Many of us are beginning to do what we can to become environmentally conscious and so starting within our homes is the best way to make an impact on our carbon footprint. With sustainable living becoming more popular, there are plenty of options out there in terms of appliances and products for the home that are eco-friendly compared to their previous counterparts.
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 eight top tips for making you and your home eco-friendly. The non-bold part in the above text already exists inside your article and the bold part is the part where you need to put in the new line of content.
Get a Smart Meter
Smart meters are a great way to cut down on energy as you can physically see the amount of energy you are using each day within the home. This is one surefire way to get you thinking about your own habits. As well as showing 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.
In the winter months especially, this is a lifesaver, as you can set the timer to start an hour before you are set to be home, meaning you can come into a warm house. Set the timer to go off when you will be sleeping, and you will have a nice toasty house without leaving the heating on for longer than needed. Many smart meters connect to applications on your cell phone, meaning you can control your energy from anywhere.
Use Eco-Friendly Appliances
If you have very old appliances, such as a refrigerator, it may be time to upgrade to a newer, eco-friendly model. You can purchase eco-friendly appliances from most home and kitchen stores, these usually have an Energy Star label. If you are unsure, ask a store colleague for help. Remember to recycle your old appliances or use a website such as Craigslist to give your old appliances to those less fortunate.
Don't forget to change your lightbulbs to an energy-efficient version. Not only do these last longer than normal bulbs, but they use less energy. It's a win: win situation. Put appliances on stand-by mode and be sure to turn off appliances when not in use. Many of us leave our televisions on overnight but even on stand-by, this is wasting energy.
Watch Your Water Usage
Most of us are guilty of wasting water and we often take it for granted. Making small changes can make a big difference over time. First things first, ensure there are no leaks within your property that may be unnecessarily wasting water. This means tightening any taps that are dripping or calling out a plumber if you have a leak 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 shelf, which means they don't damage the environment in the making or using of these products. When washing away many cleaning products, you are adding harmful chemicals to our water supply, which then need to be filtered out. You don't need to use unnatural products to have a clean and germ-free home.
Look out for these eco-friendly products or make your own using natural products at home. Just like bamboo brushes, it could help clean your home smoothly. Learn more about this information from ecoy.com.au.
For most cleaning tasks, vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, and citric acids from lemons, limes or oranges can help to remove stains and can often work better than other products. This leaves 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
If you have a garden or any house plants, using food waste is a fantastic way of keeping your plants fresh. Any kitchen scraps can be thrown into a small bin and used on your garden or in your plants. This saves on purchasing fresh compost and can stop your house plants from dying. If you don't have a garden and aren't keen on plants, you can still save your food scraps and donate them to a friend or neighbor.
Vegetables and fruits make a great compost but ensure you don't add meat, fish or dairy waste. Be sure to keep your compost bin covered so you don't attract any flies, as this can ruin the compost and leave you with a fly problem.
Install a New Heating and Cooling System
Heating and air conditioning are one of the biggest contributors to high energy bills and energy waste within homes across the U.S. Installing a brand-new HVAC system is one way in which you can reduce the amount of energy wasted. HVAC systems work by re-using heat from the home whilst providing your home with fresh circulating air.
These can cut costs significantly and are an eco-friendly alternative to most conventional systems. If you cannot afford to change your heating and cooling system, Semper Solaris offer monthly payment plans, as well as heating repair and furnace repair. If you're looking for a new air conditioning and/or heating system that is more sustainable and runs on less energy, check out their website today.
Insulate
Insulation is key to reducing waste from heating and cooling your home. Whilst heating and cooling systems can reduce bills and waste, your home needs to be adequately insulated. In new homes, this is much easier and is usually already done. In older homes, you may need to consider loft, wall and floor insulation.
Some of this can be done yourself and there are cheap alternatives to insulation if you cannot afford a professional. Simply visit a DIY shop or use the internet to help you. Doors and windows are another insulation option. Choosing double-glazed windows can keep your house warm in winter and cool in summer. Rugs are a simple idea if you have cracks in your floorboards.
Recycle
Recycling is such an easy way to make your home eco-friendly and reduce the amount of household waste you have. If you are constantly finding your garbage bins are full before bin collection day, recycling could save you a lot of space. If you don't have recycling bins already, this website can provide you with information on how to recycle in a town near you.
You can recycle anything from batteries to toys to plastic bottles. Never throw away something that seems like trash to you. Broken beds and old mattresses can all be re-used, and many people can use these to build new beds or professionally clean mattresses ready for a new user. Donate to charity shops and give your children's old toys to friends or a local nursery.
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.
