These days, people have become more aware of the environment and the consequences of their actions. Being more eco-friendly leads to a sustainable environment and, over time, can save you money. Here are eight ways to have a comfy home while making it more bearable.
1. Buy Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
Replacing your light bulbs with ones that are backed by the ENERGY STAR guarantee can help you save up to $75 each year. Energy-efficient light bulbs use 25-80% less energy than traditional light bulbs and last 3-25 times longer. Prices for energy-efficient light bulbs cost more per bulb than conventional light bulbs but do not need to be replaced as often, therefore saving money over the life of the bulb. These lightbulbs are available in a wide variety of different colors and light levels.
2. Invest In Renewable Energy
A majority of houses use non-renewable energy sources because they sit on an energy grid that runs on oil or gas. A great alternative to oil and gas is using wind turbines or solar panels. Wind turbines rely on the wind to produce energy, while solar panels use the sun as an energy source. The process for both of these methods is cleaner than burning fossil fuels for energy.
3. Utilize Eco-Friendly Products To Clean The House
A majority of cleaning products in the market contain harmful chemicals that can damage the environment. Detergents, foaming agents and preservatives are the ones that cause the most harm to the ecosystem. Choosing products that contain sustainably grown or raised ingredients will reduce the number of chemicals sent into the ecosystem. When looking for eco-friendly products, choose products with synthetic ingredients.
4. Use Sustainable Fabrics
Conventional cotton contains pesticides and insecticides, earning the title of the “dirtiest crop on earth.” Consumption of traditional cotton releases a large number of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Organic cotton is grown without pesticides and insecticides, allowing the air, soil and water to be free of chemicals that cause harm to the environment. Less water is needed to grow organic cotton, reducing our water use significantly. Invest in fabrics like organic cotton sheets for your bedroom, like these sustainable sheets from Brentwood Home.
5. Use Eco-Friendly Toilet Paper
Trees are cut down to produce paper products, such as toilet paper. The average person uses 100 rolls of toilet paper per year. With the numbers being that large, toilet paper consumption is exceptionally high. Using an eco-friendly toilet paper product made out of materials such as bamboo can reduce the amount of waste used to produce toilet paper because bamboo is sustainable and grows rapidly.
6. Stop Using Disposable Bags
Disposable bags made out of plastic are harmful to the environment, are made out of many chemicals and do not break down easily. Switch out your bags for reusable ones to cut back on waste. Reusable bags can be bought at your local grocery store and typically are made out of recycled materials.
7. Reduce Light Use
When you leave a room, make sure to turn off the lights. Turning off the lights in a room will not only bring down your energy bill but give the environment a break. It takes a lot of work to produce enough electricity to power a house, let alone a city. Turning your lights off when you leave the room or investing in energy-efficient products will make it easier on the environment.
8. Go Paperless
Instead of opting for your bills to be mailed to you, pay your bills online. This will save a lot of paper and fuel emissions from the post office, therefore saving the environment from any further damage. Plus, paying your bills online is super easy! To opt in to this option, ask your provider to switch you over to paperless or find out more on their website.
Why Go Green?
Going green and being environmentally cautious may seem complicated, but it is far from it. It’s all about making the right choices, no matter how small. Making a difference takes one step at a time.
When we go green, we reduce our carbon footprint and leave the earth better than we found it. We let our future children live in a better world than we lived in. Using too much energy or products that are unsustainable can damage the earth over time and leave a bad impression. Utilize these eight tips to make your home environmentally conscious and save the world one step at a time!
