The importance of styling a home is increasing by the day, which is why there is no wonder that we’re seeing a lot of reality shows about upgrading and selling houses. But, we must not only be particular with the styles of our homes advises DeSantis Management Company. Our planet is slowly declining and it would mean so much if we help in our own ways.
With that said, if you are planning to do any upgrades to your home, you might also want it to be eco-friendly. Check out some suggestions below on how you can make your home more friendly to the environment.
1. Say No to Single-use Plastics
Source: Pinterest
The state of our ocean is getting worse by the day, mainly because of plastic products. Considering this, it’s time that we stay away from single-use plastics, such as straws and water bottles. Instead, let’s use sustainable products, such as metal straws and reusable water containers and snack packages.
For instance, you can bring your own eating utensils to work and store your food in glass food containers. At home, you can check your fridge so you won’t buy what you already have. If you love vegetables, choose to go to local markets instead of supermarkets to decrease the use of plastic.
2. Choose Eco-friendly Furniture
With all the interior design trends we see practically everywhere, it’s easy to get tempted to purchase high-end types of furniture. However, many of these use chemicals for durability, which have a serious impact on the environment.
If you want to go green, then use furniture that is locally-sourced. Some great examples of sustainable materials are organic cotton, eco-wool, natural latex, recycled fabric, and reclaimed or locally-sourced wood. When you have furniture made from these materials, you will also have better air quality. They do not depend on fire retardants and utilizes minimum VOC finishes.
3. Conserve Water
Water is an essential source that many people tend to take for granted. To live in an eco-friendly home, you must be conscious of your water usage. Always turn off the faucet when no one is using it. Also, wash the dishes and do the laundry if you already have a full load. Check your faucets, toilet, sprinkler systems, and pipes to make sure they are not damaged, which can waste a lot of water.
It’s totally understandable that you won’t be able to do this at all times. But, you must make a conscious effort to reduce your water usage as much as you can.
4. Insulate
Probably the most effective way to make your home eco-friendly is to control the use of energy and the best way to achieve this is through insulation. Excellent insulation aids in holding the heat, which means there’s no need to keep burning energy to maintain your ideal temperature. There are numerous areas in your home that can be insulated, such as the roofs and the walls.
Also, if you have cracked floors, you might want to get area rugs. These rugs are effective in insulating your home as they keep air from going out through the gaps. What’s more, they are stylish and will add more character to your home interiors.
5. Use Compost
If you have a garden, then it’s great if you use compost to take care of it. Have a compost bin to collect eggshells, peels of fruit and vegetable, and even grass clippings. Using compost is an effective way both to repurpose your waste and to care for your garden.
6. Use Solar Panels
If you live in a place where there are high-energy expenses but your home receives abundant sunlight, then you might want to install a roof solar panel. In a lot of places, solar panels will pay for themselves in a decade.
What’s more, once these panels are installed, they create zero emissions. For a typical homeowner, choosing solar power is like getting rid of emissions produced by a vehicle that runs at least 18,000 miles each year. As you can see, solar power is a significant environmental advantage.
7. Use Energy-saving Lighting
Another important thing you can do to make your home eco-friendly is investing in energy-saving lighting fixtures. These lights have always been here but many people did not really care about it. But now, fortunately, people are more familiar with energy-saving lights.
They don’t only save energy but your expenses as well. Because they only use minimal energy, you have lesser electricity bills. Moreover, they have longer shelf lives compared to traditional lighting. This means it will take longer to replace them.
8. Be a Smart Cook
Source: Pinterest
Being a smart cook does not only mean cooking delicious food but also to be eco-friendly when doing it. So what should you look for when in the kitchen? Here are some examples:
When you open an oven door while cooking, you will lose a reasonable amount of heat. Even though the oven was only open for a brief amount of time, it will still need more energy to heat it again.
Another example is the use of coffee pods. These things are a serious threat to our environment with billions of plastic capsules and aluminum going to landfills in just a year. To help with this concern, you must have your coffee from a traditional coffee maker.
9. Easy on the Chemicals
Source: Pinterest
Most houses today are likely to have a lot of chemicals, such as old paint, floor sealers, and even cleaning products. These kinds of stuff greatly reduce the air quality in your home. To address this, choose products made from organic ingredients or those that have low VOC.
Or, you can even make your own cleaning supplies. Simply search them online and you’ll find awesome ideas and guides on DIY cleaning products.
10. Use Recycled Products
Source: Pinterest
When buying new home essentials, such as toothbrushes, utensils, shampoo, soap, etc., go for those made or packed from recycled materials. You may not feel it, but if people choose to use recycled products, there will be a great reduction in the production and usage of plastic.
As many are already becoming more aware of the condition of our planet, people are now coming up with awesome ways to use recycled materials in everyday things, from living room furniture to kitchen utensils.
Taking care of our environment should start within ourselves. What better way to do that than making our homes eco-friendly? Hopefully, you like the ideas mentioned above and will apply to your house when you do some enhancements!
As many are already becoming more aware of the condition of our planet, people are now coming up with awesome ways to use recycled materials in everyday things, from living room furniture to kitchen utensils.