant. That’s right, your expensive threads will last longer this way.
Moreover, skip the dryer whenever you can to save energy and make your clothes last longer. During the sunny months, it’s almost a shame to not line-dry your ‘whites’ outside (warning: the sun can fade your colourful and dark clothing). And if you don’t have a backyard where you can line-dry, we suggest picking up a drying rack for your space – just keep the windows open to allow the sun (and breeze) to dry your clothes faster.
And don’t forget to opt for an eco-conscious laundry detergent. Canadian brand The Unscented Company offers laundry tabs, which are much more eco-conscious than those giant plastic jugs of detergent. While you’re at it, pick up some of their dryer balls to keep your laundry fluffy and enviro-friendly.
Eco-friendly cleaning
Choosing more enviro-friendly cleaners is not only better for the health of the earth but also for personal health. And don’t worry, natural cleaning products are just as effective as the regular ones. They just don’t contain any harmful chemicals that can be bad for the environment and your health. Two Canadian brands that are leading the charge with eco-friendly cleaning products are Nature Clean (we love their Fruit & Veggie Spray Wash and their Multi-Surface cleaner) and Nellies (try their floor care and dishwasher powder). Or if you are willing to roll up your sleeves a little further, you can even make your own cleaning products using household items like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.
Did you know that even how you sweep can make a difference? The precision angle broom from Libman has bristles made from 16 recycled bottles and the handle contains recycled steel. And ditch those single use mops and dusters for ones, like the Freedom Spray Mop, that comes with a cleaning pad that can be tossed in the laundry and reused. It just makes better enviro-sense.
Invest in window treatments
Many people opt for curtains and blinds to keep out nosy neighbours, but they are also a great way to control your room temperatures without using electricity. It’s as easy as keeping your curtains open on bright sunny days in the colder months (passive solar energy) and keeping them shut during those scorching summer days. Curtains will also help to keep cold drafts from coming through during the winter. So upgrade your curtains (thicker curtains will keep out more heat/cold) and blinds to maintain the temperature and make your home more environmentally-friendly.
Eco-Friendly bathroom
When most people think about ways to be more eco-conscious, they don’t often think about their bathroom habits. But the choices you make in your grooming products can make a huge impact on the environment.
Bulldog skincare is known for their great line of men’s grooming products but did you know they are also some of the greenest on the market? That’s right, the brand uses sustainably sourced sugarcane plastic or 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, fully recycled stock and uses only environmentally friendly inks. As a result, for every 100 tonnes of sugarcane plastic used in Bulldog™ tubes, 309 tonnes of carbon dioxide are taken out of the environment. Further, they just introduced a slick glass handled premium razor that is crafted from 70% recycled beer bottle glass.
Swap out your ‘dumb’ light bulbs for smart ones
Investing in the right energy-efficient light bulbs makes a huge difference. You will not only use less electricity but you will also make your home more environmentally-friendly. No matter how tempting incandescent bulbs are, LED bulbs are the better alternative. They last longer, are eco-friendly, and they help you save money in the long run. Further, opting for Smart LED light bulbs, means you can control them from anywhere (even remotely via your Smartphone) so you never have to worry if you forget the lights on. We recommend the C by GE for its energy efficiency and the rainbow of full colour options that would be perfect for your next eco-friendly at home dance party.
Green your kitchen
Food waste is one of the biggest issues in our kitchens, not only does it costs us money but it’s detrimental to our environment. Almost 2/3 thirds of household waste is due to food spoilage. This is often due to the fact that many people are unsure how to store fruits and vegetables, which can lead to premature ripening and, eventually, rotten produce. For instance, did you know that potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, cucumbers and onions should never be refrigerated? These items should be kept at room temperature. Separating foods that produce more ethylene gas (bananas, avocados) from those that don’t is another great way to reduce food spoilage. Ethylene promotes ripening in foods and could lead to spoilage. Keep these foods away from ethylene-sensitive produce like potatoes, apples, leafy greens, berries and peppers to avoid premature spoilage.
Although we can’t always avoid all food waste, we can use it for eco-friendly results – compost. Everyone should compost; even if you live in an apartment (and/or your city does not collect organic material) you can invest in counter top composting. The Vitamix Food Cycler can turn your food scraps (veggies, meat, dairy) into fertilizer in just a few hours.
And make sure you have a water filter. Whether you opt for a whole-house, an under the sink, a faucet or even just a pitcher filter (AquaGear is often ranked the best), your home will instantly become more eco-friendly if you stop buying plastic water bottles. And if you need water on the go, opt for reusable glass or metal bottles. Overall, a water filter saves time, money, and helps reduce the amount of single-use plastic that ends up in the landfills.
Embrace plant daddy life
Plant Daddy life is a trend that took over 2020. But we are hoping that it will become more than just a passing trend as many potted plants are actually very effective at indoor air cleaning. Did you know some can even absorb toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene and carbon monoxide? That’s right, plants will not only make your environment healthier (removing pollution, increasing humidity & producing oxygen) but will make you feel better as well… Great plants for indoor air cleaning are: bamboo palm, English ivy, or spider plant.
Need some more plant daddy tips? Check out our feature on statement plants here.
Eco-friendly bar?
What? My home bar can be more green? That’s right, there are easy ways to be more eco-friendly with your drinking choices. First, you can opt for a more sustainably eco-friendly produced wines. Like the Cambria Julia’s Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir, or for the white wine lovers, the Kendall Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay. Both come from Jackson Family Wines and are third-party certified sustainable. Further Jackson Family Wines is among the most water efficient wineries in the U.S., with annual water savings thats are enough to fill 48 Olympic sized swimming pools. And don’t worry, the eco-friendly wines are delicious.
Not a wine drinker but want to help the environment?
You could enjoy a cool and refreshing Coors Seltzer with the knowledge that every 12-pack is helping to restore 1,000 litres of Canada’s waters through a partnership with Change the Course. Want to help even more? Coors Seltzer is calling on Canadians to skip the shower on Earth Day to save even more water. Why? By skipping a five-minute shower, Canadians can save an average of 100 litres of water and give themselves permission to keep their camera off during all those zoom meetings all day while ‘volunteering’ for the earth.
If this volunteer opportunity sounds appealing to you, Coors Seltzer wants you to take the Earth Day pledge via @CoorsLightCanada’s Instagram. Share one of the Coors Seltzer volunteer pledge posts on your story tagging @CoorsLightCanada and using #CoorsSeltzerVolunteer and you’ll even receive a Coors Seltzer gift to cheers with for your hard work.
Doing good for the earth always comes with rewards!
