20 Ways To Be Eco-friendly In 2026

1. Consider Solar Panels

Let’s kick things off with nature’s gold, the sun. Harnessing the sun’s energy is one of the most effective and, honestly, best ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Solar panels are a dream because they can produce an impressive amount, if not all of your household electricity needs, depending on your system size. Think about it, they take what’s free and create a resource you’d have to pay for on a normal day, so you get to be gentle to the earth and even gentler to your pockets. 

2. Install Smart Thermostats

As seasons change, so do our desires for temperatures that combat nature’s default settings, so it’s only natural that heating and cooling are typically the largest contributors to household energy consumption. A smart thermostat can learn your schedule, like an attentive P.A. and adjust temperatures automatically, so you’re not heating an empty house or overcooling in the summer. Some models even allow you to control your heating remotely via smartphone apps, meaning you can make sure your home uses energy only when necessary (now that’s innovation at work).

For homeowners with solar panels, smart thermostats can be programmed to operate during peak solar production hours, maximising self-consumption and reducing reliance on the grid. Over time, this can lead to noticeable reductions in both energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions. So you’ll stay cool in the summer and look even cooler to the planet. 

3. Seal, Insulate, and Upgrade Your Home

Ever tried to fill a bucket with holes with water? Impossible right? Instead, you end up wasting a whole lot of that water, and that applies to the energy use in your home. Even small gaps in doors, windows, and roofs can cause major energy loss. Now, what happens when you give the bucket a little TLC? It fills up pretty quickly! Same thing happens when you apply proper sealing and insulation; it keeps warm air in during winter and hot air out during summer, which means your heating and cooling systems don’t have to work overtime.

4. Switch to LED and Smart Lighting

This is one for the books because it’s been highlighted many times over the years. One of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce your energy use is to upgrade your lighting (funny how that’s also the difference between a good picture and a great one). LED bulbs consume up to 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last way longer.

5. Use Public Transport and Carpool

Owning a car is a lovely thing, those morning drives to the office or dropping the kids off at school would be dull without some car karaoke and maybe a few honks at other drivers, but what if we told you that transportation is a major contributor to carbon emissions? Luckily, we know just how to help you reduce those emissions while getting you a standing ovation for that Leona Lewis solo; switching to public transport or participating in carpooling can significantly reduce your personal impact (besides, what’s car karaoke without an audience?). 

6. Switch to Electric or Hybrid Vehicles

Much like how AI is no longer just on Chat GPT,  Electric and hybrid vehicles (EVs and PHEVs) are becoming a thing everywhere in the world, and their environmental benefits are hard to beat. These babies don’t produce pesky tailpipe emissions, they shut down fossil fuel dependence, and pair beautifully with renewable energy sources like solar panels. They’re the new kid on the block, and they’re here to stay. 

If you charge your EV at home using solar power, you can dramatically lower your carbon footprint while enjoying the convenience of clean, quiet transportation. With government incentives and rebates available in many areas, making the switch is often easier than people realise.

7. Walk or Bike Whenever Possible

This one hits many birds with one stone while also keeping you young at heart. When we were younger, the idea of riding our bikes anywhere was exciting, and so was walking because it meant getting to see so many things we miss when we’re in a car; channel that feeling by walking or biking for short trips. This simple change reduces fuel consumption, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and provides health benefits, too.

Replacing even a few car trips per week with cycling or walking can accumulate into a meaningful reduction in your personal carbon footprint over the year. Combining active travel with renewable energy at home means you’re tackling sustainability both on the move and in your household energy use.

8. Eat More Plant-Based Meals

Our vegan readers might just jump for joy on this one, because this is the ideal “we told you so!” moment. Turns out reducing your meat and dairy intake is one of the most impactful dietary changes you can make for the environment. Yup! Plant-based meals require far fewer resources to produce, and eating more vegetables, grains, and legumes can significantly reduce your household’s carbon footprint. So, stop skipping the vegan burgers and pizza, give it a go and see how you help the planet by eating better. Even one or two plant-based meals per week adds up over time. With 2025 bringing an increasing variety of plant-based alternatives (including at some of our favourite fast food joints), it’s easier than ever to experiment with meals that are both delicious and eco-friendly.

9. Buy Local and Seasonal Produce

Did you know that supporting local farmers and markets reduces the energy used in transporting food long distances (now that’s a cool way to adopt eco-friendly practices)? Turns out seasonal produce also requires less energy to grow, as it typically thrives without a lot of heating, lighting, or even transportation. This makes sense because if it’s in season, that means nature already produces the perfect environment for this produce to grow.  By choosing local and seasonal fruits and vegetables, you also help support local communities.

10. Reduce Food Waste

Food waste isn’t frowned upon only due to the hunger crises anymore; this is a hidden contributor to environmental damage. When food ends up in a landfill, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas (this makes sense considering that awful smell it has when it starts to rot). If you practice simple habits like meal planning (no, this is not only for TIKTOK aesthetics), proper storage, and composting, you can help reduce waste and maybe channel your inner chef.