Easy Ways to Create a Sustainable Home

Evaluate Your Energy Usage

Green energy or energy efficiency plays a prominent role in climate change. You generate and use energy in your home when you cook, switch on a light, charge your devices, or watch television. To pinpoint energy waste, you must do an energy audit.




Home audits are not as pricey as you may think. For approximately $100, a professional will evaluate your installations and energy consumption trends and recommend what you can do to improve them. Remember to look into government programs that help cover the costs of domestic energy audits.




Heating and Cooling Controls

Typically, heating and cooling costs are the biggest energy expenses in a household. A smart thermostat helps with consistent indoor climate control. It helps eliminate drastic drops and spikes in temperature, which consumes a lot of energy.




Eco-friendly settings on your smart thermostat regulate comfortable day- and nighttime temperatures. Plus, the automated functions save you from having to remember when to adjust the thermostat.




Smart Technology

Aside from smart thermostats, you can also establish a greener home by installing other smart options. 




With smart lighting systems, you can use your phone to switch lights on or off, and also set automated lighting schedules. Smart plugs help signal excessive energy use and also show you which devices use power even when they’re off (phantom loads).




You can link your systems to digital platforms such as Alexa or Google Home to refine monitoring and control. These solutions help to rein in wasteful energy usage.




Eco-Friendly Appliances

Replace your old appliances with energy-efficient alternatives. These include things such as refrigerators, washing machines, tumble driers, and dishwashers.

Old models guzzle energy, while eco-friendly appliances help you save energy and costs. Ensure you choose models that have been tested and certified by recognized authorities such as the US Environmental Protection Agency.




LED Lightbulbs

Replacing your old light bulbs with LEDs helps limit the impact on the environment. Light-emitting diodes, more commonly known as LEDs, turn electricity directly into light without creating and wasting excessive heat.




As they use between 80% and 90% less energy than their incandescent or halogen counterparts, they are significantly more energy efficient. Plus, they last longer!




Bedding

The textiles used to make bed linens are often synthetic and contain chemicals. These fabrics take forever to break down in nature and release loads of greenhouse gases while doing so. 




Switch to organic textiles to help prevent this environmental threat. The production of natural fibers, such as hemp and bamboo, use less resources and is eco-friendly. Plus, these textiles are biodegradable, which means reduced greenhouse-gas emissions.




Natural Light and Air

The more natural light and ventilation you use, the less you need artificial solutions. This means you save money and energy, while giving the planet a health boost.




Optimize natural lighting by letting it in through windows and doors. If you need curtains for privacy, use ones that let the light through. Natural light also promotes physical and emotional well-being as it helps to control circadian rhythms, which, in turn, promote good sleep.




Equally important is fresh air. Open windows and doors to ventilate your home and help control temperatures. This helps to save on heating and cooling costs.




Water Usage

Water is a precious resource, and we should all save it where we can. Households waste a lot through invisible leaks, ineffective faucets, and bad habits.




Install low-flow fixtures and dual-flush or low-flow toilets to conserve water in your home. Use barrels or buckets to collect rainwater for your plants and garden, and work mulch into the soil to decrease evaporation.




If there’s a problem, such as a leak, attend to it immediately. Even a minor leak can waste gallons of water.




Adopt water-saving habits. For example, turning the tap off while brushing teeth or lathering up in the shower, and only using the dishwasher once it’s fully loaded.




Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products

Our cleaning products — detergents, soaps, polishes — end up in the environment (air, soil, or water) in one way or another. Most traditional products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are bad for you and the environment.




Organic, green cleaning agents are biodegradable and often come in recyclable containers. You can use these with a clean conscience. Or, you can make your own solutions with common ingredients such as vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda.




Indoor Plants

Indoor plants not only look great, but are also a functional eco boost. They help to purify the air while creating aesthetically pleasing spaces that reduce stress.




Certain types, such as peace lilies, spider plants, and snake plants, help remove airborne toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde. There are many low-maintenance options that can beautify your home and clean your air.




Laundry

Washing machines and tumble dryers use lots of water and energy. Wash your clothes on cold-water cycles to save energy, and only wash full loads to conserve water.




When possible, hang up wet clothes and air-dry them. Dryer sheets are not biodegradable. It’s better to use wool dryer balls in tumble dryers.

Composting and Recycling

Get on board with community recycling initiatives. Learn how to separate and prepare recyclables. Getting color-coded bins helps with this exercise.

Compost organic waste, such as food and garden waste. In landfills, these produce huge amounts of methane. You can rework everything from fruit and vegetable peels to eggshells and coffee grounds.

Climate change and global warming affect all of us. By incorporating these practices, you can make a difference that counts.

By: @Emma (Emma Carlisle)