An easy way to fix this is to insulate your windows and door frames, or install sealed windows and door frames. Nurture your garden with repurposed rainfall from a backyard barrel instead of cranking up the hose. Electronic waste, or e-waste, encompasses any unwanted electronic equipment including old computers, televisions, smart phones, and used cables. These contain toxins such as mercury, lead, beryllium, and arsenic, which can be harmful to the environment and our health. Some parts that make up electronics (steel, copper, iron, glass) can be recovered and made into new items, so they must be disposed of properly—don’t throw them in the trash!
- She often works with clients to find the solar panels that work best for their home and energy bill budgets.
- These deliver heat instantly and respond quickly to changes in temperature settings.
- “For every text message, for every phone call, every video you upload or download, there’s a data center making this happen… [and they] consume a lot of energy to serve you,” said study author Lotfi Belkhir.
- It is true that your computer uses a surge of electricity when it starts up, but it’s a small surge.
They provide real-time feedback, helping you understand and optimize your energy usage patterns. Combined with smart home integrations, energy management becomes more intuitive and autonomous. LED light bulbs are extremely energy-efficient, utilizing up to 90% less energy than https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-make-your-home-more-environmentally-friendly/ standard lights. LED technology offers features like adjustable brightness and dimming buttons. By upgrading to LED bulbs, you may save your energy bills as well as your environmental effects. This not only improves house comfort but also may result in utility bill savings.
Let the garden grow
“Choose quality over quantity by investing in timeless pieces that are made to last, rather than buying into fast fashion trends,” Berg says. Find ways to support local biodiversity with eco-friendly lawn alternatives, pollinator plants, and bird feeders,” says Alannah Hardcastle, Social Impact Manager at Random Acts of Green. “LED bulbs use up to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs and last up to 25 times longer. While they may be more expensive initially, the long-term savings on your energy bill make them a smart investment,” says Roberts.
- Using non-plastic storage containers and avoiding plastic-wrapped home products can make a big difference.
- A few drops of essential oils such as lemon or lavender can add a pleasant aroma.
- They can provide up to 10,000 hours of light, which equals two to four times more than many standard bulbs.
- And for more ways to start living a more responsible lifestyle, check out the 40 Ways to Make Your 40s Your Healthiest Decade.
- A home is not just about the family members and loved ones who live there- although that is such an important part of full recovery from addiction and mental health issues.
Instead, ditch the double wash and scrape any leftover food into the compost, then pop your dishes straight into the machine. If you’re cooking a small meal for one, opt for your toaster over instead of your larger electric oven. By making small changes, you can significantly impact the environment. Try implementing some of the tips we discussed in this post and see how easy it is to go green.
How to Clean: Tips for Keeping Your Home Healthy
And not only do they have the potential to save the environment, they’ll also save you a huge chunk of money on your energy bill. And for more ways to keep some extra cash in your wallet, discover these 52 Ways to Be Smarter with Money in 2018. To make it as easy as possible for you to transform your house into a clean energy haven, we’ve rounded up a list of the easiest eco-friendly changes right here. So read on, and soak in the satisfaction that comes with being a do-gooder! And for more ways to start living a more responsible lifestyle, check out the 40 Ways to Make Your 40s Your Healthiest Decade. As plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, they act as natural purifiers.
Chest freezers, the old-fashioned kind with a horizontal lid, are much more efficient than their vertical counterparts. One of the main reasons for this is that heat rises, and cold air falls, so when you open the door of a regular freezer, the cold air just falls out. Air in the chest freezer, on the other hand, stays put when the door is opened. Freezers can be made even more efficient by being kept in a cool place, such as an outdoor storage room, basement or garage, and they can even be clad with extra insulating material.
Make your next mattress organic or sustainable
Lowe consistently recommends smart thermostat controls to her clients and new homeowners alike. “You’ll be able to adjust your temperature settings when you’re away, and some smart thermostats track your energy consumption so you stay on track,” https://ecosoberhouse.com/ adds Rodriguez. Roberts suggests replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs to reduce energy consumption at home. Living sustainably can be made up of small actions you take every day that add up to a big impact.
Smaller stores with a curated selection may not offer quite the same bargains as a car boot sale, but they can be less intimidating. Reduce your floral air miles and find a local supplier through flowersfromthefarm.co.uk, a co-operative of small independent flower growers. TerraCycle rescues hard-to-recycle waste that is not processed by councils.