Sustainable living is the future. It’s a movement that will continue to grow and become more prevalent as we learn to take better care of ourselves and our environment. The key to being sustainable is making small changes in your everyday life, while also incorporating sustainable practices into your home.
Often, when one thinks of eco-friendly homes, they think of homes that are completely self-sufficient and off-the-grid. While this can be the ideal eco-friendly lifestyle for some people, it isn’t realistic for most.
Fortunately, with plenty of options available, you can make your home as eco-friendly as you like while still maintaining your creature comforts. Find out how you can make your home eco-friendlier with these sustainable home ideas:
Get Serious About Water
When we think of the phrase “sustainable,” we generally associate it with energy use. However, true eco-friendliness necessitates a holistic strategy, so you’ll need to become serious about water conservation.
First and foremost, take the time to repair any leaks. If you don’t have any leaks, you can save water by changing your lifestyle. When brushing your teeth or shaving, for example, you should avoid leaving the tap running. Installing a low-flow showerhead is also a saving option, as these have been shown to save up to 160,000 liters annually of water for a family of four.
You can also cut down your water consumption around the home by doing the following:
- Take shorter showers
- Fixing leaks quickly
- The use of energy-efficient dishwashers and washing machines
- Brushing your teeth while turning off the sink
- Installing a low-flow showerhead
Install a Smart Meter
One of the most significant energy consumers is your heating system. It’s also very easy to leave your heating on for longer than you need it, especially during the winter months. This often results in a lot of wasted energy as well as money.
Installing a smart meter is the best approach to combat this wastefulness. Smart meters are designed so that they only turn on at specified times of the day or if your rooms go below a certain temperature. For example, start the heat up shortly before you get home, and shut the heating system off an hour or so before you leave the house.
Anyone wishing to lessen their carbon footprint and lower their energy expenses should invest in smart meters. They can be fully automated per a set program, or you can also access it through your smartphone in case you need to make any adjustments.
Install Solar Panels
Solar panels generate 100% clean electricity for your home. They may even create enough energy for you to sell some back to the grid in some situations if you have a surplus.
Because of the high initial cost, many individuals are put off by the thought of solar panels. But in the long run, they will end up paying for themselves and more. It’s well worth the cost if you plan on staying in your house for a long time, and they will certainly increase the value of your home if you decide to sell.
Energy-efficient Light Bulbs
One of the most underrated things you should do is purchase the appropriate light bulbs. CFLs are a superior option to incandescent bulbs since they are more energy-efficient.
Although energy-saving light bulbs have been around for a long time, it has taken a long time for many people to embrace the concept. Making the switch makes a lot of sense in the end. Energy-efficient lights not only consume less electricity, but also have a longer lifespan, which means you won’t have to replace them as often.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
Cleaning with toxic chemicals is extremely harmful to the environment. You’re simply dumping them into the water system when you wash them away. That means the water will need to be purified further before it can be used again.
However, the good news is that you won’t require the chemicals in the vast majority of cases. Natural materials such as vinegar, citric acid from citrus fruits, and bicarbonate of soda can effectively replace caustic chemicals in most day-to-day cleaning operations.
Sustainable Eco Furniture
Every home is unique, and there is usually a lot that a homeowner can do to improve their home’s green credentials. One of the greatest ways to achieve this is to find sustainable sourced materials for your home decor and furniture pieces.
There are many ways to achieve this for your home. You can look for sustainable furniture brands that use recycled materials such as reclaimed wood, or you can find products that avoid harming nature in its manufacturing process.
Getting something like wooden window blinds to decorate your home windows with can help in this process. They are made from natural materials, so they avoid using toxic materials, and their high quality makes them durable, removing the need of replacing them every so often. Wooden blinds are a favorite of artisan communities, as they really go well with other wood furniture like coffee tables, creating a really wonderful blend for the home decor
Insulate
Using as little energy as possible is one of the smartest strategies to increase your home’s eco-friendliness. Insulation is a wonderful way to accomplish this because good insulation helps keep the heat in and you won’t have to waste energy constantly reheating the house. Insulation can and should be done in a variety of places, including the walls, the windows, and the roof.
Consider using southwest area rugs to cover any exposed hardwood flooring. Area rugs are a fashionable and cost-effective solution to help insulate your home and keep air from escaping through holes in the floor. Hardwood floors aren’t as thermal as carpet and rugs, so if your home primarily has hardwood floors, adding an area rug or two can help with less energy usage during the winter.
Get Window Coverings
As mentioned, a great way to help with energy conservation is through insulating your windows. The best, most efficient window covering that can do this are cellular shades. They trap air within their pocket structure to create an insulating barrier, preventing unwanted hot or cold air from outside coming in.
Like getting a smart meter, you can get smart blinds to help cover and insulate your house. You can program these blinds to go up and down depending on the temperature and time of day and just like the smart meter, you can also adjust them with your phone. So if you happen to be away for the day, you can use your smartphone from anywhere to tell your blinds to close off while you run your heater less. This way your savings on energy usage will be amplified.
Final Thoughts
A sustainable future is attainable. There are many steps you can take to help reach this desirable goal. Within the boundaries of your home, you can make the necessary changes to help preserve and sustain our planet for generations to come.
