Tips for a Greener Home

Published February 27, 2023 | By TVBob

Are you looking for ways to make your home more sustainable? Are you striving to reduce your environmental footprint? If so, then you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we’ll share some easy tips for making your home eco-friendly. So, if you’re ready to start living a greener life, let’s get started!

Invest in Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Investing in energy efficient light bulbs is an easy and cost-effective way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your energy bills. LED and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) bulbs are designed to last much longer than incandescent bulbs and consume around 75% less energy. Not only do they help you save money, but they also provide a cooler lighting option that won’t heat up your home like traditional bulbs. Plus, they don’t contain any harmful mercury or other hazardous materials, making them a great eco-friendly option. By making the switch to LED lighting, you can do your part to reduce global warming and make your home more sustainable.

Stop Buying Bottled Water

A great way to reduce your home carbon footprint and help the environment is to stop buying bottled water. 60 million water bottles end up in landfills or are incinerated every year, which is why ditching your bottled water habit is both good for the environment and can save you money. It’s also worth noting that many brands are simply selling you tap water! To avoid buying bottled water, try to carry reusable water tumblers so you can just refill them when you need more. The best bet for getting the safest water possible is to filter your tap water, as this will remove pollutants while still being cost-effective. Additionally, there are plenty of other ways to reduce your environmental impact at home such as investing in energy efficient light bulbs, recycling and composting, eating less meat and using fewer paper towels. All of these small changes can make a big difference!

Start Recycling and Composting

Recycling and composting are both excellent ways to reduce your environmental impact. Not only do they help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, but they also provide you with nutrient-rich fertilizer for your garden or lawn. By investing in energy-efficient light bulbs, using eco-friendly toilet paper, and embracing cooler water, you can make sure that you are using fewer resources. Additionally, by eating less meat and sourcing your food locally you can also reduce your carbon footprint. When it comes to recycling and composting, the process is simple and straightforward. Start by selecting food scraps and yard trim that you generate at home throughout the year and break them down into small pieces. This will help them decompose faster. Then mix these ingredients with a 50/50 mix of greens and browns – the perfect recipe for composting – into your compost bin. Finally, make sure to place the bin in a warm spot with plenty of sunlight. With this easy process, you can reduce your environmental impact and create nutrient-rich fertilizer for your garden or lawn!

Eat Less Meat

Reducing meat consumption is one of the most effective environmental tips for your home. Eating less meat can help reduce greenhouse gases and save water. Eating a variety of foods, investing in a meat share, and reducing your intake of animal products over time are great ways to start. In addition to mitigating climate change, eating less meat can also benefit your wallet. Studies have shown that beef has the biggest negative impact on the environment, so if you’re looking for ways to cut back, start there. You don’t have to go vegetarian or vegan right away – just make small changes to your diet and you can still make a difference!

Use Fewer Paper Towels

In addition to using reusable cloths instead of paper towels, it’s also important to use fewer paper towels in general. Did you know that if every household in the US reduced their paper towel use by just one roll per year, it would save about 554,000 trees and a whole lot of waste from landfills? You can also try cutting your paper towels into smaller pieces for smaller messes, or using old newspapers as an alternative. By taking simple steps like these, you can help reduce your paper towel waste and be more conscious of your environmental impact.

Use Eco-Friendly Toilet Paper

Using eco-friendly toilet paper is another great way to reduce your environmental impact. It not only reduces waste in landfills, but it also uses less water while being manufactured and helps to conserve forests. Many eco-friendly toilet paper brands are made from bamboo, a renewable resource that grows quickly and is incredibly sustainable. Plus, the materials can be sourced locally, reducing the carbon footprint compared to bamboo which is mostly grown in China. Additionally, some brands wrap their toilet paper rolls in tissue paper instead of plastic wrap, which helps to further reduce unnecessary waste. Taking all of these factors into consideration, using eco-friendly toilet paper is an easy way to make a positive impact on the environment.

Install a Smart Turf

If you want to give your lawn a fresh look while maintaining a sustainable lifestyle, installing a smart turf is the perfect option. Smart turf is an artificial grass that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also eco-friendly, as it requires minimal maintenance and doesn’t require watering like traditional grass. Unlike real grass, smart turf always appears bright green and has no empty spots. Installing a good weed barrier can help prevent weeds from growing through the turf and also help keep your lawn looking great for longer. In addition, you can save money in the long run as artificial turf typically costs less to install than regular sod and will last for years to come.

Pursue Energy Star Options

When it comes to energy efficiency, look no further than Energy Star certified products. These products use up to 90% less energy and last 15 times longer than standard bulbs, saving you money in the long run. Investing in Energy Star certified products is a smart decision, as it can help reduce your home’s energy consumption by up to 24%. Additionally, these products are available in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit your needs. From refrigerators and dishwashers to air conditioners and thermostats, there are many options available. So if you’re looking for ways to reduce your energy consumption, look no further than Energy Star certified products.

Create Less Waste

Creating less waste is easier said than done. One way to reduce waste is to shop strategically and buy only what you need, when you need it. Invest in energy efficient lightbulbs, stop buying bottled water, and use fewer paper towels. Use eco-friendly toilet paper and install a smart turf. Pursue energy star options and source your food locally. Don’t let there be light and use green cleaning products by embracing cooler water. Plant a simple backyard garden and cultivate a green yard to help reduce your household’s waste. By making small changes such as these, you’ll be able to create less waste in your home and contribute to a healthier environment.

Source Your Food Locally

The benefits of sourcing your food locally are far reaching. Not only does it decrease food miles, reduce consumption of ultra-processed foods, and prioritize plants, but it also helps maintain farmland and promote a safer food supply. Additionally, local foods are often fresher and taste better than those that travel long distances and spend more time in storage. Choosing regionally-sourced foods encourages small-scale farmers to grow indigenous foods that thrive in the local climate, helping to create a more diverse food system and reduce our reliance on just 12 plants and five animal species. To help reduce the carbon footprint of your diet, try sourcing as much of your food locally as possible.

Don’t Let There Be Light

It’s easy to forget that even when you’re not using lights and appliances, they can still be consuming energy. To save energy, it’s important to turn off all lights and appliances when you’re not using them. This includes unplugging items that are on standby mode, such as televisions or computers. You can also invest in power strips with on/off switches so that you can easily turn off multiple items with the flip of a switch. Doing so will help you save energy and money as well as reduce your environmental footprint.

Use Green Cleaning Products

By now, you’ve probably stocked up on the items you need to start green-cleaning your home. Green cleaning products are safer for humans and the environment than traditional products, and you can find certified household products listed on the Green Seal website. Mixing basic cleaners such as baking soda, white vinegar, salt, and lemons also helps reduce costs and waste. Not only are these items better for the environment, but they’re also safer for your health, especially if you have children or pets in your home. Plus, green cleaning can make cleaning in general easier as you won’t need to come into contact with harsh chemicals. With a basic natural cleaning toolkit of items like hydrogen peroxide and microfiber cloths, you can tackle any job—and create less waste!

Embrace Cooler Water

Using cooler water for laundry, dishes, and showers is an excellent way to reduce energy consumption. Washing clothes in cold water instead of warm or hot water can save up to 80 percent of the energy used in doing a load of laundry. Taking shorter showers and using low-flow showerheads can also help reduce energy costs while conserving water. Installing a heat pump water heater is a great way to save energy and money as it uses less energy than traditional electric water heaters. Additionally, investing in Energy Star appliances can help you save energy by using up to 10 percent less energy than standard models. By doing your part and embracing cooler water, you can reduce your energy consumption and help the environment.

Plant a Simple Backyard Garden

Planting a simple backyard garden is an easy and effective way to reduce your impact on the environment while also providing you with fresh, organic produce. Not only will you be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor, but you’ll also be saving money and resources by avoiding buying produce from the store. Furthermore, you’ll be able to create less waste by composting your food scraps for use in the garden. Additionally, investing in energy-efficient light bulbs, recycling and composting, eating less meat, using fewer paper towels and eco-friendly toilet paper, and embracing cooler water are all effective ways to reduce your environmental footprint.

Cultivate a Green Yard

Cultivating a green yard is a great way to make your home more eco-friendly. Healthy lawns not only make your outdoor space look great but also provide numerous environmental benefits. To get the most out of your lawn, check the soil texture, pH, and nutrient levels and apply grass seed every two years. Additionally, fertilize no more than once a year and eliminate weeds with minimum use of weed killers. Plant grass that is native to your climate and give it occasional shade for optimal growth. You can also reduce your carbon footprint by replacing carbon-intensive lawns with trees and shrubs for added home-energy savings. By following these tips, you can cultivate a green yard that looks beautiful while helping to protect the environment.