With growing global concerns many people are beginning to focus on doing their part to be more environmentally conscious. Being more eco-friendly in your home not only has a positive impact on your environment but on your wallet as well. We've included 10 ways to improve the engineering of your home to be a more sustainable, eco-friendly place.
Get serious about water
When we hear the word ‘sustainability’ we generally think that it only relates to energy consumption. However, being truly eco-friendly means taking a holistic approach, so you’ll need to get serious about saving water. It is important to take the time to fix any leaks. Even if there are no leaks, there are plenty of lifestyle changes you can make to save water. Simple changes like not running the faucet when you brush your teeth or shave make a big impact. You can also install a low-flow shower-head – which have been shown to save up to 160,000 liters of water for a family of four.
Install a smart meter
It is very easy, especially during the winter months, to leave your heating on for longer than you strictly need it. This leads to a lot to wasted energy and wasted money. The best way to combat your biggest energy use this is to have a smart meter installed. This will allow you to turn up your heat at certain times of the day. Lowering your home temperature while you sleep and are away at work for the day will reduce your carbon footprint and decrease their energy bills.
Energy efficient light bulbs
Energy efficient bulbs use less electricity, they also last longer, which means you don’t have to spend money replacing them.Invest in the right light bulbs. More efficient CFLs are better alternatives to older, incandescent bulbs.
Install solar panels
This may seem like the most obvious and common solution to creating a more sustainable home. Solar panels provide completely clean electricity while they can sometimes even make enough energy to allow you to sell some back to the grid.
Talk to sustainability consultants
Call your local sustainability experts who will be able to provide you with analysis and ideas for how best to make changes to your home.to Every home is different and there’s usually a great deal that can be done to improve its eco-friendliness.
Make the change to natural cleaning products
Most day-to-day cleaning tasks can be done with natural products like vinegar, citric acid and bicarbonate of soda in place of caustic chemicals. Making this change prevents harmful chemicals from entering the water supply. In the big picture this reduces the need for water purification before it is safe to use again.
Insulate
Good insulation helps hold in the heat, meaning you don’t need to burn as much energy reheating or cooling your home. Adding insulation to any exterior walls as well as the roof and floor can make a huge impact. Consider replacing and windows that leak as well. Using area rugs on exposed hardwood floors will also prevent air from slipping out through the cracks.
Create your own compost
Don’t waste your kitchen scraps and leftover food – turn them into compost. You would be surprised how much of the food that you currently throw away can be recycled and turned into compost. There are many in home composting options, from small counter top containers to large outdoor bins made from pallets.
Buy recycled
Most of us learned in grade school about the impact of "Reuse, Reduce, Recycle" Purchasing recycled products when possible reduces impact on our global resources. This can be anything from toilet paper to your furniture and clothing. Landfills are overflowing at rates faster than we can manage. Buying used or refurbished products helps slow the filling as well as saving you money.
Cook intelligently
Meal Planning allows your to cook multiple things at once to reduce your fuel usage in the kitchen as well as lowering food cost. You will waste less food, use your oven for shorter periods of time, while benefiting from eating a healthier diet. When possible, buying locally grown foods will reduce the carbon footprint of transport while encouraging your communities local growth. Using reusable containers can reduce landfill contribution as well, some examples are water bottles, coffee cups, and food storage bags.
