Many people are making the switch more energy-efficient in their homes, and the environment appreciates every small change! There are plenty of both small and significant changes you can make beyond recycling all recyclable materials that come into your home.
Light Bulbs
Energy-efficient light bulbs are a relatively easy change you can make to help lessen your environmental impact. While the initial cost to switch over to these eco-friendly lightbulbs can be pricey, these bulbs will save you money in the long run. Not only do they use less energy resulting in lower bills, but they last longer, so you won’t need to replace them as often. Switching out your light bulbs is a change that makes sense for your wallet and the environment.
Recycling
Not only is recycling a great practice but buying recycled products whenever you can is another excellent practice. There is a wide range of recycled products on the market, and you can find everything from toilet paper to paper towel, paper to backpacks. You can also find recycled technology that you can opt for when upgrading your tech. Many big-box retailers will take your old TVs, printers, and other tech items to recycle them as well.
Natural Cleaning Products
Cleaning your home with chemicals is not ideal for having an eco-friendly house. When you wash away the chemicals from typical cleaners, you’re putting them directly into the water supply, making it harder to purify. There are many great all-natural alternatives on the market that don’t cause harm to the environment. You can even use everyday pantry items like vinegar, baking soda, and citrus fruits to clean instead.
Cooking
Changing the way you operate in the kitchen can have a positive impact on the environment. Don’t open your oven door during cooking because it requires a large amount of energy to get back up to the temperature it was previously. If you have a single-use coffee maker, the pods create a tremendous amount of waste, so stick to a conventional coffee maker. Create a compost for scraps and leftovers, so they don’t go directly into landfills. You can use this for your garden, or you can hire a company to come to pick up your compost if you don’t have a garden or use for it.
Insulate
One of the most impactful ways to make your home more energy-efficient is to keep your energy usage down. One of the best ways to do this is to ensure your doors, windows, walls, and roof are properly insulated, so you don’t have to wear five layers of clothing during cold months. When there is a cold draft sneaking through your doors and windows, your home has to work harder to keep up the temperature. Proper insulation will keep the heat in and the cold out. If you have a large budget, you can consider upgrading your windows to have double-glazing. If you have hardwood flooring, covering large open spaces with area rugs can help prevent air from coming through the cracks in the floor.
Sources:
https://blueandgreentomorrow.com/features/10-ways-make-home-eco-friendly/
