Make your home environmentally friendly with these simple changes!
Given the impact of climate change on the front page of every newspaper, you're probably wondering what changes you can make to live a more sustainable life. Remodeling your entire home can be extremely costly, making it impractical for many Americans, especially those with student loan debt and higher living expenses. Instead, we're going to cover three affordable ways you can lead a greener lifestyle without breaking the bank. Read on to find out how you can make a difference in this world.
1. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products
The cleaners you use to scrub your floor, wipe the counter, and remove stains are filled with chemicals that are harmful to Mother Nature. Think about it – where do all these cleaning liquids go when you tidy up your home? Right back in the earth! Many household cleaners contain so-called volatile organic compounds (VOC). Ingredients such as ammonia, phosphorus and nitrogen are classified as VOC and harm our planet. When these cleaning products are flushed down the drain, the pollutants return to rivers, lakes and streams and are consumed by plants and animals. Some of these chemicals can also accelerate the growth of plants and produce algal blooms that deprive the water of oxygen and suffocate marine life. To prevent this, switch to environmentally friendly cleaning products like vinegar or in-store items. This includes recycled paper towels, biodegradable detergent and environmentally friendly multi-surface spray.
2. Invest in environmentally friendly home repairs
Tearing down the walls and updating everything in your house with environmentally friendly replacement parts can be expensive. If you have the budget, that's great. However, this is not always possible. Therefore, you may need to look for alternative funding options. For example, if you're in the sunshine and need new storm windows to prepare for the hurricane season, look for funding options for Florida pace. By using it, you can save money and energy in the long term by letting the heat in and out. If you are trying to avoid funding environmentally friendly repairs, look for other sustainable options, such as: B. for alternative ways to heat your home. Make sure every wall is insulated to trap heat and reduce noise. Install a wood-burning fireplace to limit the amount of gas you use to heat your home in winter. Or use electric space heaters in common rooms that you use most often.
Other common home repairs that can be done in an environmentally friendly way are new closets. Instead of buying new wood and new materials, use environmentally friendly paints that don't contain VOC, new what you already have. Or visit antique shops or junkyards if you are looking for new furniture or equipment. You never know what you will find!
3. Make lifestyle changes
It is important to remember that green living is much more than energy efficiency. There are many lifestyle changes you can make to save our planet too. Check out a few ways you can change your daily habits that can lead to a greener future:
- Reduce food waste: All of these scraps that you have thrown in the trash are quite harmful to the planet. In fact, food waste contributes the most to methane gas emissions. Methane and other gases released from food waste in landfills are 25 percent more harmful than carbon dioxide. It stores heat in the atmosphere, which leads to global warming, and forms holes in the ozone layer.
- Practice sustainable gardening: Build your own sustainable garden instead of going to the grocery store to buy products. With a shovel, wood for a garden box and your favorite seeds, you are on the way to growing your own food at home. Make sure you take care of your garden by watering daily and using environmentally friendly weed killers. If you don't have space for an outdoor garden, create or buy your own indoor garden.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle, reuse: You've probably heard the old saying about reducing, reusing, and recycling. Today another “R” enters the family – misused. This may involve renovating existing furniture or going to your local thrift store and buying used clothing and accessories. If you have the necessary skills and a sewing kit, you can even reuse the existing clothing.
Final thoughts
Sustainable living can lead to many great results. Not only does this have a positive impact on the environment, you also save money by reducing energy costs and spending on various items. These tips will help you become greener by finding new ways to re-use what you already have and thinking carefully about the products you use every day.
