5 eco-friendly swaps this conservative makes to save money

Buying products "Made in America" almost always helps the environment. Not only do you avoid emissions from shipping products internationally, but the products themselves are typically made from cleaner materials and cleaner energy sources. Whether you purchase items online or in person, you can quickly find out where the product is made. Although most of my consuming decisions aren't specific to brands, I've really enjoyed American-made products like my bedding from The Company Store, ice trays from HuBee (for my iced tea addiction), and berries from Naturipe.

How many times are we offered something wasteful that we don't need? It happens nearly every day. And I'm not talking about that takeout container you get at a restaurant (that's a separate conversation). If you're eating takeout, you need a container. But do you need a plastic bag to hold the container? Usually not. Saying no to these unnecessary items is actually fairly easy — and might change the behavior of those around you, too!

People will always eat the foods they want. However, my decision to consume less beef — and more turkey, chicken, and seafood instead — makes a huge difference. Compared to eating beef, eating turkey, chicken, or seafood can decrease pollution that stems from your diet by more than 500%. While pork and lamb's numbers aren't as dramatic (comparatively), swapping turkey, seafood, or chicken for those meats still has a positive impact. I eat beef, pork, and lamb from time to time, but far less than before. Additionally, I have cut down on my consumption of nuts, which, surprisingly, take more water to produce than most meats! It's not about perfection or an overhaul of my diet; it's about being conscious of my consumption without stressing about it.

One of the most important things we can do is work together to decrease food waste. In fact, somewhere between 8–10% of human-related emissions worldwide are due to food waste. Food is one of the great uniters, and we can all do our part by ordering more reasonably sized meals, wasting fewer groceries, and advocating for composting services in our communities.

Like most people, I don't own an electric car (not yet, at least). City driving is one of the most inefficient ways to get around, but many people, including myself, still need to rely on it. We can watch our driving habits to decrease the miles per gallon on our drives. Whether it's accelerating slower, using cruise control, or coasting down an incline instead of putting our foot on the gas, small changes can increase the efficiency of driving substantially.