10 Considerations to Make Your Home Greener
Oftentimes, people think saving the world means relying on giant corporations and global leaders to step in and enact change. The reality is everyone can contribute to the solution by doing small things on their own.
That solution can come from our very own homes. We can teach our family to adopt greener measures at home and pitch into global efforts to save the environment. After all, every bit helps make the world better for everyone. Here are 10 home solutions every household can consider:
1. Making a Home Composter
If you’re into gardening, you’ll definitely appreciate compost, which can serve as soil amenders and fertilizer. Food scraps are ideal for making compost.
Meat trimmings, vegetable peels and other kitchen scraps can be turned into compost that’s good for the environment. Just have a compost bin ready, place your leftovers in it, wait for a few weeks or months and you’ll have some homemade compost prepared for your garden.
2. Installing a Recycled Water-Catching System
The fantastic thing about sustainable living is that you have many options to choose from. One great way is to adopt a rainwater collection system in your home.
Water catchment systems can be as simple as directing water from your gutters into a barrel or as complex as using water pumps to direct the collected rainwater where they’re needed.
3. Planting in the Backyard
Having a home garden is one of the most underrated ways to make your home greener. Planting fruits and vegetables can help your household become more sustainable in the long run. Since you can harvest various produce at home, you can save more on grocery expenses.
A home garden also lets you practice a circular lifestyle, using your waste to fertilize your garden soil and yield more harvests. You can use recycled water and homemade compost to significantly improve the quality of your garden and save on utility costs in the process.
4. Installing Solar Panels
Green technology is evolving quicker than ever, thanks to the growing demand for green energy. Solar panels that were expensive years ago are now marketed to regular households that want a more environmentally-friendly alternative to electricity.
Using solar panels in your home can significantly reduce your electricity cost and carbon footprint. Solar panels reduce CO2 emissions more per acre than corn ethanol harvested from fields of the same size while greatly improving the energy produced.
Solar panel installation professionals can also help set up your solar panel system at home, depending on your household’s energy requirements and budget.
5. Using Adaptive Lighting
Adaptive lighting does wonders for reducing your family’s carbon footprint. They also automate lighting around your home depending on the activity. Adaptive lights will turn on when they sense movement and increase intensity as long as they detect someone in the room.
Some outdoor lights also have light sensors to automatically turn on during a certain time of the day. You can even take this a step further by using solar-powered adaptive lights to illuminate outdoor areas in your home, like your driveway, rear door entryway and garden!
6. Switching to Energy-Efficient Appliances
You might think you’re saving money by sticking to your old appliances, but in reality, it may be the opposite. Older appliances tend to consume more energy compared to their newer counterparts considering the gap in manufacturing technology.
Switching to newer, more energy-efficient appliances can be as easy as checking their energy efficiency labels which run from A-G. Of course, doing some research beforehand can also help you get the right appliance for you and your family.
7. Installing Double-Glazed Windows
Home ventilation and air conditioning can take a huge chunk of your monthly budget and use lots of energy. You can reduce your power consumption by using double-pane windows that keep cold air out in the winter and the heat out during summer.
Double-glazed windows trap air or gas between the glass panes to help prevent heat loss during colder seasons and keep the heat out in warmer weather. This is also a nice upgrade to your home, as double-glazed windows help reduce outside noise.
8. Limiting Food Waste
Food waste is a prevalent problem in the world. This issue is increasingly alarming since it coincides with a global food shortage. You can do your part by minimizing food waste and cooking only what your family can consume.
You can also repurpose leftover food and practice proper storage, like freezing cooked and uncooked food for extended periods. Doing this contributes to less food wastage and more savings since you and your family only use what is needed.
9. Unplugging Unused Appliances
This tip is simple but effective. You can reduce energy consumption by 30% simply by Unplugging unused appliances at home. Devices plugged in and on standby still consume electricity, contributing to higher electricity bills and wasted power.
Make a habit of turning off lights and appliances when you leave the house. Get your kids hooked on this habit too! This small step will have a compounding effect over time if practiced correctly.
10. Using Biodegradable Products
The world is shifting its mindset regarding sustainability and ecologically sound practices. This includes using biodegradable and eco-friendly products around the household. Believe it or not, there’s almost always a biodegradable or eco-friendly alternative to the products you use at home.
You can use a better, greener alternative instead, from cleaning products and detergents to trash bags and cutlery for backyard barbecues. Biodegradable products revert to their natural state after disposal compared to products made of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials. Making the switch helps you reduce the use of natural resources and improve cost-effectiveness.
Go Green at Home
Practicing sustainability at home is easier than ever. Follow these tips and cultivate your own eco-friendly practices to live a greener life.