How to Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly
Living in an eco-friendly home is becoming increasingly important for many homeowners, but it can be a challenge to make the switch. Fortunately, there are some easy and simple ways to make your home greener and more eco-friendly.
1. Choose Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Materials
When repairing or replacing things around your home, aim to stick with sustainable and energy-efficient materials. For instance, if you are looking to replace your flooring with wood, choosing recycled wood or bamboo can help you improve the eco-friendliness of your home. Similarly, choosing an efficient roofing material can help decrease your home’s energy needs by up to 30%. This can help reduce your home’s energy consumption and make your home much more energy-efficient overall.
2. Wash With Cold Water
Laundry is an unfortunate part of every week, and while it can be a drain to your mood, it doesn’t have to be on the environment. Washing your clothes in cold water and using an energy star-rated washing machine can help you cut down on the energy you use with every load. Similarly, opt to skip using your dryer when possible. Invest in an outdoor clothesline so that your clothes can dry without using any energy. During the summer months or all year round in warmer climates, this is a great way to save energy and go green.
3. Pick VOC-Free Paint
When painting the exterior of a home, oil-based paints have often been used in the past. However, today, water-based, greener paints are performing just as well. Similarly, when painting the inside of your home, VOC-free paint should be used. VOCs are volatile organic compounds that can cause numerous health problems. When inhaling the fumes from paint with VOCs, you can experience airway irritation, nausea, headaches, and in extreme cases, you can even experience liver damage or damage to your kidneys and central nervous system. VOCs can also damage the environment if they are disposed of improperly. So, for a healthier, greener home, opt for alternatives without VOCs.
4. Recycle
If your trash removal service offers to recycle, you should always opt to recycle what you can. If your trash service doesn’t offer recycling options, see if there are any stores nearby that take in bottles or other plastics for recycling. There may also be recycling facilities near you that allow you to drop off your recyclable items. Doing this can help you cut down on the waste that you’re putting into the environment, and it can help make your home and your lifestyle more eco-friendly.
5. Be Smart About Electricity Usage
Energy usage is one of the biggest drains of resources, and while there are some things that you won’t want to give up, there are ways that you can use your energy in a smarter way. For instance, by the year 2023, over two-thirds of the world’s population will have internet access. This means a lot of computers are using energy daily. While you don’t have to give up your computer, you should always make sure to turn it off when you’re not using it. Your TV, coffee maker, and room lights should likewise always be turned off when not in use. Additionally, you should try to make use of natural light throughout the day as much as possible instead of relying on indoor lighting. This can help you save on energy and reduce how much your home uses daily.
Going green and making your home more eco-friendly may seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. These five tips prove that even simple changes can have a big impact when it comes to making your home greener.
If you’re thinking about how your home can be more eco-friendly, keep these tips in mind and see what changes you can implement in your house today.
