Thanks to Gurus for sponsoring today’s discussion.

Being more sustainable in every day is so important to my family. Being that we live in an apartment, my off-the-grid-gal is screaming for ways I could be sustainable if only we had our own place, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to do what I can to live a more green lifestyle when I can.

If you are looking for more ways to be sustainable in the upcoming heat of summer, here are 7 ways to be more sustainable this summer.

7 Ways to be More Sustainable this Summer

Drink more tap water. One of my biggest beefs with packaging is plastic water bottles. I cringe when I have to buy one because I forgot my reusable bottle with me. I make an effort to use it at least 1 more time before getting rid of it and I look for the kinds of plastic that can be recycled. If you drink more tap water, you won’t have a need to buy water bottles.

Wear sustainable footwear. In the summer, we often but cheap plastic or foam flip flips to wear for the season, but these are simply not a sustainable option. Look for ones made of natural rubber such as the ones from Gurus. I was curious about them and was recently sent a pair to try out and I absolutely love them. They are made from sustainably sourced natural rubber and they even plant a tree when you buy a pair. Plus, you can’t beat the unique India-inspired design. If you are wondering about the design and how comfortable they are, my answer is a YES! They are actually very comfortable. I would say more so than traditional “flipflops”.Scroll to the bottom of this post if you want to win a pair! You can also use the code savedbygrace at the checkout and get 15% off your order!

Hang-dry your clothes. Skip the dryer and go outside to line dry your clothing if you can. Not only will you save energy from not running your dryer, but you won’t heat your house up causing your air conditioner to work overtime and your clothes will smell amazing!

Shop local farmer’s markets. If you are lucky enough to live in an area that has farmer’s markets, shop them for the best local stuff. You will be supporting local business and making sure to get stuff that doesn’t have to shipped, packed and refrigerated for 100’s of miles.

Skip Styrofoam and plastic at picnics. When people go for picnics it is very common and let’s face it, convenient, to use throw away utensils and plates. This creates huge amounts of waste each summer! Although it may be just a bit more trouble, use ceramic or bamboo plates. You can give them a quick rinse before packing them away to be taken home and washed.

Travel in energy efficient rental cars rather than flying. Did you know you can rent hybrid cars? Well, you can and driving may not seem like the green thing to do, but traveling by car (even a regular furl style one) saves fuel and Co2 emissions when compared to flying.

Walk more for shorter distances. If the place you are going to is less than a mile away, there is really no need to get in the car and drive there unless you have a physical reason you can’t. Walking is better not only for your health, but also your wallet when you consider the cost of fuel and parking in many areas.

Would you like to win a pair of Gurus for yourself? Here’s your chance! Just enter below until 4/10/2023 when one winner will be chosen.