How to Make your Home More Eco-Friendly
Do you want to help our environment, in this economic time? Without a large paycheck, it becomes possible to do still. Easy, it is to do. Take these small steps and add to a big difference in being more eco-friendly.
Use less water
These small steps get you started. Save water and conserve energy and even your wallet by using these steps.
- Shut off the water while you brush your teeth
- Take showers that are a minute or two shorter
- Only flush the toilet when you need to
- Only run full loads of laundry and dishes
- Buy from sustainable producers. These are farmers, ranchers, and other producers that use techniques that pollute less and use less water. You can do some research online or ask at your local organic market to find these products.
Use less energy
Buying a hybrid car or converting a house to solar power out of your reach. Here are some smaller and more affordable ways to conserve energy and you still making a big difference.
- Buy energy efficient appliances. These appliances cost more, however they pay for themselves by helping to lower your energy bills.
- Unplug chargers when not in use. Cell phone and other chargers use up electricity even when not charging.
- Put devices with remotes, such as TV’s, VCRs, and stereos, on a power strip. Turn these off when not in use. These devices use a lot of energy to run the remote receiver even when the device is off.
- Walk or ride your bike more for your short trips. Use this idea and better your own energy by improving your health too.
- Buy local products. It takes energy to transport food and other products across the country. Buy your produce and buy products locally when possible. This saves energy and it supports your local economy, it helps the local farmers and companies in your community to save energy too.
Get your family involved by setting the example and making it fun. Do this idea and teach your children how to conserve for their environment. Make it fun by playing an eco-friendly game. Have them track how much less water and electricity each person uses in the home. Compete to see who uses the least water. Make a checklist of the ideas above and put a check next to each tip used each day. At the end of the day or week, the person with the most checks wins the game. Your children will love trying to keep you on track. So, have fun saving energy and bringing your family together to be more eco-friendly.
Reuse
The three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle. We work on conserving; however, we often forget the reuse part. You need creativity to reuse. On the internet, find tips and ideas on how to recreate what you might recycle. Many common products around your home become useable as something else.
– You can use toilet paper holders to sow seeds for the vegetable patch or use to make napkin rings for a child’s party.
– And you can cut old yogurt containers into strips to make plant labels.
– Try using old food jars by refilling them with homemade foods or use these to make great impromptu vases.
– Make refrigerator magnetic picture holders with jar lids, by painting and gluing a magnet on the back. Next, place your picture inside it.
– Make a bowl out of pop-sickle sticks.
Use environmentally friendly products more. When shopping for groceries, on the shelf you now find many more labeled “natural” or “eco friendly” products. Two big problems with these products generally are:
1. Labeled many of them are as more natural than regular products. This does not mean they are entirely natural. Read the ingredients to find out for sure.
2. They are often expensive. If you want inexpensive, natural, safe products, you make them yourself this easy way. Use vinegar as a great way to clean and disinfect glass and other non-porous surfaces. To remove some stubborn stains, try adding some baking soda to your vinegar cleaner. To make other natural homemade cleaning products search online, you will find many a site to help you create your own.
Go green. It is better for our environment and better for you and your family. Conserving your resources, saves you money, betters your health, and brings happiness to our earth. Being eco-friendly is the best way to live.
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