How to Live More Sustainably

2018 was the Year of Climate Action, according to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in Singapore. And with worldwide efforts catching on - like banning plastic straws and lids, ongoing green energy initiatives, and corporations continuing to reduce their carbon emissions, there's more urgency than ever to take action.

Now that we’ve truly begun to see the momentum, it’s time to look forward to what can be accomplished in 2019. This year, we challenge you to take action to the next level by simply reducing your consumption. Period. Here are some small ways you can make a big difference this year, and for years to come:

Reduce your plastic usage.

9.1 billion tons of plastic has been produced since plastic was introduced in the 1950s and virtually every piece of plastic that was ever made still exists in some shape or form. And if plastic production isn’t curbed, plastic pollution will outweigh fish pound for pound by 2050. If we each do our part to reduce our plastic usage - use reusable containers, bags, and other products - these facts might be a lot less scary.

Drive less.

Whether it’s using public transportation, shopping and dining out in your own neighborhood, carpooling, or jumping on one of those new electric scooters that are taking over all the cities, simply driving less can absolutely crush your carbon footprint. Many states and cities have initiatives and networks in place for you to find all your transportation options that don’t include driving.

Offset your travels.

Whether you’re planning to take a vacation or travel for work, you can purchase an offset through The Good Traveler to offset the carbon impact of your trip. A single certified carbon offset costs only $2 and offsets the carbon you release in 1,000 miles of air travel or 400 miles of car travel - that’s equivalent to about 344 pounds of carbon dioxide! When an offset is purchased, The Good Traveler uses the money to invest in existing certified carbon offsetting projects, wetland restoration projects, and forest growing projects.

Shop Eco-Friendly.

Whether you choose to purchase products contained in recyclable materials, or you really want to work hard to remove plastic pollution from your life, you can shop eco-friendly in every single part of a store. This list of Eco-Friendly products is one of our favorites.

Use less everything.

Minimalist lifestyles have become a part of pop culture in the last few years. And with hit shows like Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix and numerous blogs and websites geared toward “living the simple life”, it’s becoming much easier to come up with an action plan for waste reduction.

Want to take even more steps to be sustainable?

At IGS Energy, we’re working hard to build a meaningful energy future together. And we know that means finding new, innovative ways to make sustainable products accessible. With our new Residential Solar program, and our tried and true Go Green Electricity product, we’re giving consumers even more choices for their energy needs.