It is good news that green living is becoming more popular in recent years. Being more environmentally conscious will not only save you money, but it can help develop a sustainable environment. There are many budget-friendly and less time-consuming projects that one can do in their homes to make them an eco-friendly place.
Here are some ways that you can make your home more eco-friendly and sustainable:
1. Change Your Light Bulbs
Investing in the correct type of light bulbs makes a significant difference in your home. It’s tempting to use incandescent bulbs, but LED bulbs are the best alternative. Not only will these bulbs make your home more eco-friendly, but they also use less electricity and last longer and save you money in the long run.
2. Make Your Compost
Instead of tossing your kitchen scraps or leftover food into the bin, turn them to compost. You will be astonished at how much food you throw away, which can be easily recycled. Composting can be neat, tidy, and odor-free. Place a bin in your garden and stash scraps, and watch your stash loads getting smaller.
3. Use Solar Panels
Solar panels are essential for any eco-home. Thanks to technological advancements, the installation costs are at the minimum. Additionally, the federal government offers tax incentives for homeowners interested in converting to solar energy. However, it’s crucial to have an industry professional analyze your home to determine whether it’s possible to have solar panels.
Some important aspects to look into include:
- Local climate
- Your roof
- Tree cover
4. Greenify Your Home
Houseplants help improve your home’s air quality by reducing carbon dioxide and absorbing airborne toxins such as benzenes and formaldehyde. Besides this, they make your home more look nice, and they are more welcoming. Consider using snake plants, spider plants, and rubber trees since they are among the easiest to grow and have the best indoor air quality benefits. It takes responsibility to take care of plants, but it’s a worthy cause.
5. Efficient Window Treatments
Despite keeping the noisy neighbors away, curtains and blinds also help in regulating heat and cool air from outside. Having a curtain and window with internal blinds upgrade is a definite way to maintain temperature and make your home more eco-friendly. Opting to use the AC all day is not. Another option would be to add more oversized windows to your home to optimize natural light and improve air circulation throughout the year.
6. Use Natural Home Cleaning Products
This may not sound very easy, but it is, and it will undoubtedly save you money. Additionally, fewer chemicals will get into your water supply, reducing exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. Most cleaning products have a ton of chemicals in them. It may be worth your time to make your own natural cleaning products at home. You will create products that you know all of the ingredients in, and you will produce less plastic waste by not throwing away your plastic containers. Some of the simple recipes include:
- Anti-bacterial cleaners- 1 liter of hot water and orange essential oils, ¼ cup white vinegar, and 1 tbsp of baking soda
- Window cleaners- 2 cups of warm water, ¼ cup vinegar, and tree oil
- Room spray- 2 cups of warm water and a lavender smelling oil (or whichever scent you would prefer for your home)
7. Wash Clothes in Cold Water
If you’re lucky enough to have a washing machine, it is essential to note that they use 90% of energy towards heating water. The hot water slowly weakens your fabric and makes bright clothes less colorful. To skip the healing process, try to use the cold-water setting. It helps clothes last longer and controls carbon dioxide emissions. There’s no need to use the hot water setting, not unless you’re dealing with stubborn stains like oil. If the cold-water setting doesn’t work for you, settle for the warm water setting.
8. Sun-Dry Your Clothes Outside
There’s something special about line-drying in the fresh air. Hanging your clothes outside equally make your beddings and clothes last longer. It’s not necessary to have a garden or backyard to line-dry your clothes. You can easily install a drying rack on your balcony.
9. Use a Smart Thermostat
A programmable thermostat helps you monitor your cooling and heating systems. A smart thermostat with an eco-mode setting automatically decreases the temperature even when you’re not at home. It will equally reduce your utility bill costs and make your home more eco-friendly.
10. Make Smart Kitchen Moves
If you are a coffee lover, use a drip coffee maker instead of a pod coffee maker. Pod coffee makers are not eco-friendly since they use pods, while with a drip coffee maker, you will only need ground coffee. Also, you can swap your oven for a toaster. For example, when toasting bread, a toaster will be more efficient as it uses less energy and gets the job done faster. Also, while using the oven for baking, keep checking the oven door every time to prevent a considerable amount of heat loss. You can also minimize food wastage by having proper meal plans and storing food properly. With less time and effort, you can reduce your family’s carbon footprint and make your home more eco-friendly.
About the Author
This article is provided by Jennifer Bell who is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.
