Most of us are starting baby steps on what we could do to be environmentally-conscious. Hence, starting within our homes is the safest way to make an impression on our carbon footprint.
There are many options around in terms of eco-friendly home products and appliances compared to their previous counterparts as sustainable living becoming more popular.
If you're looking for a way to make your home better for the environment, as well as lowering your energy and water bills, here are seven tips for making you and your home eco-friendly.
Recycle
Recycling is such an easy way to make your home eco-friendly and reduce the amount of household waste you have. Recycling could save you a lot of space if you are continually finding your garbage bins are full before the bin collection day. This website could provide you with information on how to recycle in a town near you if you don't have recycling bins.
You can recycle everything from batteries to toys to plastic bottles. Broken beds and old beds can all be re-used, and several people could use these to create new beds or professionally washed mattresses ready for a new user. Donate to charity shops and give your children's old toys to friends or a local nursery.
Get a Smart Meter
Smart meters are an excellent way to cut down on energy as you could physically see the amount of energy you are using every day in your home. While showing you your usage and spending, smart meters allow you to set timers, so you can choose when you want your home to be warmed or cooled.
Most of these meters connect to applications on your smartphones, meaning you can control your energy from anywhere. It's one surefire way to get you thinking about your habits.
Use Eco-Friendly Appliances
If you have old appliances, such as refrigerators and TVs, it's time to upgrade to newer, eco-friendly model devices. You can purchase eco-friendly appliances from most home and kitchen stores, and these items usually have an Energy Star label.
Don't skip changing your lightbulbs to an energy-efficient version, too. Not only do these last longer than ordinary bulbs, but they use less energy. Remember to donate your old appliances to those less fortunate. It's a win: win situation.
Watch Your Water Usage
Most of us are guilty of wasting water, and we often take it for granted. First things first, ensure there are no leaks within your property that may be unnecessarily wasting water - tighten any taps that are dripping or calling out a plumber if your pipes leak that you are unable to fix yourself.
Installing a new low-flow shower could save gallons of water over time. When shaving or brushing your teeth, don't run the water. Fill your washing machine appropriately when doing a wash. These can all aid in saving water.
Find Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
There are many eco-friendly cleaning products now on the market, which means they don't damage the environment in the making. You are adding harmful chemicals to the water supply when washing away many cleaning products that are needed to be filtered out.
The natural cleaning products would leave you with a clean home without the need for harmful products. Most natural products are also much cheaper than cleaning products, meaning you can save money too.
Make Your Own Compost
Using food waste is a fantastic way of keeping your plants fresh if you have a garden or house plants. Any kitchen scraps can be tossed into a small bin and used in your garden or your plants. You can still save your food scraps and donate them to a friend or neighbor if you don't have a garden and aren't keen on plants.
Vegetables and fruits make a great compost but make sure you don't add fish, meat, or dairy waste. Make sure to keep your compost bin covered so you won't attract any flies in your home.
Final thoughts
Beginning to improve your home is the best way to make a positive impact on the environment. Changing appliances, products and your own habits can all make a big difference to the world around us. If you have children, instilling this into their lives from a young age will also help them to grow up with a great sense of respect for the world around them. If you begin to follow these tips and share with others, together we can make a difference to the world we live in.