We are all growing more conscious of the need to be environmentally friendly, and nowadays many of us follow the very minimum guidelines, like recycling waste, without giving it much thought. Looking at the bigger picture, there are a variety of approaches, some huge and some small, that can help us all become much more knowledgeable about our local environment and promote a more sustainable way of living.
How to make your home environmentally friendly?
1. Create a compost station
In the process of composting, organic matter is broken down naturally to produce nutritious soil. You can create your compost place indoors or outdoors depending on where you need it. You need a separate bin if you are composting indoors. You can start your compost station on the ground or in a bin if you want to start it outside. The next time you cook, just toss any leftover peels, cracked eggshells or any other food waste into your newly constructed compost station.
Fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, loose-leaf tea, used paper towels and napkins, cooked pasta and rice, stale crackers, and many other items are among the things you can and should compost. Composting improves soil quality and lowers landfill methane emissions, which helps you have a smaller carbon impact.
2. Use LED Bulbs
Even though energy-efficient light bulbs have been around for a while, it has only been within the last few years that the general public has begun to learn more about their usefulness and the money they can be saved in the home.
There have previously been concerns that they simply do not provide enough light or that it takes a while for them to adequately light a room. The time to switch is now more than ever because of the constant advancements in their technology. They not only use less electricity, but they also do not require replacement nearly as frequently as conventional, older light bulbs did.
The correct energy-efficient light bulbs are a significant investment. Your home will become more environmentally friendly as well as require less electricity. They help you save money over time and are environmentally friendly, and last longer.
3. Reuse and Recycle
How many items do you use only once before throwing them away in your home? You do not have to throw something in the trash just because it takes up space, whether it’s a paper grocery bag or a broken chair in your living room. Recycling that paper bag is important!
4. Try Solar Panels
Solar panels are a crucial component of any home that wants to be truly environmentally friendly. Even though there will be an extra expense, they are a long-term investment, and over the long run, you might be able to save more than you spend.
Some people are fortunate enough to discover that solar panels generate enough electricity to enable them to live fully off the grid.
5. Fix Leaks
You can waste hundreds of gallons of water annually if one drop per second escapes from your kitchen or bathroom faucets. More than 500 gallons of water can be lost annually by a showerhead that drops at a rate of 10 drips per minute. The amount of water wasted in your home can be greatly reduced by taking the time to check for leaks and drips.
6. Seal Air Leaks
Sealing the air leaks around your home is among the simplest initial actions you can take to make it more energy efficient. Air can enter a house through cracks in the ceiling, walls, floor, and window margins, especially in older houses. By caulking, sealing, and weatherstripping all gaps and cracks, you can reduce the amount you pay each month for heating and cooling.
7. Plant Herbs
If you were unsure what to do with the fertiliser, planting your own herb garden is the solution. Herbs do not require much room. You may grow them indoors, near a window that gets plenty of sunlight, in little pots. The main benefit? For your favourite dishes, fresh herbs will always be available.
8. Make a Rain Garden
You can make a rain garden to preserve the environment and maintain your yard’s soil health. With the help of this do-it-yourself project, rainwater and gutter overflow will be directed into a lovely area that is firmly planted in the ground and brimming with native plants.
9. Recycle Water
Why not collect the thousands of litres of rainwater that fall on your roof each year? This water can be used to water gardens, fill washing machines, and flush toilets.
Think of a rainwater collection system that uses a drainpipe to collect rainwater, filter away leaves and other trash, and then store the usable water in a tank.
Consider replacing your showers and toilets as well. A low-flow showerhead uses less than 10 litres of water per minute, and a low-flush toilet uses less than four litres per flush.