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Did you know that 90% of the weight in cleaning products is made up from water? The rest is single use plastic bottles and the synthetic chemicals that go into them. A good energy efficient dishwasher can use just 6 litres of water in a cycle. If you’re filling the sink up just a couple of times a day, I guarantee you’ll be using more than 6L of water. I’m always looking at new, easy sustainable switches I can make and habits I can form in my life to lower my environmental impact.
Eco-friendly paints have lower levels of VOCs and emit fewer toxins, which reduces indoor air pollution. Adding insulation to the walls of your home prevents warm air from leaking out in the winter. Eschew unsustainable sheep’s wool and harmful fiberglass for cotton, which can be made into thick batts for your walls.
Stop Buying Plastic Plates
There are also systems somewhere in between these two poles. The size of the system that needs to be installed will depend on whether it’s for the backyard alone or for use inside the home, when a sizeable storage tank will be required. When it comes to furniture, going for designs made with reclaimed materials, or picking upcycled pieces is one option. If you’re buying new wooden pieces, look out for FSC certification to be confident that the wood comes from a forest that meets the highest environmental standards. A home energy assessment, or a home energy audit, is done by a professional and will explain exactly where your home is losing the most energy. Energy assessment companies will typically use things like blower door tests, gas leak detectors, and moisture meters to evaluate various areas of your home.
- One area which isn’t as easy to recycle is your electrical waste – but it’s important to try.
- So, here are 40 ideas to make your home greener and more sustainable.
- If you’re cooking a small meal for one, opt for your toaster over instead of your larger electric oven.
- A good energy efficient dishwasher can use just 6 litres of water in a cycle.
- The primary reason behind this is that most of the heat naturally dissipates from the walls, windows, ceilings, and even the floors of your home.
- If you don’t have a garden, check to see if your city has a green-bin program for fruit and veggie scraps to be collected and properly disposed of.
Better ventilation is the greenest eco cooling strategy and can be achieved by opening windows to create a cross breeze, and using individual fans as well as whole house fans. Since most of your home’s heat escapes through the roof, the easiest way to improve insulation to your home is to lay sheets of fiberglass insulation on the floor of your attic. However, to fully seal your house, using a form of blow-in insulation around the exterior walls is the best option. EPA has tools to help you learn and understand the issues and help you reduce your environmental footprint. Learn more at EPA’s Sustainability and Pollution Prevention (P2) sites, or in the Greener Living Frequent Questions.
Opt For Local House Repairs
Later, you can use this water to water your plants or wash your car. Similarly, eco-friendly faucets and showerheads are more efficient in water usage. Changing them for more efficient models can save water and positively impact your water bill. Eco-friendly refers to products or practices that are good for the environment.
- Not only will they reduce your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals (do you really know what you’re putting on your skin?), but it also means less chemicals will get into our water supply too.
- According to the EPA, toilets account for almost 30 percent of the average household’s indoor water usage.
- I recently read some articles on how to run an eco-friendly household.
- Replacing windows makes your home more energy-efficient, protects your belongings from fading, and makes rooms quieter.
- Houses that are designed and manufactured elsewhere are more efficient to build.
So, if you need a new one, bookmark this energy efficient fridge freezer page. All electrical items should now come with an energy efficiency rating. Indoor house plants have been shown to improve air quality as well as bringing plenty of psychological benefits, such as reduced stress and anxiety. There’s currently a big problem with e-waste recycling and it’s only going to get worse in the future with more electrical items being produced all the time. Your house is sitting where natural ecology once ruled, so try your best to replace this.
Famous Men Who Wear the Same Outfit Every Day
In addition to turning off taps when brushing your teeth, save a sink’s water flow by up to 30% with a WaterSense-labeled faucet. Low-flow shower heads also decreases water consumption by at least 40%. Purchasing produce that’s in season and locally sourced helps curb emissions by shortening https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-make-your-home-more-environmentally-friendly/ the distance food has to travel. Choose fruits and veggies with minimal packaging, and bring your own reusable mesh bags when grocery shopping. Buying vintage is better for the Earth (and your wallet!). Avoid fast fashion, which contributes huge amounts of pollution and chemicals.
