16 Ways to Make Your Home Eco-Friendly by Tassia Agatowski Eco-Living

In fact, Paul Hawken, the author of Drawdown and one of my personal heroes lists ending food waste as one of the top 10 ways for us to help reverse global warming. It’s called anaerobic decomposition, and all of that oxygen deprived, organic matter now releases methane into the atmosphere. If you live in a small space, a tankless electric water heater is perfect because they’re a third of the size of a gas heater. You can get a high-quality electric water heater for as little as $500. Install is way easier too because there’s no other requirements than a sufficient power source in your home.

You ALWAYS want to run your dishwasher on a full load, this is so important. Avoid the heat-dry option, rinse-hold, and pre-rinse features. Once the cycle is done, let the dishes air dry, this will save on energy.

Reduce kitchen plastics and single-use disposables

Though the initial cost of having two systems will be higher, it could ultimately end up using less energy and saving you money. The good news is, conserving our natural resources has now become a major priority. People everywhere are taking note of this issue and starting to become concerned with how to be environmentally friendly. There are many changes, big and small, that you can make throughout your home that will have a positive impact on the environment. Are you looking for ways to live a greener, more eco-friendly life?

• If your existing ones don’t you can always purchase a second cheap pair that can be used as a liner.
• To reduce water consumption, you can use water-efficient fixtures such as modern toilet cisterns and showerheads.
• Installing solar panels on your roof can harness the power of the sun to provide energy to power your appliances, lights and electronics naturally.
• Don’t get caught up with having to have the newest and shiniest.
• In the last decade or so, we have seen a decline in cotton production and an increase in the use of polyester.
• Speaking of compost, what types of garbage bags are you using?

This DIY project works to channel the rain water and runoff from gutters into a sweet space rooted deeply into the earth, and flourishing with native plants. You will very quickly recoup those costs when you quit buying a 24-pack of water bottles every time you go to the grocery store. (You can even specify that your wash-and-fold place do this!) Hot water will actually set stains, and cold water will get your clothes just as clean. Using pesticides can cause toxins to leak into streams, ponds, lakes, and wells, and can contaminate groundwater.

Pick solar lighting

Large sun-facing windows let in a lot of natural heat during the day so your home can remain warm during the winter, but too warm during the summer. This is easily remedied by using blinds or coupling the large windows with the right wall insulation so it remains cool even though there is a lot of sun coming in. When deciding on what type of stairs to use, think about what’s most important to you.

You don’t have to give up paper towels completely, but it’s best to use them sparingly. Re-using a water bottle also saves money in the long run, as fewer plastic bottles will need to be purchased. Standard bulbs emit a lot of heat, which means your air conditioner has to run harder in the summer to compensate. Whether you’re remodeling, new-construction, or just looking to upgrade some existing fixtures, switching to low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets is a great way to save water and money. Here are a few eco-friendly insulation options for you to consider. Even though winters don’t dip below 30 very often, our heating is expensive and inefficient.

Reduce microplastic in your home

Sure, it takes a bit of responsibility to take care of plants but it’s surely worth it. In case you were wondering what to do with the fertilizer, here’s your answer – plant your own herb garden. You can plant them in small pots and keep them inside the house, close to a sunny window. How to make your home more environmentally friendly You will always have fresh herbs for your favorite dishes. Bare windows aren’t just a little bit naked-looking, they also let in heat and cool air from the outside even if sealed shut. Nurture your garden with repurposed rainfall from a backyard barrel instead of cranking up the hose.

And the advertised offers may be subject to additional terms and conditions of the advertiser. All information is presented without any warranty or guarantee to you. In the last decade or so, we have seen a decline in cotton production and an increase in the use of polyester. This means one thing, the clothes we are wearing and buying are increasingly becoming plastic.

Famous Men Who Wear the Same Outfit Every Day

Plastic baggies can be used to store odds and ends like nails, kids crayons, paint brushes, etc. I have a few plastic baggies in the garage that I use for these types of items.

• Area rugs are a cost-effective and stylish way to help insulate your home and prevent air from slipping out through the cracks in your floors.
• Your recyclables are all processed at a local materials recovery facility.
• For more information be sure to check out my post How to Save Money on Your Electric Bill in the Kitchen.
• Extend the lifetime of items in your household by learning to reuse, repurpose, and upcycle them.
• Column 2 — can it be recycled or reused, in the case of eggs if it’s in Styrofoam then no.

These days, compost bins are designed to be neat, tidy, and odor-free. Plus, they make your life easier since they help you reduce household waste. Get green by installing a programmable thermostat to monitor your cooling and heating systems. A thermostat can reduce the cost of your utility bill and make your home more eco-friendly at the same time. During sunny and hot months, it’s almost a shame to not line-dry your clothes outside.

Use lemons for cleaning

Tim Taylor is an industrial engineer and entrepreneur with years of hands-on experience in the synthetic turf industry. As a member of the Synthetic Turf Council, he dedicates his time, energy, and resources to finding real solutions to real problems for synthetic turf products and installation processes. Toilets are by far the main source of water use in the home, accounting for nearly 30 percent of an average home’s indoor water consumption. According to the EPA, toilets account for almost 30 percent of the average household’s indoor water usage.