Making your home more eco-friendly can only ever be a good thing. We need to look after our planet, and it is our responsibility to make the that are changes required ourselves. Here are 9 easy (and cost-effective) ways to make your home greener, without making compromises. Not only will the environment thank you, but your monthly bills might be a bit friendlier as well!
Replace Light Bulbs
Energy efficient light bulbs are an easy and cheap way of saving energy and money. While they are slightly more expensive to purchase, they last much longer than normal light bulbs, making them more cost-effective in the long run and much more eco-friendly.
Replace Your Windows
Double glazing on windows only lasts about 20 years so if you live in an older house, your windows could be less efficient than you think. If you contact replacement window experts in Richmond, VA and get them to replace your old windows then your home will become more energy efficient, meaning it takes less fossil fuels to heat your home. This is not only an eco-friendly thing to do but it also saves you money!
Energy Efficient Appliances
While you don’t need to go out and purchase all new things for your home, when it comes to replacing older products check the labels for their energy efficiency. Getting an energy efficient kettle, microwave, hoover and TV is a good idea and all are available in a range of energy efficiency. So, while some are more expensive, they could save you in the long run.
Turn Off the Tap
Turning off taps when not using them is also a simple way of making your home more eco-friendly. Don’t leave them running when brushing your teeth, and only using the amount that you need in your kettle. Water efficient shower heads are also available and products that make your toilet use less water per flush. Not only does this help the environment, but it will cut down on metered water bills.
Wash at 30
More washing products and companies are promoting the benefits of washing at a lower temperature now. It is just as efficient as washing at a higher temperature, but saves energy and is gentler on your clothing. Try a product specifically for this and turn the temperature down.
Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
There are loads of cleaning products and supplies now they are organic and safer for the environment. Whether you are buying products yourself or using home cleaning services, try to use ones which are free of chemicals and are non-toxic.
Install A Water Butt
A water butt can be really useful and efficient in saving water usage, especially if you live in an area with heavy rainfall. This water can be used to water plants and clean outside spaces, cutting down on costs.
Insulate Your Home
Insulating your home is another easy and obvious solution for making your house more eco-friendly. You can try it yourself; the supplies are easy to purchase, or call a company in to do the work for you. If your HVAC system is in need of a tune up, you may need to call a hvac repair service to make sure that it is not working overtime even after you have insulated. Heating bills will be cut in the cooler months, saving energy and costs. if you stick to the basics of taking care of your home Additionally, in the warmer months, instead of reaching for the air conditioning, try installing some ceiling fans to help keep the air in your home circulating. Many homes have a very hot room in the summer, such as the garage which is often poorly insulated, which leak hot air into the rest of the house. In this case, you may want to look at ceiling fans for a garage to help ventilate the hot air away from the house. Ceiling fans use much less electricity than air conditioning and also don’t use any coolant chemicals, meaning you get a cooler home and a cooler planet!
Recycle
Recycling is something we can all do to help the environment. Check local authorities for what they take and when, and set up a system for sorting your trash. If you have a big clear out, taking materials to tips and dumping grounds, and make sure they’re all disposed of safely and correctly. If you’re unsure how to dispose of something, contact your local city green team (most cities have one, if yours doesn’t-check at county or state level) to see how, when, and where to dispose of certain items. Some cities, like mine, have a curbside pickup program that they run once or twice per year-it’s been so handy!
How are you being more eco-friendly at home?
