If you're eco-friendly, you probably want to take steps in your home that are good for the environment. There are lots of really easy ways you can do this in your home, and most of them are super easy to do and won't require too much of your time and effort.
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Once you add these to your routine, you will find that you can feel good about your efforts to protect the environment and reduce your carbon footprint.
Besides installing solar panels and recycling, try these easy 20 steps to make your house the most eco-friendly one on the block.
1. Open The Curtains Or Blinds
When you open your curtains or blinds, you allow the sun to shine into your home. This helps keep the rooms in your house warm so that you can cut back on how much time is spent running the heater during the winter.
2. Unplug The TV
The television still sucks energy, even when you're not watching it. By unplugging when you are doing other things, you save energy, reduce your carbon footprint and save some money on your electricity bill.
3. Choose Bamboo Flooring
If you're considering getting new floors, choosing bamboo is the most eco-friendly choice you can make. Because bamboo grows so quickly, it's a great resource for your hardwood needs. You can find quality bamboo flooring at any home improvement store.
4. Use The Microwave Instead Of The Stove
Experts say that it requires less energy to microwave your meals rather than cooking them in the oven. You can use the microwave to make baked goods, eggs, meat and just about anything else you traditionally put in the oven to cook.
5. Keep The Oven Closed
Opening the oven releases some of the hot air. Then your oven has to work hard to return to the reset temperature. During the cooking process, leave the oven closed at all times. Use the light to check on what you're cooking.
6. Grow Houseplants
Houseplants help reduce the carbon dioxide in your house, so placing them in all of your rooms is a natural and eco-friendly way to improve the air quality without using a lot of energy. Plants are an especially good choice for your bedrooms and living room, where you spend a lot of time. You can also put them in your kitchen, office and anywhere else in your home.
7. Use Low VOC Paint
When you paint the inside or outside of your house, choose low VOC paints. They are lower in chemicals that can cause breathing problems and are much better for the environment as well. You can find them in all colors of the rainbow at any home improvement store for affordable prices.
8. Check Your House For Leaks
Leaking faucets can cost you a lot of money on the water bill, but all that wasted water is not eco-friendly. Do a check of all the water sources in your home and make sure you don't have water dripping anywhere. If you do find leaks, take steps to fix them as soon as possible.
9. Install A Low Flow Toilet
Low flow toilets require less water to flush. Some experts estimate that you can dramatically reduce your water usage over time since traditional toilets make up close to 30 percent of your total water usage. Low flow toilets aren't too expensive and are easy to find at most home improvement stores.
10. Hang Clothes To Dry
In most households, the clothes dryer uses quite a bit of total energy. It's much more eco-friendly to air-dry clothes. You can do this by using a backyard clothesline or by installing a line in your laundry room. You'll save on your electricity bill at the same time.
11. Wash Clothes With Cold Water
Most experts say that you can effectively clean most types of clothing in cold water. Making the switch saves energy and money and will help you feel good about your carbon footprint. Since the soap does the cleaning, the water temperature doesn't matter so much.
12. Start A Compost Heap
Instead of clogging landfills with all of your food scraps, start composting them. As it breaks down, the compost creates ideal soil for your garden. You can dig a hole for compost or buy a compost bin. Toss in fruit and vegetable peels, seeds, coffee grounds, eggshells and much more.
13. Use Native Plants
When you plant your garden and landscape your yard, choose plants that are native to your area. This means less watering and easier care and maintenance. In addition, it protects the natural ecosystem in the area in which you live.
14. Take A Shower Instead Of A Bath
By taking a shower instead of a bath, you use a mere 14 percent of the water that is used when running a bath. By taking this small step each day, you can save quite a bit of money on your water bill, while being more eco-friendly at the same time.
15. Install Energy Efficient Windows
If your home needs new windows, choose energy efficient ones. They trap cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter, saving you money on heating and air conditioning costs. This saves energy and money.
16. Essential Oils
Instead of using harmful air fresheners, choose essential oils instead. They are natural and won't fill the air with chemicals and fragrances that are bad for the environment.
17. Clean With Vinegar
Cleaning supplies are loaded with chemicals that are harmful to the environment. Vinegar is an eco-friendly choice that kills germs, cuts grease and leaves your floors, counters, bathrooms and furniture clean and fresh.
18. Lay Rugs
If you have tile or wooden floors, lay area rugs down to keep the rooms warm. This can save you nearly five percent on your energy bills each year, which is good for your wallet and the environment.
19. Keep The Fridge In The Shade
If your fridge is in a sunny part of your kitchen, it has to work harder to keep the foods inside cold. Move it to a shady location, and you'll save energy and keep your foods fresh for longer.
20. Buy Used Items
There are a lot of places to buy quality used clothing, furniture, books, housewares and much more. This reusing of necessary items saves energy costs on producing brand new items and saves you a bundle of money at the same time.
Turning your home into an eco-friendly one will take some time and effort, but you'll be so glad you did so because it's a great money saving venture and makes you feel good about taking care of the planet you love and live on. These are all steps you'll never regret taking
