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6 Simple Ways to Make Eco-friendly Homes

6 Simple Ways to Make Eco-friendly Homes

Climate change, sustainability, and green living are a few reasons why people are becoming more environmentally-conscious. Though not everyone can afford to install solar panels or revamp their houses to make it more eco-friendly, we can all certainly start small in our homes instead of trying to change all of our habits at once! Living an eco-friendly life not only makes our lives healthier but also contributes to a sustainable environment and saves us a bunch of money. 

Our home is where we spend most of our time, so why not start from there?

Without further ado, here are 6-small changes to make your home more eco-friendly. 

1. Use energy-efficient appliances

The use of energy-efficient appliances is a good way to meet sustainability standards. Around 30% of our monthly utility bill is due to using electrical appliances. Energy-efficient appliances not only use less electricity but also helps to protect our environment and us.

Use energy-efficient appliances

If you haven’t switched to LEDs then you should consider switching. LEDs use 75% much lesser energy than regular incandescent light bulbs. Classical light bulbs have the worst energy efficiency and lifespan. LEDs are always better alternatives as they last 25 times longer, are eco-friendly. While the initial cost of LEDs is higher than traditional bulbs, they last longer and it saves you a chunk of money in the long run.

If you want to get the best energy efficient lights but don’t want to pay a lot of money? Get a head start with CFL light bulbs.

2. Save water

Water is the most important element of life. It is a finite resource that can go extinct if we do not manage it properly. Conservation of water is the need of the hour and we need to care more about its use to minimize its wastage so as to ensure that it is adequate for all today and tomorrow. 

Save water

Small changes like taking shorter showers, turning off the water while shaving and brushing can really make a big difference. According to a study, on average, an individual wastes 17 gallons of water per shower, that’s huge right! Turn the tap off while washing utensils or clothes. Low volume bathroom and kitchen fixtures are important, including low flow, dual flush toilets. By following these we can do our bit in saving some water for our future. 

3. Compost your scraps

The USA has the highest rates of waste in the world. A single person in the USA generates 367 kilograms of organic waste per year. A waste is not waste until it is not wasted. Composting is a great way of recycling your organic kitchen waste. Organic waste such as kitchen waste and yard waste, make up 30-50% of what people throw away. Composting can significantly cut down the waste. 

When we throw organic waste in a landfill, it starts to decompose releasing methane gas, a greenhouse gas. An area we always love to tackle first in the kitchen. There are so many ways to be waste-free with alternatives if they’re accessible for you. A compost bin will not only help you to get rid of your leftovers but can also protect our environment. You can use the compost to fertilize your plants. If you’re worried about its foul smell, there are many compost bins available in the market that are designed to be tidy, clean and odor-free. You’ll be amazed to see how much of the leftovers you throw away can be recycled and used.  amount of compost. Composting need not be puzzling, simply place a compost bin in your yard and fill it with your food waste, dried brown leaves, green leaves and in no time your free fertilizer will be ready! If you’re not into plants or don’t have a yard, you can find compositing locations near you and can give your waste to them for composting. 

4. Grow your own

We all know that chemical-free fruits and vegetables are hard to get and healthy eating has become somewhat virtually impossible for most of us. Having a home garden or a farm is always a good idea to get fresh and healthy food and remove the need of having to rely on dubious vegetable markets or convoluted food systems. It also gives us a  sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing that the food is fresh, natural, and grown in front of our eyes.  

Grow your own

Growing our own food is one of the most empowering things we can do for us and for our family. It creates the freshest, healthiest, eco-friendliest, least costly, and most delicious food, and importantly, gives you control over when, how and what to produce. Also, you can use your compost in fertilizing your plants, great idea right! Grow herbs as they don’t require a lot of space and you’ll never run out of herbs!

If your home wasn’t blessed with tons of space, that doesn’t mean you can’t grow. You can grow herbs as they don’t require a lot of space and be grown in small pots near window sills and you’ll never run out of herbs! A small step to sustainability can create a big impact.

5. Use natural cleaning products

Most cleaning products contain harmful chemicals and they leave behind residues that can harm our skin and can come in contact with the food, clothes, our children’s, or pets. On average one out of three people suffer from allergies, asthma, rashes, sinusitis, etc. due to the harmful synthetic chemicals that it leaves behind. So it’s better to switch to natural cleaning products for a healthier environment.

Natural cleaning products are just as effective as normal ones. Natural cleaning products are non-toxic, free of phosphate, dyes, chlorine, and hypochlorite. They do not contain harmful chemicals but are more expensive and so not all of us can afford them. Nevertheless, you can make your own natural cleaning products using vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. You can also make bio enzymes of banana peels, orange pills, etc- a trend being very popular on Instagram.

6. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle


Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

You probably learned the 3 R’s in school. The goal of the 3 Rs is to prevent excessive and unnecessary waste and to limit the consumption of non-renewable resources.

Reduce the use of non-recyclable, harmful products. Make sure you purchase durable, long-lasting goods that are toxic-free and won’t cause any negative impact on the environment. Focus on reducing the use of single-use plastic, plastic packaging, styrofoam cups. Single-use plastics have created a crisis all over the world. The rate at which we consume and throw plastics is beyond our imagination. Use durable coffee mugs, reuse boxes, bottles, purchase refillable pens and pencils, use cloth napkins or towels, these small changes can be starting a point to your eco-friendly journey. Recycling is the most eco-friendly disposal method. If you own a recycle bin, you’ll be more conscious about recycling glass bottles, jars, paper, and other items that should be recycled. 

In an effort to reduce waste, one tip to reuse would be-share don’t buy. You don‘t need to own everything yourself if you only use it rarely, you can always borrow things from others. Less clutter and stuff is always better for the environment and saves you money and time.

So, these are a few ways that you can use to make your home more eco-friendly. It is up to you to decide which all changes you want to make in your habits and how far you are willing to go to make your home eco-friendly. We would suggest starting with those that can also save your money in the long run.

Have any eco-friendly tips of your own? Let us know in the comments below. And to discover more green living ideas, tips, tricks and much more, be sure to sign up to our community!

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