Creating an eco-friendly home doesn’t have to be difficult. With a little planning, you can do your part to help the planet and make your home green. Try these tricks to get started.
Don’t Waste Food
Food waste is a major problem in the U.S. Up to 40 percent of food is wasted for a variety of reasons, one being that we buy more than we can consume. This leads to food ending up in a landfill where it contributes to greenhouse gases instead of being used to nourish our bodies.
Don’t buy more than you can eat, and have a plan for what to do if you do end up with too much food. You can donate non-perishables to a food bank or offer extra fruits and veggies to neighbors. Learn how to store your food so it lasts, and that will help you use it before it goes bad.
Produce is often thrown out before it even makes it to consumers simply because it looks imperfect. You can actually buy this product from companies that are hoping to scale down waste. Eating ugly produce doesn’t change the effect it has on your health. As long as it’s not moldy, most produce does not need to be in pristine condition to be enjoyed. Don’t throw produce out just because it has a few blemishes.
Reduce
Most of us know to recycle, but that is actually the last step in the conserving system. Reducing how much we purchase is the first step. When it’s time to furnish your home, keep this in mind.
Make intentional purchases for your home instead of just filling it with anything on sale. Have a place for each item so you don’t accidentally buy duplicates. Before purchasing an item, give yourself a full day and night to think about if you really want or need it. This keeps you from simply purchasing for the thrill of acquisition and ensures you make better choices when you do finally commit to a purchase.
Once you’ve purchased an item, use it for the long haul. You can repurpose it as years go by so you don’t end throwing things out that can simply be reused.
Use Responsible Energy
Heating and cooling a home takes a ton of energy and contributes to the strain on the environment. That’s one reason many people are buying tiny homes. These smaller living spaces can help reduce our impact on the environment. Still, you have to figure out how to heat a tiny house, and there are options that are better for you and the environment.
Using radiant floor heat can warm your tiny house without making it feel humid or scorching. This method uses your own floor and heats it up so your whole tiny house will be cozy. It doesn’t waste energy, and this method can even reduce condensation from collecting throughout your home.
Compost
There are times we end up with leftover food scraps no matter how hard we try. Setting up a compost bin can help you dispose of these responsibly while also creating rich soil for a garden.
Not every food or item in your home is compostable, but you will be surprised by how much you can compost and the difference it will make in your trash output. Getting the right balance of materials in your compost bin is key. You want to make sure to achieve the right carbon to nitrogen ratio. You can also add worms to your compost bin to help speed up the process. The soil produced from composting can help plants you hope to grow throughout the year.
Skip Plastic
Plastic is convenient and that’s why most of us don’t go to the trouble to avoid it. However, it is detrimental to the planet and shouldn’t be the first choice for items in your home.
Choose reusable bags and water containers instead of plastic. Replace your plastic hand soap container with one that is glass and can be refilled using dissolvable tablets. Search for dishwashing and laundry detergent that doesn’t come in plastic
containers. All of these can be found and purchased for reasonable prices. Eliminating single-use plastics from your home is a big step in making your space more eco-friendly.
You can take small steps in your own home to responsibly care for the planet. Make an eco-friendly home your goal.
