Photo by Vivint Solar on Unsplash
So you are thinking of upgrading your home to be more eco-friendly. We have come up with some top ways you can lower your carbon footprint within your home. Check out our list below.
Install Solar Panels
Solar panels are a great way to save money and help the environment at the same time. They take power from the sun and store the energy for you to use in the darker days. If you produce enough, you can sometimes sell your energy back to the grid. They are a long term investment, with the average household breaking even after 20 years depending on where you live.
For smaller solar investments, think about installing some solar lights along your garden path and driveway. These are great little additions to your garden as they will save a lot of work installing electrical wires to each light and are more reliable than battery operated garden lights.
Plant Your Own Herbs And Vegetables
Growing your own herbs and vegetables will not only be rewarding but can also be eco-friendly. Transporting food from farms to shops, then with you driving to the shop to get them produces a lot of emissions. Help lower your carbon footprint by growing your own vegetables and herbs. In the long run this will work out cheaper too.
Create A Compost Area
Make use of all those vegetable peelings, leftover fruit or eggshells and create a compost bin. Composting is when organic materials break down naturally to create a rich soil which is a great free fertilizer for your new vegetable patch. Composting helps create less waste ending up in landfills, which in turn lowers your carbon footprint. Other things you can put in your compost bin are cooked pasta and rice, paper napkins, loose leaf tea, coffee grounds and stale crackers.
Recycle, Recycle, Recycle
We all know that recycling is good for the environment, so if you don’t yet, then now is the time to start. We want to limit the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, and you can do your part by separating your recyclables from general waste. Plastic is one of the main culprits when it comes to harming the environment. Many companies are now packaging their products in recyclable plastics which is excellent if we do our part too. By sending them to the recycling center, they get melted down and turned into new products, how great is that. Plastic, cardboard and tins are not the only things that can be recycled. If you are having a wardrobe clear out, think about dropping your unwanted clothes off at a recycling bin or at your local charity shop, where they can then be bought by someone else who can make use of them.
Swap For LED Bulbs
Light-emitting diodes (LED’s) are great for making your home run more efficiently. They produce roughly 90% more efficiency than traditional light bulbs and they can save you money.
Go Smart
Technology is a wonderful thing. If you haven’t already, then consider investing in some smart devices for your home. Particularly smart thermostats, this allows you to control your heating from your smart device anywhere you are, which means not wasting unnecessary energy when you are not at home.
Use Natural Products
Think about switching up your products to a more natural substance, this will reduce harsh chemicals being released into the air. Swap out your home cleaning products and your body wash products for maximum effect.
Install Eco-Efficient Appliances
If you are remodeling your kitchen, you should think about replacing your appliances with more eco-efficient ones. They might come at a slightly higher price tag, but they are great for saving energy and being a more efficient alternative.
Pay Your Bills Online
Every month we receive our bills by post, which then usually end up in the bin once paid. Check to see if your supplier can send them to you via email or whether you can access them from an app instead. This will reduce the amount of paper used and also lower the carbon footprint as they will no longer be transferred by car to be delivered to your door.
Be Water Aware
Be mindful when using water, it’s one thing we seem to take for granted in the western world. Don’t leave taps running unnecessarily. Consider swapping your shower head to a low-flow to help reduce your water waste. Being more mindful of how much water you use will in turn lower your bills.
Purchase A Plant
Plants are a great way to bring fresh oxygen into your home without having to open the windows. Find a few plants that you can care for and spread them around your home, you will notice better air quality in no time. Some house plants are great for reducing pollutants in the air such as carbon dioxide, mercury, formaldehyde or benzene.
Swap Out The Tumble Dryer For Line Drying
Tumble dryers are great for convenience however, they consume a lot of energy. If the weather is good, opt for drying your clothes outside on a washing line, this is kinder to the fabric and to the earth.
Use Reusable Cloths
Ditch the paper towels and chemical wipes and opt for reusable clothes instead. Paper towels produce 250 million tons of waste worldwide each year, by buying reusable cloths, you will help towards stopping millions of trees from being chopped down.
Change Up Your Decor To Get Warm
Changing up your decor can help make your home feel warmer in the colder months. If you have hardwood floors, try laying down a rug, this will make your room warmer saving you on energy bills. Add some throws and blankets to your sofa so you can cosy up in the evening. Check out French Knot home decor for some inspiration.
Invest In Organic Bedding
Even after the cleaning process there is roughly about 25% of insecticides left on cotton bedding. To avoid sleeping amongst insecticides, invest in some organic cotton or bamboo bed sheets.
Repurpose Tired Furniture
Instead of replacing your old tired furniture with new ones, consider repurposing your existing ones. Whether it’s sanding and oiling a table or recovering a sofa, there are many ways you can make your old furniture look brand new.
Paint With Eco-Friendly Paint
A lot of paints contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to the environment and could result in health problems. When selecting paint, choose one that is plant-based and contains fewer levels of volatile organic compounds.
Unplug To Save Electricity
When you are not using your appliances, unplug or turn them off at the switch. This will save you a lot of energy usage and you’ll end up using less electricity.
Fix leaks
You don’t want leaky taps or pipes anyway, however, if you leave the leaks for too long you will end up wasting a lot of water and can cause damage to your home.
Insulate
Insulating your homes can keep you cool in the summer months and warm in the colder months. You can put insulation in your walls and roof and even insulate your windows with double glazing. Doing this will help save you some money too.
We hope we have helped you on your journey to creating a more eco-friendly home. We all need to do our bit for the earth, and what better way then to start at home. If you are looking for more eco-friendly tips, then check out Energy Efficient Home Remodeling Projects to Consider in the New Year.
