roduce about 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. [And] that’s nearly the equivalent to the weight of the entire human population.”
Instead of being completely defeated by this thought, we focus on what we are doing to change this with our family’s sustainability journey. We consciously buy less plastic, reuse it as much as possible, and recycle it. We are making a difference daily. Moreover, we are taking positive action by voting and calling our representatives to support the environment and reduce plastic dependency.
Focus on Sustainable Energy Solutions at Home
A home is where you and your family probably spend a majority of your time. So focusing your sustainability efforts here can help make an impact.
Make an Electric Car Your Next Car
Looking to get a new car soon? A great investment would be an electric car. We have one gas car and one electric car. We only fill up the gas car once every 1 to 2.5 months now because we prioritize using the electric car. It’s saved us a nice chunk of money due to the current gas prices, and the electricity is coming from our solar panels.
Get a Solar Panel System
Getting a solar panel system for your roof or yard is another great way to live more sustainably with kids. After the payback period, it will literally be creating energy and saving you money all while helping the environment.
We have a tiny electric bill now and only because our city restricted the system size, which didn’t quite cover our whole electricity needs. Make sure to check out our Going Solar Journey where we did our own DIY solar panel installation that’s now saving our family money and providing us with renewable energy daily.
If you’re looking for a quote and FREE system layout, then reach out to GoGreenSolar here (U.S. only). They helped us with getting solar panels and we love them!
Opt for Electricity
Slowly, or quickly depending on your budget, phase out natural gas for electricity within your home. This way you are utilizing renewable energy whenever possible. This could be converting gas stoves, water heaters, or even fireplaces to electricity. Home improvements can go a long way towards drastically lowering greenhouse gas emissions caused by fossil fuels and could save you money in increased efficiency as well..
Eco-Friendly Food Choices
There are some eco-friendly food choices out there that may not be realistic for a family with kids. I know I sometimes get this paralysis when grocery shopping and deciding whether to buy locally grown and organic, or buy pre-packaged food because it’s the only thing my toddler will eat.
It’s natural to question it. But realize it’s all a balance between what’s right for you and your family and what’s right for the environment. It’s about progress over perfection. We’ve found focusing on these simple ideas works best for our family.
Waste Less Food
We have a toddler who can be very picky and so can most kids. It’s sometimes a real struggle! I’ve found myself giving in to giving my child food that I know they’ll eat more often to ensure the food isn’t wasted.
Not wasting food is actually one of the most environmentally friendly things to do. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, “Roughly one-third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year – approximately 1.3 billion tonnes – gets lost or wasted.” And not only that, but according to the Natural Resource Defense Council, around 40 percent of the food in the United States is never eaten.
These numbers are staggering, which is why I’m more inclined to feed my child something they’ll actually eat instead of it going to waste. I’m not saying don’t ever branch out and get your kids to try new things. We definitely keep exposing our child to more and more food and a balanced diet. However, maybe when packing lunches or with some daily meals, give kids food they’ll eat and not excessive amounts. It’s a way to ensure you reduce your family’s food waste.
Another simple way to make eco-friendly food choices for a family is to compost, if possible. Food waste does not break down