Did you know that eco-friendly buildings have the potential to lower global energy consumption by 50 percent? Making your home eco-friendly will help you reduce energy bills and you’ll also be using materials that are safe for the environment to make your house more liveable. An eco-friendly house uses way more affordable raw materials and can help reduce the carbon footprint. They are also elegant to look at and comfortable to stay in. You wouldn’t have to worry about power outages or water shortages once you make your house environmentally friendly.
With the increased demand for eco-friendly home designs, you may find it tricky to choose one that suits you. If you’re new to the green economy, you may not know the elements needed to make your home sustainable. Luckily, all the help you need to design an environmentally friendly living space is available in this guide. Most of the eco-friendly tips discussed here require little or no help from a technician. Let’s dissect each one of them to get you started:
1. Use Natural Cleaning Products
Cleaning products made of artificial ingredients are bad for the environment. They will find their way to water sources when washed away. You risk developing stomach upsets or ulcers if you drink water contaminated by these chemicals.
Use cleaning products made of natural ingredients like citric acid and vinegar in your eco-friendly home. Avoid those made of artificial ingredients like ammonia and chlorine bleach to prevent contamination. You can also create your eco-friendly cleaning products with lemon juice and baking soda.
2. Invest in a Recycler and Composter
Allocate bins for recycling and composting waste materials coming from your home. You should also label them to separate biodegradable waste from non-biodegradable ones.
You can even use kitchen waste to make compost manure for your garden or farm. It will take less than three months for the waste to decompose and act as manure.
Consider reusing plastic tins or glass jars instead of throwing them away. For instance, you can store sugar and salt in these tins as a way of making your home eco-friendly.
3. Insulate Your Home
Seal any gaps in your house to prevent heat from escaping and cold air from entering your living spaces. You may also install weather strips around your windows and doors to act as insulation.
If your house has an attic, insulate it and install a high-quality attic fan. When insulated, your attic will keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The attic fan will prevent moisture from building up in your attic.
4. Fix Any Leaks in Your House
You risk wasting a lot of water if you fail to fix leaking faucets and toilets. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, your house may waste over 10,000 gallons every year through these leaks.
Monitor your water bill for any surges brought by leaking pipes. You should also watch out for dripping noises, which may be a sign of leaking.
Call a plumber to inspect your home’s drainage and piping system for leaks if you notice any. You may spend more on water bills and repair costs if the problem isn’t fixed early enough.
5. Buy Energy and Water-Efficient Appliances
If you have an appliance in your home that needs to be replaced, choose one that is energy efficient. You should also replace your old fridges, ovens, dryers, and washing machines with energy-efficient ones to make your home sustainable.
Only buy appliances with an Energy Star label to be assured of their eco-friendly nature. The label helps prove that the appliance consumes less water or less energy.
6. Switch to CFL or LED Lights
Energy-efficient lighting fixtures like LED bulbs consume way less energy than incandescent ones. They also last longer and can continue lighting up your rooms for a while when power is gone.
Since LED bulbs emit less heat, they won’t make your AC work harder. The modern designs fit different types of lighting needs too.
7. Harvest Rainwater
Install gutters and tanks around your home to collect rainwater falling on the roof. You can use the harvested rainwater for irrigation or cleaning to make your home more eco-friendly.
Harvested rainwater can help you save on water bills during water shortages or droughts. You also reduce water runoffs and lawn maintenance costs.
8. Install Low-Flow Toilets and Showerheads
Low-flow showerheads release less water than the older showerheads in a house with many occupants. Buy one with a WaterSense label to cut down your water bill.
Your toilet contributes about 27 percent of your average water consumption. Without any intervention, this figure could go up and leave you with high water bills every month. Install new water-efficient toilet models in your home to replace the old ones.
9. Tap into the Power of Solar Energy
Installing solar panels in your home will cut energy bills and make your home more eco-friendly. Though the initial costs of solar systems are high, they help you save more in the future.
You may lease or buy solar panels depending on your budget and disposable income. Either way, it’s vital to assess your home’s energy needs before buying one.
10. Buy Recycled Products
When going out shopping, consider recycled options for household items like kitchen rolls or toilet tissue. You may also buy recycled gadgets like gaming consoles and mobiles as a sustainable living practice.
Go for reusable cloth bags instead of plastic bags at your local grocery store. These eco-friendly alternatives are usually lightweight and easy to wash. Their fabric is also biodegradable, thus safe for the environment.
If you’re into fashion, consider eco-friendly clothing since they have a lower carbon footprint. You should also avoid buying fabric made of non-biodegradable materials due to its high carbon footprint.
Ready to Make Your Home Eco-Friendly?
You can achieve sustainable living with the practices discussed in this guide. Making your home eco-friendly can help you save on energy and utility costs. You’ll also be contributing to the efforts aimed at lowering the global carbon footprint.
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