Are you looking to create a more eco-friendly home but aren’t sure how to do it? Creating an eco-friendly home does a lot more than just help lower your carbon footprint.
An eco-friendly home requires less maintenance, creates a healthy indoor living environment, and reduces your energy and water efficiency. In some cases, an eco-friendly home can even increase your property value.
But how do you create a home that’s eco-friendly? Read on below to learn about the top steps to a more eco-friendly home.
- Install Solar Panels
Installing solar panels is perhaps one of the best ways to make your home more eco-friendly. Solar panels generate electricity from the sun, which is a free, renewable energy source.
So while solar panels can be expensive to install, you’ll cut your energy bill to almost zero and be able to save more money over time. Studies show that electricity accounts for over 40% of home end-use energy consumption, so cutting down on electricity can save you thousands in the long run.
Typically, homes rely on fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal to generate electricity. Not only does this cost more money, but it’s also harmful to the environment, as fossil fuels release greenhouse gases that lead to global warming.
Solar panels also help increase the value of your home, and you can earn tax incentives and rebates from installing solar panels. You can contact a contractor today to save with solar.
- Decrease Water Usage
The average person uses around 80 to 100 gallons of water per day. When you consider that 43 countries and 700 million people around the world suffer from water scarcity, you can see how much we’re really wasting.
Water waste issues are only expected to get worse, as it’s predicted that by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may be living under water-stressed conditions.
Luckily, cutting down on your daily water usage is easy. Here are some simple things you can do:
- Turn off the sink when brushing your teeth
- Install a water-saving showerhead
- Fix household leaks promptly
- Take shorter showers
- Install a water-saving toilet
Also, you should only use the automatic setting on your washer and dishwasher when you have full loads.
- Recycle
It’s estimated that 75% of waste in America is recyclable, yet we only recycle 30% of it. Recycling helps to prevent pollution, and it reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
When most people think of recyclable goods, they think of paper and plastic. However, there are other items you can recycle including:
- Glass
- Batteries
- Oil
- Metal containers (including aluminum, tin, and steel)
If your city has an organics collection program, you can also recycle food waste. In addition to recycling the products you buy, you should also focus on purchasing products made from recycled materials.
Are You Ready to Create an Eco-Friendly Home?
As you can see, there are many things you can do to create a more eco-friendly home. While the world’s environmental issues may feel too big to tackle, the best place to start is in your home.
Of course, there are things you can do outside of your home as well to make the world a better place. Check back in with our site to learn tips for improving the world.
