We are in the middle of a climate crisis, and it is important for each of us to do the best we can to try and remedy it. This is because every little step counts, and it is possible to make a big difference with many people each making a small change. Here are five ways in which you can make your home more eco-friendly and play your role in preserving the environment.
Natural gas takes the second position in the list of heavily consumed energy sources. This is enough to make you consider switching up your stovetop to use electric energy, which is a lot greener. If you can, go for induction burners, which are a lot more environmentally friendly and safer. While changing your source of heat, also practice more energy-conscious cooking, for example, by covering your food to enable it to cook faster using less energy.
This should be a daily mantra, and once it becomes a habit, it gets increasingly easier to keep up with. A few good examples of reusing are cutting a stained tshirt into a rag and saving paper towels, and buying from the thrift store instead of buying brand new. For recycling, think about buying recyclable material like paper and other plant fiber instead of plastic. If you must buy plastic, check the label and know how to read it because some tags are misleading, simply using imagery associated with recyclable material while not actually being recyclable.
Prevention will always be better than cure, especially where the environment is concerned. Preventing things from going bad will keep them from being tossed and ending up in overcrowded landfills. It will also help avoid chemical-intensive processes that aim to restore it to a good state. Take care when storing clothes and shoes to avoid them getting mildew. It is easy for mold to grow within just 24 to 48 hours when the conditions are right and there is food, moisture, and a temperature between 5 degrees to 38 degrees Celsius is maintained. Keep food that should be refrigerated in the fridge instead of leaving it on the counter to keep it fresh.
The dryer may be convenient, but it is not energy efficient, not even if it has a great energy rating. All you need is a clothesline or drying rack, and the sun and air will do the rest. As a plus, clothes also look new for longer when you skip the dryer. While at it, also consider washing your clothes only when they really need to be washed and avoid running the washer often, which will inevitably reduce your carbon footprint.
Any energy lost is energy that could have been conserved, so avoid this by making sure that your home is well insulated. More than 50% of the energy in a typical home is used for cooling and heating, 6% is used for lighting, and 18% is used for heating water. Since heating and cooling is the biggest consumer, it is possible to reduce it by a considerable amount when you make sure there is no leakage. Change your windows and doors to energy-efficient ones and also make sure that they leave no spaces when closed. Invest in draft excluders as well, as this will keep even more heat indoors.
Going green is not just for big companies and wealthy individuals, it is the duty each of us has to a greener environment. When you start with small steps, it becomes easy to make big ones and making your habits eco-friendly can go a long way.