Turning Your Home Green is Easier Than You Think
As the conversation around climate change increases, sustainability — especially within home improvement — is becoming more than just a trend. Many people are examining the substantial effects of sustainability, especially regarding their own health, the environment, society, or the economy.
As much as a sustainable collective effort impacts the well-being of our world, individual endeavors can have just as much, if not more, of a change on the environmentally-conscious movement. You too can start contributing to environmental friendliness by making simple changes to your home.
Most people think that making their homes more eco-friendly is an arduous task. But in reality, it doesn’t have to be. These easy changes to your home can help you live more sustainably.
Photo by Radek Špáta
Replace Windows and Lightbulbs
When making your house sustainable, you may start thinking of grandiose ideas like installing solar panels. Still, sustainable changes can be as simple as replacing your lightbulbs and windows with energy-efficient alternatives.
Energy-efficient windows will help insulate your home, which will better regulate the temperature indoors and block harmful UV rays. Most importantly, windows also help preserve your home. Therefore, investing in window replacements is not only beneficial to the planet you call home, but to your actual house as well.
On the other hand, energy-efficient lightbulbs are equally as beneficial. They’re also readily available in most hardware stores. Once installed, these bulbs will help decrease your utility bills and provide a comforting ambiance to any room.
Research energy-efficient bulb and window options. You can visit your local hardware store to get any additional questions answered before purchasing. You’ll likely be able to replace the bulbs yourself, but you’ll need a professional to help you with the windows.
Opt for Energy-Efficient Appliances
Once you start to make smaller sustainable changes, you can start to think bigger and evaluate the appliances you have in your house. Old appliances can suck up a lot of energy. They also may not work to the best of their ability, causing you to use and tinker with them more often than recommended.
Consider switching out old appliances for new, energy-efficient ones. Not only will they function properly, but they’ll also reduce your energy consumption and your electricity bill.
Go through your home and make a list of the appliances you have that can benefit from an energy-efficient replacement. Be sure to define your budget for purchasing new appliances, as they can be on the more expensive side.
After that, pick the first appliance you’d like to replace based on your budget. Then, research the energy-efficient appliance online and visit stores to make the best buy.
Thrift Like Your Life Depends on It
People dispose of millions of items every year, most of which end up in our landfills. To prevent more furniture from accumulating in these landfills, you can participate by thrifting. Before buying something new, visit thrift stores in your area to browse gently-used items. You’ll be surprised at the quality of second-hand items you can find for whatever you need. They’ll also add character to your home.
Furthermore, learn how to upcycle. Upcycling is simply taking second-hand furniture items and adding something to them to make them more stylish and functional. You’ll ignite your creativity and save more things from ending up in landfills when you upcycle.
Don’t Forget About Your Outdoor Space
You can make many changes to the inside of your home to make it more environmentally friendly. But don’t forget about your outdoor space. Upgrading your area outside to support a sustainable home life is essential to ensure the experience extends throughout your entire home.
Start with a garden full of fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables. A garden can reduce the need to travel to the grocery store for food, lowering your carbon footprint. It also supports:
A healthier diet;
Creating a safe habitat for birds, insects, and small animals.
Plant trees, hedges, and shrubbery too. It’ll facilitate privacy while also keeping your home cool by providing shade. Moreover, trees and shrubbery can block cold air from entering your home in the winter months, making it so you don’t have to use the heat excessively, bettering your energy costs.
When you’re decorating, renovating, and curating in your outdoor space, use primarily sustainable materials and products. For example, purchase natural products free of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC).
Opting for locally sourced fabrics and using green building materials like hemp, cork, and reclaimed wood can make a big difference as well.
The Health Benefits of a Greener Home
Most people who don’t make sustainable changes to their home — no matter how small — typically cite reasons like it’s too expensive, they don’t have enough time, or even that their changes won’t make a difference. Before you join this crowd, consider this: going green can have a positive effect on your health.
For instance, you aren’t exposed to as many harsh chemicals when you use environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies. High-quality plant-based foods produced in an eco-friendly way can help reduce air pollutants while giving you a nutritious diet.
In addition, simply being mindful of how your choices impact the health of our planet can help boost your mood. Being outdoors and immersing yourself in nature can reduce stress, lessen anxiety, and improve your overall mental health.
With these benefits in mind, don’t give up on your attempt to make your home more sustainable.
Conclusion
As you can see, turning your home green is easier than you think. You don’t have to make huge changes to live a more eco-friendly life at home. Instead, tackle each change on this list one by one to make the transition to a sustainable home much more manageable.
Author: Oliver Miles
