Helping create a sustainable Earth is something we should all to try to do. Air pollution and greenhouse gasses are becoming a real problem and the only way to stop them is to make the planet more sustainable. Chances are, you believe that one individual can’t do much to help save the environment but this doesn’t seem to be the case. A study from a few years ago showed that 50-80% of the land, water and materials is used for household consumption. This means that living an eco-friendly life is something we should all strive to do. With that said, here’s the ultimate four step guide to eco-friendly living.

Start recycling

The average Australian is responsible for 2000kg of waste annually. This means that we should do everything in our power to ensure that waste has a minimal effect on the planet. The good news is, there are more and more recyclable products available and starting to recycle isn’t tough. In fact, it’s the perfect way to start living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Join your city’s recycling program and get a designated recycling bin in order to be able to participate. Also, take a closer look at the products you buy on a regular basis and see if you can make a switch to some more recyclable options. Buying products made of recycled material such as printer paper and plastic containers is also recommended.

Switch off those appliances

There’s no need to say that certain activities such as putting the heating on can use up a large amount of energy. However, there are some appliances that do this even when they’re turned off. For example, keeping your TV on standby feels like you’re not wasting energy, but this assumption is wrong. 98% of households have their TV on standby for more than 11 hours every day, resulting in an annual loss of about $30 million. Saving all the energy that gets lost this way could do our planet a huge favor. Other appliances you might want to unplug instead of leaving on standby include your PC, gaming consoles and television set top box.

Make your car green

No, I’m not talking about painting your car green. Instead, there are some things you can do to ensure your car doesn’t hurt the environment as much as a regular car does. For example, you can start by filling up your tank the right way. Don’t top it off with that little bit extra once the pump stops as it means harmful vapors could escape from your car. While not always possible, avoiding the use of air conditioning can also help contribute to saving the planet. When buying tyres for your car, always go for quality as you’ll have to change them less often, and old tyres are a major source of pollution. Find the right Australia tyre promotion and you can even save money while getting quality tyres.

Install solar panels

The number of people who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint is increasing and many of them decide to rely less on electrical energy. What they do instead is install solar panels on their roofs and use energy collected from the sunlight. Not only does this help save the environment but reduce the energy bill as well. Therefore, if you want to aid in preserving the planet, installing solar panels on your roof is a real no-brainer. These things are constantly gaining popularity in Australia and finding experts who can help you install them should be a breeze. Get a solar battery as well, and you might even be able to reduce your energy bill to $0.

Over to you

Going green isn’t easy as it may seem, as it requires a lot of effort and flexibility. Start by following the four steps I talked about earlier and there should be nothing stopping you from living an eco-friendly life. As the condition of our planet keeps worsening, it’s also a good idea to keep an eye for some new ways to help preserve it. The good news is, there are a number of online magazines and social media pages you can follow and stay update with the most recent new about eco-friendly living.