Many homeowners are looking for ways to transform their homes into more eco-friendly and sustainable places. More and more people each day are realizing the importance of saving the environment and how their environmental impact can make a massive difference to mother earth. There are plenty of ways to begin becoming more eco-conscious, this includes taking small steps to incorporate things into your lifestyle. While the idea of creating a more eco-friendly home may sound overwhelming it doesn’t have to be and can even make it far easier to create subtle lifestyle changes that can help out the environment. These are some fantastic ways to make your home eco-friendly!
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Look into creating a garden
Gardening is one of the best ways to offset your carbon footprint. You can make your vegetables by growing them in the garden, but it’s also a bee-friendly space within your home. You can add wildflowers, this not only boosts your curb appeal but also makes bees very happy. You can add some fruits, a veggie section, or anything that helps the insects and helps your wallet. Many people who look into creating a more sustainable home first begin with setting up a garden. It’s also a great way to start up a new hobby.
Switch to a low flow
Low flow toilets save so much water. If you’re looking into remodeling or renovating your bathroom, then the low flow is the way to go. While low flow is mostly known for the type of toilets, it can also include showerheads and faucets for sinks and tubs. This is a great way to save money in the long run and low-flow appliances don’t need to be very expensive either. You can save up to 15,000 gallons per year on water if your home is a family of four. It’s pretty incredible, isn’t it? Also, it’s important to understand that low flow doesn’t mean low pressure or even low performance.
Utilize the sun
If you’re currently in the process of building your house, then you’ll want to orientate this house to maximize sunshine. However, even if you’re not building a home. You can still maximize sunshine within your home. This can include looking into a solar company that can set up solar panels. This can even include installing solar water heating methods, or just leaving the curtains open so sunshine can seep through into the house.
Look into getting a rain collector
So, depending on the state you’re living in, this may not be a helpful tip. Some states make it illegal to collect rainwater, and the same can be said for some cities or counties throughout the country. But, if it is legal where you’re located, then look into getting a rain collector. A rain collector can be very beneficial, especially if you have plants in your garden or even just grass. This not only saves you water, but the rainwater will be at the right PH level for your outdoor plants.
Look into Energy Star appliances
While you’re better off using your old appliances until they break, it may be best to begin looking for a backup for whenever your washer or other appliance decides to break down. Energy Star appliances are certified by the U.S. Department of Energy and use anywhere from 10 up to 50% less energy than a regular appliance uses. Pretty amazing, isn’t it? This means that you’re going to save money on your electric bill every month.
Now the most sustainable way to get a Star Energy appliance would be through second hands such as a thrift shop, Craigslist, a second-hand section from a tech store, or Facebook Marketplace. It’s best to look into secondhand first before jumping into buying a brand new appliance.
Changing shopping habits
While this may not be a part of the house itself, what you shop for will be inside the house. Look into purchasing less material items and look into purchasing minimum to zero waste products. This can even include what food you’re purchasing. There are ways to purchase minimum to zero waste food products such as buying whole foods. This can even include going to zero waste shops to fill up your pantry items.
Look into composting
Organic trash (such as veggie peelings) is going into landfills. The average US household is producing around 600 pounds of organic garbage each year. This eventually leads to methane within the landfills which are far more powerful than C02. Methane is a contributing factor to climate issues that the world is facing. Purchasing a compost bin is going to help this issue. This can be an organic matter that your garden can use for nutrition, but there are companies that will use the compost you give and they’ll help the environment with it.
