11 Sustainable Lifestyle Tips from Budderfly Employees
Every day, the Budderfly team works hard to bring savings to our customers, helping them reduce their energy consumption and become more sustainable. We are a group of people who are passionate about sustainability, and the work we do to reduce waste and lower carbon emissions doesn’t stop when we leave the office or shut down our laptops.
As part of our recent Earth Month celebrations, we asked Budderfly employees to share some of the ways they are eco-friendly at home. Below are some of the responses we got. Read the list for some great tips on easy sustainable practices you can incorporate into your daily routines.
Internet-controlled devices can help save energy.
"Recently, I invested in Wi-Fi-enabled switches that allow me to control appliances like fans and lights through my phone — I schedule them to run only when needed, which helps save energy." —Gargi A
Shop smarter online to minimize waste.
"I try to be mindful about my impact, especially since my home is about a 15-minute drive from any stores or commercial areas. Instead of placing small, frequent online orders, I use features like Amazon Day to group my deliveries and cut down on excess packaging and transportation. I also give the boxes and packing materials a second life by letting my dogs play with them before they go into our weekly recycling. It's a small habit, but it's made a big difference in how much waste we produce - and the dogs love it (as you can see in the attachments!) " — Shauna H.
Grow wildflowers to support your local ecosystems.
“We grow wildflowers for local pollinators! It's lovely and fascinating to see butterflies, bees, moths and hummingbirds do their important work while they collect food! Plus, it helps our strawberry garden grow earlier in the year.” — Francesca A.
Eco bricks save landfill space and reduce the spread of microplastics.
“I have eco bricks! Basically what you do is take an empty (clean) container, like an apple juice container for example, and stuff it full of any single use plastics we inevitably and unfortunately have to use that are not recyclable/and or are very difficult to recycle, and are often just thrown away once they get to recycle centers. I pack them FULL of these plastics, and I mean FULL! You can get a lot in there. The idea is that these are plastics going to be thrown away anyways, but you're saving a LOT of space in landfills by making them compact. Also, by fitting them all into one container, you end up preventing microplastics from spreading and also helps to keep wildlife safe by putting the items altogether! You'd be surprised how much single plastics we use per week, and how much you can fit in the eco brick.” —Emma O.
Solar panel + air fryers are a great recipe for at-home energy efficiency.
“About 4.5 years ago, we installed solar panels on our roof. On sunny days, these generate over 70 kWh/day, significantly reducing our reliance on nonrenewable energy sources. Over their lifetime, the panels have offset approximately 64,000 kg of CO2—equivalent to planting 1,066 trees. ... [We] installed double-pane windows throughout the house to improve insulation, added a mini water heater under the sink for localized heating, replaced our traditional range with an induction cooktop and added an air fryer for faster, energy-efficient cooking. Of course, we upgraded to LED lighting wherever it made sense.” —Erwin H.
Try running outdoors to keep the planet beautiful while admiring its beauty.
“Running outdoors instead of using a gym reduces electricity use and cuts down on emissions from commuting—plus, there's nothing better than getting a workout in while appreciating the planet we’re working to protect.” —Kimberly K.
Stanley Cups are popular for a reason! Reusable water bottles lower plastic waste and save you money in the long run.
“I've stopped drinking out of plastic water bottles and started using a Stanley.” — David N.
“My favorite sustainable practice is my reusable water bottle, or as I like to jokingly call it, my emotional support water bottle. I never go anywhere without my refillable water bottle to ensure that I am not wasting excess plastic by purchasing one time use water bottles. Saving money in my pockets and plastic from the environment!” — Anna M.
Combine eco-friendly transportation with renewable energy to make a sustainable commute.
“Replacing our Prius with an all electric vehicle was another step toward sustainability. Charging our car with solar energy closes the loop, making our daily commutes greener.” —Erwin H.
Recycle smarter to support your local facilities.
“Recycling religiously - sorting un-recyclable materials out as much as possible and checking local guidelines for what is and is not accepted.” —Brady O.
Remember that small daily practices can add up to big change.
"Using reusable glass straws. Opening up the windows instead of turning on the A/C for fresh cool air in the summer. Biking/walking to a friend’s house instead of driving." — Kristine R.
Get involved in local sustainability groups to learn more about how you can help.
“I'm committed to learning more about sustainable innovation in my state. Last week, I attended the Super South conference in Atlanta, which brought together professionals in energy, tech, film, education, nonprofits, fashion, music and more. All dedicated to advancing Georgia as the sustainable leader of the South!” Kim S.
Making our personal lives more sustainable helps us save money and save the planet. The same approach works for businesses as well: efficient technologies and practices help eliminate energy waste and make operating costs more affordable.
If you have a business or facility that you’d like to make more sustainable—without having to invest capital—learn how Budderfly’s unique energy-as-a-service model makes energy efficiency accessible here.