How to Make Your Home More Green
Reduce energy consumption.
- Improve insulation. If you have poor insulation, most of the money you spend on heating or cooling your home goes to waste. Upgrade the insulation in your attic and walls to make your home more energy-efficient.
- Replace old appliances with Energy Star-rated appliances. Energy Star-rated appliances save significantly more energy than older, less efficient models, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars on your utility bills.
- Use a programmable thermostat. With a programmable thermostat, you can set your home to various temperatures at different times of the day, such as turning the heat down while you at work.
- Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Make it a habit to switch off the lights when you leave a room.
Conserve water.
- Fix leaky faucets. Even a small leak can waste about 200 gallons of water per year.
- Install low-flow showerheads. Low-flow showerheads will significantly reduce the amount of water you use in the shower without compromising your comfort.
- Water your lawn less. When you do water your lawn, water deeply and infrequently to help the roots grow deeper and survive dry spells.
- Collect rainwater. You can collect rainwater from your roof and use it to water your plants, wash your car, or even clean your house.
Reduce waste.
- Recycle. Recycling is critical to reducing waste and preserving natural resources.
- Buy local and in bulk. Buying local produce and other goods will reduce the carbon emissions associated with transporting goods long distances. Buying in bulk can also help cut costs and waste.
- Compost. Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of food waste you generate. You can use the compost to fertilize your garden or houseplants.
Use non-toxic cleaning products.
- Make your cleaning products. Many natural and non-toxic cleaning products can be made at home using ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. These cleaners are not only cheaper and better for the environment but also often work better than commercial products.
- Choose unscented products. Unscented cleaning products are less likely to pollute the air with harmful chemicals.
Make sustainable design choices.
- Use recycled materials. Recycled materials are available for just about any home improvement project. Using recycled materials can help lower energy consumption, reduce waste, and conserve natural resources.
- Buy sustainable furniture. Many sustainable furniture options are made with recycled materials and produced using environmentally friendly processes.
- Install solar panels. Solar panels can help generate clean, renewable energy to power your home and offset your carbon footprint.