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May 24, 2021

Simple Ways to Help the Environment by Disowning

Disown (verb) 

disowned; disowning; disowns 

to repudiate any connection or identification with 

Merriam Webster 

“Disowning” is such a negative word. Or is it? When you disown negative things, you flip the script. Suddenly, disowning is a good thing to do.  

Empower yourself while making the world a better place by adopting some sustainable habits. Read on to find out how to disown your carbon footprint, conserve energy and nip waste in the bud.   

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint by Disowning 

The average per-capita carbon footprint in the United States is 16.2 tons. That’s a huge amount of carbon. In fact, that’s a little embarrassing. Reduce your environmental impact by: 

  • Disowning your car: You don't need a car to have access to one. Grab a Zipcar instead and save 1,600 lbs of CO2 a year by car sharing. Plus, you can skip all the car ownership hassles like payments and repairs. 

  • Disowning new stuff: When you absolutely need to buy something new, try looking for it in a vintage or antique shop, giving new life to previously owned furniture and housewares. 

  • Disowning fast fashion: Thrifting is an easy and fun way to establish your own unique style and help the environment. You’ll discover long-lasting sustainable clothing or gently used garb instead. 

Ways to Conserve Energy through Disowning 

In 2019, Americans ran through about 10,649 kWh of electricity per person — that’s about the same as a 1,250 watt hair dryer left running 24 hours a day for an entire year. Yikes. Reclaim some of that energy by: 

  • Disowning nonrenewable energy sources: Embrace renewable energy by choosing a renewables-backed energy provider for your home. If you are a renter, check with your utility company to see if they offer a “green power” option. 

  • Disowning energy waste: Turn off appliances when they’re not in use, and unplug energy vampires — smartphone chargers, cable boxes and coffee makers, for instance. 

Disown to Reduce Paper & Plastic Waste 

Some types of plastic take 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill. That empty soda bottle you just threw away? That’ll still be here when your great-grandchildren’s great-grandchildren’s great-grandchildren’s great-grandchildren have great-great-great grandchildren of their own. Actually, even longer than that. No exaggeration. Change this reality by: 

  • Disowning plastic bottles: Choose a high-quality stainless-steel water bottle and fill it with fresh, clean water.  

  • Disowning paper and plastic bags: Some states have already banned single-use plastic bags. Don’t wait — ban yourself from using them right now and take cute reusable bags to the store instead. 

Disown and Reduce Food Waste  

Every year, we create a waste food mountain here in the good ol’ USA. In 2018, that mountain weighed 103 million tons. That’s about as heavy as 1,010 Nimitz Class aircraft carriers piled in a gigantic heap. Make a dent by: 

  • Disowning food waste: Plan meals and buy only the ingredients you need — or make batches and freeze portions in reusable containers. Purchase local, organic foods whenever possible. 

  • Disowning trash: Throw compostable food scraps in the compost bin instead of the trash. Egg shells, veggie peels, coffee grounds and tea bags are all compost-friendly foods that can be turned into rich soil for your patio garden. 

With a little planning and enthusiasm, you can seriously reduce your environmental impact. Go ahead — disown something today. It’ll make you feel better. Shape