Having a sustainable home does not mean you need to install solar panels immediately. When it comes to eco-conscious living, small actions matter.

This means that you can start your zero-waste journey by making small, intentional changes. And if you do not know how you can get started, here are ten ideas you can do:

Get window treatments

If you have bare windows, then you should consider getting window treatments as soon as possible. Window treatments can help make your home more private while making your windows look more decorated, but that's not all they're there for. Window treatments are also great for temperature control.

Instead of having to keep your air conditioning turned on every day, find ways to maintain the desired temperature in your home. Window treatments can help with that. In addition, they can keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the colder seasons, so you won't have to rely on your AC too much.

Look for leaks

Leaks can be why you use too much water, which is a waste of water and costly for your household. Therefore, you should make it a habit to systematically check your home for any leaks.

You should be checking your home for leaks once or twice a month. However, you can also look at how much water you're using, and if you see a pattern change, it's a good idea to look for leaks.

Invest in insulation

Generating the desired indoor temperature consumes energy. Hence, it would help if you insulate your house. 

Insulation helps keep the heat in your home or away from your home, depending on what you want. Therefore, if you don't have insulation yet, you should invest in insulation as soon as possible.

It will also help if you source sustainable materials for your insulation. Examples of eco-friendly insulation are sheep's wool, aerogel, and polystyrene, but there are plenty more options to choose from.

Opt for energy-efficient appliances

If you have any old appliances, it's a good idea to replace those with newer, more modern ones. In addition, opt to buy more energy-efficient appliances. These would usually have an Energy Star rating to let you know how energy efficient these appliances are.

Compared to older models, energy-efficient appliances last for a longer time, and they're not going to use as much energy to operate.

Embrace natural cleaning products

According to Planet Maids House Cleaning NYC, switching to natural cleaning products is a small but monumental sustainability change.

For one, commercial cleaning products are filled with chemicals that can be dangerous to our health. Second, you can make your cleaning products using the items you see in your pantry. That's why it's better to embrace natural cleaning products.

Don't forget to use cleaning tools made from natural resources instead of using bamboo cleaning tools.

Swap light bulbs with LED bulbs

Aside from replacing older appliances with new and energy-efficient ones, consider swapping your old light bulbs for LED.

Older light bulbs are less efficient in energy usage than LED bulbs. Aside from that, LED bulbs will be as bright if not brighter than the older light bulbs. It also helps that they will last a long time, are more eco-friendly, and save you some money in the long run.

Of course, don't replace them if the bulbs still work, but if they start not working as well, replace them with LED bulbs.

Choose refillable products

In case you don't know, you have disposable items at home that have refillable counterparts. Toiletries, for example, are a great example of you being able to replace them with their more refillable alternatives.

Instead of getting new soap dispensers all the time, get hand soap refills instead. You can also score refillable shampoo, conditioner, and more. It's also a good idea to buy in bulk to reduce the items you have to throw away. You produce less waste overall that way.

Stop using disposable cutleries.

Some homes opt to use disposable cutleries when they're feeling too lazy to wash the dishes. However, disposing of cutleries often causes a lot of waste production from your home alone.

Therefore, you should stop using disposable cutleries as much as possible so that you produce less waste.

Aside from that, you won't have to purchase replacements for your cutleries that way constantly. You need to wash and dry your cutleries, and then you can use them again.

Cook intelligently

It's best to know the different steps you need to take when cooking a particular dish. That way, you won't have to use more energy than you need simply because of poor planning.

For example, make sure you don't leave your oven to cool for too long after preheating it so that you don't have to preheat it again.

Also, consider finding a way to use your food waste more sustainably. For example, some homes with gardens opt to decompose their food waste as fertilizer for their plants.

Choose reusable storage solutions

For both big and small storage issues, opt to use reusable storage solutions. There are plenty of ways reusable storage solutions are more beneficial.

For example, instead of using plastic containers at home, opt to use glass containers whenever you can. These are more sustainable, and they're much more stylish as well.

If you're willing to invest, you can even get storage solution designs through CADdetails that will be custom and eco-friendly for your needs. These are best for more comprehensive storage solutions in your home, like towel storage beside your pool area.

Since they're reusable, you won't have to constantly replace them, which is more cost-effective in the long run.

Conclusion

Again, small actions matter. Whether you are replacing your light fixtures with LED or installing panels, what's important is that you take the step.

You do not have to make drastic changes to show your love for the planet. That can be costly.

Instead, try to complete the ideas here one by one. That way, you can slowly but surely transform your house into a sustainable home.

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