As we pack our bags and get ready to return home for the summer, don’t forget to make some sustainable choices during your time off! Here are a couple tips for you to pick up some sustainable habits while you soak up the sun!
1. Spend time outside
This is a given. Summertime means beautiful weather and endless sunshine, so get outside and soak up those rays. Go for a hike, bike around some trails, or have a picnic with your friends in the park! Whatever you do, do it outside and enjoy the warmth!
2. Keep a reusable water bottle
With the weather heating up, it’s important to remain hydrated, especially if you’re spending a lot of time outside! Instead of getting a pack of plastic water bottles, opt for a reusable one that you can bring with you wherever you go. Reusable water bottles are fun and convenient, and saves a lot of single use plastics from ending up in the landfill!
3. Crack open a window
Instead of cranking the AC all summer, crack open a window and let in some natural air. Whether you’re driving around town or reading a book in your living room, don’t waste the energy and money it takes to use air conditioning. Open some windows and let in the fresh air, it’ll feel great and your AC bill will thank you!
4. Summer volunteering
The best way to spend your summer is by doing some volunteer work. There are hundreds of organizations that offer plenty of opportunities to get your hands a little dirty. For some examples of where you could get involved, check out our next blog post that offers 10 different places in the Lincoln area to spend your time!
5. Summer giveaways
Summer is the best time to do a little cleaning, especially if you are in the process of packing up and moving home. Instead of just dumping your things in the landfill, consider giving things away to Goodwill or to other second-hand stores that take used items. If you are living in the dorms, there should be bins where you can place items or food that you no longer want and they will give it away to Goodwill or the Husker Pantry. Don’t throw it away unless you absolutely need to!
6. Plant a garden
Now that it’s summer, there is endless sunshine, so what a perfect time to plant a garden! Spruce up your front or backyard by planting some flowers or, if you’re feeling ambitious, you can plant some fruits and vegetables! Go to your local nursery and pick out some plants that you’d like to see in full bloom and get started on your garden!
7. Use eco-friendly sunscreen
If you’re spending hours underneath the sun, make sure you’re using sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays! But don’t just pick up any bottle of sunscreen, make sure it’s eco-friendly and doesn’t test on animals. A few brands to look out for are Kiss My Face Organics, Burts Bees, and Badger Organic.
8. Go to the farmers' market
My favorite part about summer is the farmers market. Farmers markets offer many fresh and locally sourced foods such as eggs, vegetables, fruits, or honey. There is usually live music, lots of sunshine, and lots of local brands and organizations to look into. Help support your local farmers and shops and try to get out to one of the farmer’s markets in your city this summer!