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Sustainable Living: 10 Tips for an Environmentally Friendly Home

More and more attention is being paid to the theme of 'sustainable living'. Fortunately, you don't have to do anything crazy to live sustainably. Sustainable living is about more than, for example, the use of solar panels. It is about consciously using the available resources. If you know how to make the most of the available energy, you are already working on more sustainable living.

Sustainable Living

Sustainable living is the current trend and an important part of the sustainable lifestyle. By following a few simple tips you will automatically get started and you will discover how much fun it is to consciously deal with your own social 'footprint'. As a consumer, for example, you have a wide choice of materials when you want to furnish your home and there is increasing attention for a lower impact on the environment when purchasing, for example, kitchen appliances. Of course, you don't have to pull out your wallet immediately to experience the advantage of making your home more sustainable. Some tips will help you on the right path.

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1. The heating should be a degree lower

A nice warm house may be pleasant, but in the end, you will see it reflected in your energy bill. As pleasant as it may be to set the heating to a sauna setting, it is not necessary. Pleasant living comfort is desirable, but wearing an extra vest is just as pleasant. So turn the stove down a degree and close the curtains in the evenings.

2. Shorter showers

It's nice to have a nice shower after work when you get home. The disadvantage, however, is that we quickly tend to stay under that warm beam for a little too long. Logical in itself, but not sustainable. Those few extra minutes will not make you cleaner, and heating the water also costs extra energy. Taking a shorter shower can therefore save you a nice amount on your heating costs on an annual basis.

3. Need a new interior? Pay attention to the hallmark

Are you ready for something new at home? A new wardrobe, room divider, or audio furniture? Then choose furniture made from sustainable materials. This may be more expensive, but in the end, it burdens the environment less. Therefore, leave furniture made of MDF and opt for the wooden variants. They often have even more apparent. If you want to do it all right, pay attention to the FDC quality mark, then you know for sure that it is all right. Even you can design your garden in your own way but make sure to keep it cover with polytunnels so that it is safe according to changing environments. 

4. Green in the house is always good

Plants not only look good in your living room, but they are also super functional. Plants convert the air we exhale into fresh oxygen. So it really can't be healthier. A strong, large houseplant is also an ideal way to give your home a fresh look. So you kill two birds with one stone.

5. Sustainable lighting

Mood lighting is nice, but in many cases, they are energy guzzlers and you quickly forget to turn it off again. Often there is enough daylight and you do not notice that you have left the lamp on. Make it a habit to turn off the lights when you leave the room. If you also choose a sustainable light source, such as LED lamps, you automatically contribute to sustainable living. You can find it in cheap price with discount coupons

6. Organic food from your garden

Nothing is healthier than eating organic products. You can of course buy it in the supermarket or order it online. However, if you have a garden or a balcony, you can also grow them yourself. This way you know exactly what you eat and you have the guarantee that it is fresh and healthy. So do.

7. Fair Trade and Cradle to Cradle

Sustainable living means choosing sustainable materials, products, and services. This does not only concern products that are made from sustainable materials, but also products that are made responsibly. The Fair Trade logo is therefore the quality mark to look out for. If a product has that quality mark, you know that it has been produced responsibly. Much more important is that you know that the producer gets a fair price for it. Another important quality mark that fits completely within the principle of sustainable living is: ' Cradle to Cradle '. This logo is the guarantee that the product can be reused after use.

8. Reduce and separate waste

It cannot be said often enough: by separating waste you relieve the environment. You ensure that the processing of waste can be done not only faster, but also more efficiently. Therefore, also consciously look at the products you throw away. This way you reduce the mountain of waste and you can even decide to give old products or materials a second chance

9. Paint responsibly

Want to give your home a new look quickly? A fresh new color works wonders. There are also many choices when it comes to painting. That allows you to choose sustainable paint. These types of paint are much less harmful to the environment. Durable paint contains less damaging components such as paint on a turpentine base. The toxic fumes in 'normal' paint are also very harmful to people and the environment.

10. Vintage and Second Hand

Are you going to redecorate your home or are you considering purchasing new furniture? First, check out what vintage or second-hand furniture you can find on the internet. Especially vintage and retro furniture is very much of this time. You can easily combine them with your current furnishing and that way you give the furniture a second chance. If you have little or no inspiration or you just wonder if it suits you, take a look at a well-known website such as Pinterest. You will find a whole range of examples so that in addition to the necessary inspiration, you can also immediately get ideas for combining certain furniture. The sustainable design of your home is fun and often a lot cheaper!


Author Bio: Selena is a blogger and a guest contributor for a well-known brand that includes MESHEBLE & INTHEMARKET. In her leisure time, she plays tennis.

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