There is no silver bullet to reverse climate change.

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We need businesses, governments, and individuals to work together to fix this multifaceted problem. I believe individuals can lead the charge. Businesses and governments will notice what we as consumers do.

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Your dollar is your vote.

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And, well, during election season your vote is quite literally your vote, but that’s beside the point.

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There are 5 key areas individuals can improve upon to live more sustainably.

1. Food
2. Home
3. Transportation
4. Consumption
5. Habits

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Within these categories, there are countless things we can do. I want to focus on a few high-impact, easy-to-start ideas. Cost is of course a prohibiter, but I will try to be mindful of that.

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1. Change The Way You Eat

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Eat a Plant-Based Diet

Transitioning to a plant-based diet is the most effective way for you to fight climate change.

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Why? Because animal agriculture is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, water pollution, and biodiversity loss.

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Eating animals is wildly inefficient. 50% of the world’s habitable land is used for agriculture. More than 75% of this is used for livestock production, despite meat and dairy making up a much smaller share of the world’s protein and calorie supply. Imagine a land full of more veggies…

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I should also mention that the largest source of anthropogenic (human-influenced) methane emissions is from agriculture, or livestock, responsible for around one-quarter of emissions, according to a 2021 report from the International Energy Agency.

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Purchase In Season And Local Food

Purchasing in-season and local food is a sustainable choice to support the environment and local economy.

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Buying local food supports small-scale farmers and local farms. Local produce is often harvested at its peak ripeness and delivered to local farmers markets.

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When you buy local food, it typically travels from the farm to your plate. This is less energy required for transportation and decreases greenhouse gas emissions associated with long-distance shipping.

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A high-emission scenario is buying in-season fruit from California, but you live in New Jersey.

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You can also buy food that may look a little funny, but is safe to eat. Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods started their business based on this concept.

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Grow Your Own Food

Starting a garden allows you to grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. This means you have immediate access to fresh, pesticide-free produce that is rich in nutrients and better for the environment.

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By growing your food, you minimize greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the need for long-distance transportation, packaging, and refrigeration. Additionally, you won’t consume microplastics from the food you grow.

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Having a garden can also save you money in the long run by not having to buy produce from the store. You can preserve any excess food through canning or freezing.

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If you live in an apartment, check if your town has a community garden you can participate in.

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2. Change Your Home

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The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

The IRA provides funding for residential energy efficiency and electrification. Point-of-sale rebates are offered for high-efficiency electric appliances, such as heat pumps or electric stovetops. There’s also a tax credit for EVs, battery storage, and solar panels. Rewiring America has a great summary of the IRA.

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Electrifying your home will save you money by decreasing your utility bill.

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It’s important to note that you should purchase an Energy Star appliance. Energy Star products use less energy to deliver the same results. For example, an energy-efficient dryer with the Energy Star certification will use about 20% less energy than comparable dryers.

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Get Clean Energy

Even with small premiums, making the switch to clean energy can save you money on your electricity bill.

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At my old apartment, I switched to 100% renewable and carbon-free electricity. Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) partnered with my local utility provider, PG&E, to deliver solar or wind to my apartment. If you don’t own your home, this would be a feasible and low-cost option.

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With tax credits, getting solar panels has never been a more attractive option. Depending on where you live, there might be an option for community solar or an alternative community clean energy program.

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All over the country, clean electricity options are quickly becoming available. You can go on CleanChoice Energy’s website to explore what clean energy options are available near you.

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Insulate Your Home

EPA estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs by air-sealing their homes and adding insulation.

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When correctly installed, insulation can reduce outdoor noise, lower your utility bill, and decrease the amount of pollen, dust, and insects that enter your home. It also helps keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer.

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The IRA also has incentives to properly insulate your home. You can receive up to $1,200 annually depending on your income status. Typical bulk insulation (the pink fluffy stuff) and air-sealing products like weather stripping are covered.

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Learn more about this easy cost-saving method here.

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3. Change The Way You Get Around

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The EV and Hybrid Revolution

In general, charging an EV is about 3 times cheaper per mile than the cost of fueling a gas-powered car.

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EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions since they run solely on electricity. Hybrid vehicles combine an electric motor with an internal combustion engine (ICE), which results in lower GHG emissions compared to conventional ICE vehicles.

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EVs and hybrids are more energy-efficient than internal combustion engine vehicles because they convert a higher percentage of the energy from the battery, or fuel, into motion to reduce energy waste.

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Another nerdy fun fact is how EVs have the potential to contribute to grid stability and support the integration of renewable energy sources. This concept is known as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.

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One thing to note, make sure you charge your EV overnight. This is when the electricity grid is at its lowest demand, is at one of its cleanest periods, and is the cheapest.

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Not to beat a dead cactus, but the IRA also offers tax incentives for EVs, new or used.

Take More Public Transportation

Public transport, such as buses, trams, trains, and subways, are more fuel-efficient per passenger mile, resulting in lower GHG emissions. By consolidating passengers into fewer vehicles, public transport reduces energy consumption per person and helps optimize overall energy efficiency.

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It also means less traffic. We all like that.

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Public transportation has a social equity problem. Research shows lower income households generally pay a larger portion of their expenditure on transportation. In 2021, American households in the lowest income quintile faced a larger transportation cost burden, spending 26.9% of their after-tax income on transportation compared to 10.4% by the highest income quintile.

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Better public transportation promotes social equity by ensuring that transportation is accessible to everyone, regardless of income or car ownership. Also, by making public transport more abundant, convenient, and reliable, it encourages more people to use it and reduces reliance on private vehicles.

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Drive Less, Walk More

There’s this crazy thing called walking that we started doing roughly 7 million years ago. I recommend giving it a try sometime.

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If you rolled your eyes at the word walking, then try to get around using a bike, scooter, skateboard, or roller skates.

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Instead of driving 5 minutes to pick up oat milk from Trader Joe’s, try one of the above options or walk. You’ll help save the world and get some exercise in. Lovely.

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There’s also an interesting concept called 15 minute cities, where everyday destinations such as schools, stores, and more should only be a short walk or bike ride away from home.

4. Change Your Way You Shop

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Let me start this section off by explaining what I meant when I said your dollar is your vote. The official term is called "dollar voting". It’s how consumers' choices influence firms' production decisions.

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Imagine you walk to the grocery store after work to pick up some milk. You’re staring through the glass, scanning for the cheapest option. You remember reading my first section and decide to try plant-based milk. The grocery store tracks your purchase, and notices it’s a first. That signal has a cascading effect, which is how you often get coupons. The next time you also buy plant-based milk. And the next time. Maybe you tell your friends about it. And now your whole friend group, the oat milk bros, buy plant-based milk. The more people who buy a particular item, the cheaper it becomes. The grocery store notices this trend and supplies more plant-based milk and less dairy milk.

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This, my friends, is how we as individuals make a difference. With our dollars.

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Buy Used, Not New Stuff

Almost everything you buy can be bought used. You can shop for secondhand clothes on Poshmark or a thrift store. You can purchase used electronics on Reebelo. The list goes on.

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Buying used supports a circular economy. Instead of perpetuating the "take-make-dispose" model, where resources are extracted, products are made, and waste is generated, buying used extends the life cycle of products and reduces waste generation.

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One of the best reasons to buy used items is that they’re typically cheaper than new ones. Who doesn’t like saving money?

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Buying used also helps reduce the demand for new products, which, in turn, reduces the need for raw materials, energy, and water used in manufacturing.

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By extending the lifespan of existing items, you minimize the environmental impact associated with the manufacturing processes and the transportation of new products.

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Here’s a fun tip: you can buy used items on Amazon. You’ll see the option under the “Add to cart” and “Buy now” buttons on the product page.

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Buy Less Stuff And Make It Good Stuff

If you can’t buy used items, buy better items.

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Purchase new clothes, like underwear or socks, from companies that are certified B-Corp.

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B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.

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Also, you can look for recycled fabrics (recycled wool), plant-based fibers (organic cotton), or semi-synthetic, low environmental impact materials (TENCEL/LYOCELL).

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A helpful tool is Good On You, which tells you how sustainable a brand really is.

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By investing in well-made, durable items, you can reduce the need for frequent replacements. This not only saves money in the long run but also reduces the overall environmental impact associated with disposable or low-quality products.

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The War On Plastic

I can’t stand plastic. And it’s everywhere.

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It’s widely noted that plastic pollution takes a huge toll on wildlife. More than 700 species, including sea turtles, fish and whales, eat plastic or get tangled up in it. Here’s an extremely sad story for you.

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Laysan albatrosses are incredible birds that can go years without touching land. They breed in the Hawaiian archipelagos of Midway Atoll and Laysan Island.

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These birds have a problem. They accidentally eat plastic and other marine debris floating in the ocean, mistaking it for food. Adults can regurgitate plastic they’ve swallowed, but chicks are unable to. The plastic fills their stomachs, potentially cutting them or taking up space, making them feel “full” when they are starving.

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One study found that 97.5% of chicks had plastic in their stomachs, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

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These photos make a powerful statement about just how far-reaching the impacts of human consumption are, as they affect birds thousands of miles away, isolated in the Pacific Ocean.

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To help reduce the plastic waste that is killing animals, we need to ban single-use plastics.

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Opt for reusable bags instead of plastic shopping bags, stainless steel tumblers instead of plastic cups, and metal straws instead of plastic straws.

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I try to always bring a zero-waste cutlery set with me so I don’t need to use plastic cutlery at restaurants.

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The Zero Waste Lifestyle

I’m on a lifelong journey to switch to a zero-waste lifestyle.

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A zero-waste lifestyle encapsulates buying used items, purchasing fewer items, and not using plastic. It’s a challenge, to say the least, but the most rewarding of endeavors.

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Toiletries like your toothbrush, shampoo, deodorant, sunscreen, and shaving kit can be zero-waste. You can purchase used glass storage containers for leftovers, use wooden cooking utensils, drink from glass jars, and more.

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One of my favorite zero-waste purchases was an upcycled toiletry bag from a lady in Cardiff, Wales. It’s where I put my toiletries when I travel.

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Although a 100% zero waste lifestyle isn’t attainable, it’s the pursuit that fulfills me. There are environmentally friendly, plastic-free options out there. We need to find them or invent them.

5. Change Your Habits

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Turn Off The Lights

Turning off lights saves energy. It’s as simple as that.

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Plus, you pay less on your electric bill!

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Nowadays, there are smart lights that you can control on your phone to turn off the lights from another room. Or you could program the lights to turn off at a certain time or when you leave your house. It’s that easy.

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So no more excuses you lazy bum.

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There are also cool companies like OhmConnect that reward you for reducing your energy usage during a time of intense demand on the grid.

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Conserve Water

Unfortunately, we don’t have endless supplies of drinkable water all across the planet. Many regions around the world are facing water scarcity, droughts, or contaminated water.

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Conserving water reduces the strain on water resources, lowers energy use required for water treatment and transportation, and helps protect ecosystems. It also prevents overuse of freshwater supplies.

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For example, you can turn off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving. You can also opt for short showers, something I admittedly struggle with. And don’t forget to fix those leaks!

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Another thing you can do is use the cold, not hot wash for laundry. Washing clothes in cold water uses less energy compared to hot water and washing clothes in cold water is gentler on fabrics, which will extend the life of your clothes.

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And once again, your water bill will thank you every month.

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Recycle (I hope you already do)

Recycling reduces waste in landfills, conserves natural resources, and lowers energy consumption by reprocessing materials into new products.

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Common recyclable materials include paper/cardboard, glass, aluminum, and steel. These materials can be processed and reused to create new products, reducing the need for virgin resources.

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Notice how I didn’t mention plastic.

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According to the United Nations, scientists estimate that only around 9 percent of all the plastic waste generated globally is recycled. Most of our plastic waste – a whopping 79 percent – ends up in landfills or in nature. Some 12 percent are incinerated.

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Each municipality had different recycling capabilities. It’s best to check with your local dump to see what they do and don’t take. It’s a confusing and archaic system unfortunately.

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Side note, if you still get bills or statements in the mail, recycle them, duh, but also switch to the paperless option. It’s better for the planet and c’mon it’s the 21st century!

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Try Upcycling

Upcycling involves repurposing items into new products, which reduces waste, minimizes the need for new raw materials, and can be more cost-effective.

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As I mentioned earlier, I bought a neat upcycled toiletry bag from a lady in Cardiff, Wales. She made it using an umbrella and air mattress.

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At home, I upcycle bottles and jars to store food, hold my toothbrush, and drink water. There’s a second use for everything!

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Wrapping Up

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There’s never been a more urgent and affordable time than right now to live more sustainably. My goal was to share the countless ways you can take action right now to fight climate change and live a more sustainable life.

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Reversing climate change requires all of us. Every action, every purchase, every day. Together, we can make this planet a more hospitable and clean world to live in. What’s the first step you’ll take?

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