It’s Easy Being Green
While we watch multi-millionaires jet around in their personal planes, and corporations actively participating in deforestation, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, and burning fossil fuels, it can be hard to understand why we have to be so eco-conscious. Aside from doing your part to make the earth a little greener, making your home more environmentally friendly can actually save you money, help you eat healthier, and save you from the countless harsh chemicals we’re exposed to daily. Many of these methods are small, passive ways to contribute to a greener planet, but you can feel good about doing your part.
1. Compost And Recycle
The most basic premise we learn as young children - you should always be recycling and composting when you can. Plenty of household items can go in the compost: eggs, raw fruits, and veggies. tea bags, coffee grounds, and so much more. If you rent, make sure that your building has a compost option.
2. Ditch The Plastic
Swap out your plastic bags and Tupperware by incorporating glass jars, stainless steel containers, cloth bags, and beeswax wraps into your home. Many of these items can be washed and used time and time again.
3. Install LEDs
LED bulbs are made of non-toxic materials and are 100% recyclable, making them more eco-friendly than your standard light bulbs. LEDs also use up to 90% less energy and last much longer than incandescent bulbs, saving you money on your hydro bill.
4. Decorate With Plants
Air-purifying plants such as the spider plant, snake plant, peace lily, and English ivy are excellent additions to your home. Their leaves absorb pollutants, and don’t use any electricity compared to your mechanical air purifier.
5. Low-Flow Plumbing
Low-flow plumbing refers to water-saving fixtures like faucets, showerheads, and toilets. The purpose of this plumbing system is to reduce water usage without reducing performance. The best part is that you can adapt just about any machine to use a low-flow system.
6. Refillable Products
Many eco-friendly refillable stores exist today, making it an excellent place to purchase shampoo, conditioner, soap, dishwashing materials, cleaning products, and so much more. Making use of these stores will save you from buying another plastic bottle, and they usually last longer than the standard store-bought product.
7. Get A Rain Barrel
If you have the space, a rain barrel is a great eco-friendly addition to your home. Rain barrels reduce your water usage, conserve a natural water source for your plants, and reduce stormwater runoff, soil erosion, and pollution.
Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash
8. Stop Eating Meat
We know you know this one, but we’d like to remind you anyway: The meat industry is responsible for almost 15% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, and that is expected to rise with global meat consumption. If you really love your protein, we’d recommend incorporating vegetarian meals into your weekly food plan.
9. Upgrade Your Windows
If you’re able to replace windows in your home, you should consider getting windows with Low-E glass, multi-pane glass, and sustainable insulated frames. Windows and doors play a huge role in heat loss within the home, so this is a long-term investment.
10. Buy A Water Filter
In 2025, you should be past using a plastic water bottle. There are so many stainless steel options to choose from, and very cheap ways to make sure you’re still getting filtered water. You can purchase a Britta or attach a water filter system to your kitchen tap.
11. Use Sustainable Materials
Build or renovate your home using sustainable flooring options. Bamboo, cork, natural linoleum, reclaimed wood, or wool carpeting are all made from renewable, recycled, or low-impact materials. These materials are also non-toxic and are designed to last a long time, reducing the need for frequent maintenance.
12. Get A Worm Farm
If you have the background for it, a worm farm is a great composting method. The worms will convert your compost into fertilizer, which you can use for your garden. Worm farms are also incredibly low-maintenance and minimize the amount of food headed to the landfill.
13. Switch To Solar
Solar energy is one of the best ways to make your home energy efficient, as it’s inexhaustible and nonpolluting. While solar panels can cost you a pretty penny, they can eliminate electricity bills and provide you with energy independence.
American Public Power Association on Unsplash
14. Wash In Cold Water
Did you know that almost 90% of a washing machine’s energy goes towards heating the water in the washer? By switching to cold water, you can severely reduce your energy consumption, which leads to lower energy bills and a lower carbon footprint overall. Cold water is also usually better for fabric colors and textures.
15. Air Dry Your Clothes
Speaking of clothes, a dryer can use anywhere between 1,800 and 5,000 watts of energy per hour. While most small kitchen appliances and personal electronics use around 1,800 watts per hour, you can save your clothes and a bit of your energy bill by air-drying your laundry.
16. Clean With Natural Products
Say it with us now: Baking soda, vinegar, and castile soap. You can make countless DIY cleaning products with these three ingredients. They’re also all biodegradable, low in air pollution contribution, and generally gentle on skin and household items.
17. Look for ENERGY STAR
The ENERGY STAR symbol is internationally recognized as a mark of high-efficiency items. Purchasing anything with this symbol means you’re using something that will consume less energy and reduce emissions.
USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency on Wikimedia
18. Plant A Garden
Planting a garden has several eco-friendly benefits for you and your immediate environment. Gardens reduce carbon emissions, minimize waste, conserve water, improve soil health, absorb carbon dioxide, and provide habitats for wildlife. You’ll also save money if you’re able to grow grains, legumes, and vegetables by yourself.
19. Get A Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters are generally more energy efficient, as they only heat water when needed. They also have lower carbon emissions compared to traditional water heaters, which heat water constantly.
20. Install A Smart Thermostat
While they’re more expensive than regular thermostats, smart thermostats use built-in sensors to understand your personal temperature preferences and the needs of your home. These thermometers connect to your HVAC system and can turn your heating and cooling on and off, depending on who’s home, the exterior temperature, and humidity levels.
