Today may not be Earth Day but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything to help protect the planet we live in. One good way of doing your part in saving the planet is by being more eco-friendly at home. This means switching to eco-friendly products, eating less meat, conserving water, and making your home more energy efficient.
If you think going green is hard, think again. There are plenty of ways to go about it and even small acts like unplugging your electronics and your charges when they aren’t in use can help steer you in the right direction. Here are some more helpful tips to make your home more energy efficient.
Switch to LED bulbs
They consume up to 90% less energy and last up to 25x longer than your usual incandescent bulb
Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth
It’s a simple thing that everyone can do so start with yourself and lead your family to do practice it and make it a habit as well.
Avoid plastic packaging whenever possible
Whenever presented the choice between plastic and paper, always choose paper. We all know how much damage plastic does to the planet so avoid it as much as you can.
Consider zero-waste grocery shopping
Check to see if there are zero-waste groceries near you and shop there. Not only is it cheaper, but it’s more eco-friendly and energy efficient as well.
Install a ceiling fan in every room
A ceiling fan helps circulate air more evenly around a room. It can help you cut energy consumption and costs by a lot, especially in the summer when blasting the AC to max seems to be the only way to cool down.
Look for the Greenguard certification badge/logo when buying paint to use at home
These are certified free from VOC or volatile organic compounds which are harmful compounds commonly found in materials, finishes, and products meant for indoor environments.
Think long term
Instead of buying cheap furniture that you’d have to replace in a few years, buy furniture that are more expensive but will last you a long time.
Install cellular shades
If you’re still using curtains or blinds, it’s time to switch to cellular shades. These have a simple, minimalist look to them and they work amazingly well at insulating your home and keeping too much heat from the outside in.
Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot
Did you know that when you wash laundry with hot water, about 90% of the energy used to do your laundry goes to heating the water?
Hang clothes out to dry
If you have the space for it in your yard, hang your clothes out to dry in the sun instead of using the dryer.
Compost food scraps
Use the compost to grow your own food after. It’s a win-win!
Stop opening the oven, the fridge, and the doors unnecessarily.
Opening the fridge again and again won’t change what’s inside it. Opening the oven frequently won’t make the food cook faster. And opening every door in the house when the heater or the AC is running won’t benefit you or your home in any way. All these do is waste energy.
You don’t have to go hardcore about saving the planet. Some people need the luxuries and the conveniences that this world offers, even though it comes with a price, and that’s alright. However, it would help the earth breathe more freely if you could do at least a few of these things regularly at home. After all, there’s no step too little when it comes to going green and saving the earth.