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Going green isn’t just a trend; it’s an efficient way to live that helps improve the world around us. For most, making changes at home is the easiest way to start your own personal green movement. Plus, any changes you implement in your home will have a direct impact on your eco-footprint, your wallet, your health, and your quality of life.
The idea of going green can be very daunting. But, when you start small and introduce new green living ideas into your daily habits, it is a lot easier. Here are six things you can do right now (or one at a time until they’re habit) to live a more green lifestyle:
You should be properly using your garbage, yard waste, compost, and recycling bins already. Encourage all household members to make an effort to understand what should go in your recycling bin.
Here’s an easy one! Invest in some reusable bags. The hardest part is remembering to bring them with you when you go shopping. Once you get into the habit, the benefit of your efforts is worth it. Plastic bags never fully decompose, so your effort will go a long way in relieving overfilled landfill sites.
It's super easy to turn off the light when you leave a room, and yet so many of us forget to do so. If you can make a conscious effort to only turn on the lights when you need them, and turn them off when you don't, you can make a significant impact on your energy bill and the environment.
Only run your dishwasher when it’s full, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, and set your irrigation for late at night or early in the morning. You can install low-flow appliances in your home to cut back on your water consumption even more!
Did you know that when you leave your toaster, coffee maker and phone charger plugged in, you’re wasting power? The same goes for your stove, dishwasher and television. Some household appliances are inconvenient to unplug, but if you can unplug your small appliances when they’re not in use, you will save energy and money.
Make a goal to use your own reusable coffee cups and water bottles. This will help save on garbage that ends up in the landfill, and it’s an easy way to make a big difference.
And we’re not talking paint! As home buyers become aware and onboard the green movement, making an investment in reducing the footprint of your home can help you when it comes time to sell.
Here are 3 Easy Ways to Start Going Green in Your Home:
Update Lights to LED: LED lights last longer, are energy efficient, are environmentally friendly, and look great. You can easily dim them to create a mood in your space. You’ll still want to make it a habit to turn your lights off when you leave a room, but once you switch over to LED you’ll be saving money and energy.
Replace Appliances/Furnace etc. with Newer Energy Efficient Ones: When it comes time to replace your appliances, you can focus on ensuring your new purchase is as energy efficient as possible. Furnaces, hot water tanks, refrigerators, air conditioners, dishwashers, laundry machines and stoves all have quality energy efficient products on the market.
Upgrade Your Plumbing Fixtures: Consider low flush toilets and low flow shower heads to help reduce your water consumption.
