The term, ‘sustainable’ has become a key word in many industries today, particularly in real estate, healthcare, travel, automobile and electricity. Above all, home is where the heart is; and charity (in this case, eco-friendliness), they say, begins at home.
From choosing furniture for your home, gardens design and maintenance ideas for your outdoor look, here are 10 tips to make your home a greener space.
Outdoor garden and patio ideas
Don’t mow deeply
To help your lawn tolerate drought conditions in warmer months, allow it grow a few more inches before mowing. It will make the lawn drought to thicken and the root denser, which means less disease, fewer pest and reduced dependence on chemical intervention.
Use eco-friendly garden furniture
Ensure that the furniture you buy is sustainable. Great options include Acacia and teaks sourced from long-term plantation reserves. You can also use recycled plastic or aluminium for your patio. Similarly, consider second-hand furniture that can be repurposed by repainting it for a fresh look. Your outdoor should be spectacular, but the earth’s resources should also be considered during the design and planning process.
Use solar lighting for your outdoor
Nightlights make your garden and backyard space more colourful and impressive. Your outdoor integrates function and aesthetic beauty with eco-friendly lighting fixtures. An eco-friendly option is solar-powered lights for your pathway, deck, front and back entryways and garage. They don’t need wires, they consume less energy and they are affordable.
Encourage bees
The population of honeybees has reduced by 50% in 75 years and this is a problem because a third of our food resources require bee pollination. Attract bees by planting fruits, wildflowers and vegetables
Save energy with eco-friendly technology
Most eco-friendly fixtures for outdoors have to do with technology. Installing motion detectors beside exterior lightings saves money on utility bills. The light comes on when the motion detector senses an animal or human approaching. Smart home technology connected to your outdoor lighting is an ideal way to incorporate this idea.
Use reclaimed water
Everyone loves luscious greenery that shines around the home, but the associated high water bills are always unpleasant. You can fix this by installing reclaimed water fixtures for your outdoor. This mechanism works by collecting rainwater from your roof and down-spouting it to water your landscaping and lawn. A sustainability specialist or landscaping architect can devise an architectural plan to fit in this solution for you.
Indoor eco-friendly tips to make your home more efficient
Energy saving cooling and heating systems
Heating and cooling bills probably consume a lot of energy in most homes because they work to control temperature for your interior. Invest in an energy efficient technology that doesn’t emit harmful gases to the environment. Look for products with high seasonal energy efficient ratio, as those with higher numbers are more energy efficient.
Use green furniture
There are eco-friendly options for almost every type of furniture piece. “The world needs more trees, so avoid purchasing items that lead to deforestation,” explains a leading industry expert from Himmels Architectural Door & Hardware. “These trees cool the earth’s surface, enrich the soil, produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide and support the livelihood of many people.”
The best alternatives are to use wood from sustainably harvest forests and reclaimed wood.
Use vinegar as a cleaning solution
As a replacement for chemical-heavy products, use vinegar, an organic multipurpose cleaning agent. However, take note that vinegar shouldn’t be used on hardwood floors or stone tile floors.
Efficient cooking options
- Microwaves reduce your energy consumption by 50% or more.
- There are some cookware such as glass, silicone and ceramic dishes that don’t require high temperature.
- Only open a heated oven when you need to. The temperature reduces by 100 degrees when left open longer than 30 seconds.
Check water wastage
Here are some tips to help you use water more efficiently:
- Don’t leave the water on while brushing your teeth.
- Fix leaky pipes as soon as it happens.
- Use low flow toilets.
- Use water meter to check for hidden water leaks.
- Put float booster or plastic bottles in your toilet tanks.
- Install low faucet aerators and water saving shower heads.
- Insulate water pipes.
- Take shorter showers.
- Only use washing machine and dishwasher for full loads.
Use Soapnuts
These are 100% natural hypoallergenic solutions for washing laundry and they can be used as compost after full use.
Get off junk mail list
Where possible, receive mails such as utility bills, bank statements and correspondence through your email instead of printed copies. This reduces your impact on the environment and the amount of paper ending up at landfills.
Unplug appliances you’re not using
You might not know this but your electrical appliances consume almost as much energy when on standby mode just as when in use. Unplug DVD players, TVs, Desktops and other appliances as soon as you finish using them to conserve energy.
Conclusion
Most of these solutions are inexpensive and save a lot of money aside from the obvious environmental benefits. Incorporating a few of these steps will make your home greener, burn less carbon monoxide and improve your lifestyle at home without affecting comfort or style.
These are all great tips! The oldies but goodies like window, door and roof replacement still apply!