These days, we all know how essential it is to make your home eco-friendly as not only it helps you save money, but also the environment. When the end of the month comes and you view the cost of your utilities, you become stressed. So, having recycled bags, eco-friendly windows, smart appliances, etc. are essential for sustainable living.
Here are 10 ways to make your home more eco-friendly. Let’s dive in!
- Solar Panels
One of the best eco investments you can make in your home is getting solar panels. They are devices that take the sun’s rays and turn them into heat or electricity. This helps not only reduce your carbon footprint but also lower your utility bills.
- Energy-efficient Windows
It’s not a secret that you need to use energy to heat and cool your house in the summer and the winter. However, sometimes you heat or cool your home and it doesn’t work accordingly. The reason? Your old windows.
You’ll understand that it’s time to replace your windows, once you approach and put your hand on them and feel a breeze. Consider replacing your outdated windows with energy-efficient ones as they have better insulation, which means that they reduce energy usage and keep your home cool in summers and warm in winters. With that in mind, consider windows with the Energy Star label, low-E coatings, multiple layers of glass, and a lower U-factor.
- High-speed Hand Dryers
When looking for quality hygiene products, consider buying high-speed hand dryers. These are essential for drying your hands fast and efficiently. Through an eco-friendly hand dryer, you save electricity and don’t use paper towels that are harmful to the environment. So, you reduce energy bills, provide effectiveness, and prevent the spread of infections. Also, the quality hand dryers don’t have buttons, instead, they work with sensors so that it would be touch-free and you won’t spread any germs and bacteria.
- Energy-efficient Light Bulbs
Traditional light bulbs may not provide enough light or it takes a long time for them to adequately light a room. Light emitting diode (LED) light bulbs are more energy-efficient, last longer, and produce higher light quality than incandescent bulbs. Compared to the latter, around 90% of the electricity used by LED lighting is converted into light, while producing less heat and consuming less energy. LED light bulbs last longer (around 50,000 hours) and can serve you for about 6-12 years before needing replacement.
- Power Strips
Whenever you want to make your home more eco-friendly, you need to consider implementing power strips and plugs. The advantage of this is that you can turn them off after you’re finished utilizing the plugged-in devices. Power strips offer the benefit of having several outlets, which makes them ideal for operating several devices at once. An on/off switch is frequently included on power strips, which is useful for energy conservation. With smart power strips, you may conserve energy because they turn off when the gadgets are completely charged or not in use.
- Environmentally-friendly Furniture
The most eco-friendly furniture options are made of recycled resources, such as recycled wood. You can consider furniture made of natural materials as well, such as seagrasses, bamboo, etc. Eco-friendly furniture contains materials that have a minimal effect on the environment, saving the surrounding world and making you feel better.
- Low-flow Shower Head
Low-flow shower heads reduce the amount of water that is delivered per minute with the help of non-aerated spray and an aerating spray. They can lower water consumption by 40% and meanwhile reduce energy usage during a hot shower. This means that you save the environment, while also reducing your utility bills. With that in mind, you can also consider taking shower for 10 minutes and spending less time in the shower.
- Clothes in Cold Water
About 90% of the energy needed to run a washing machine goes toward heating the water. Washing in cold water will often clean well unless you have oily stains to remove. So, if possible wash your clothes in cold water as this way you not only cut down on carbon dioxide emissions but also extend the lifespan of your clothing since hot water can damage the fabric and dull the color of your vibrant clothes.
- Home Insulation
Once your home is well-insulated it will maintain the heat inside it and and use less energy. To keep sound, heat, or electricity from entering or escaping, a space must be covered with insulation. With this, you can have a stable temperature and will reduce your expenses on cooling and heating systems. This means that you save natural resources while lowering your energy bills.
- Drip Coffee Maker
If you love coffee, it’s a great idea to use a drip coffee maker. This is a better choice as you use ground coffee for making coffee, instead of plastic capsules. The latter end up in landfills which will be harmful to the environment.
These were some of the ways you can consider making your home eco-friendly. Save the environment and be healthy!
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
