While we’re all becoming more aware of environmental issues and taking steps to do things like reducing our carbon footprints, it’s easy to forget that there are many ways we can help the environment by changing our actions inside our own homes.
Here are some simple but effective ways in which you can make your home more environmentally friendly.
Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
When you use your washing machine, up to 90% of the energy that’s used goes into heating the water. The thing is, most everyday clothing doesn’t need to be washed in hot water for it to become clean, and reducing energy usage in washing machines can significantly help the environment.
So, start washing most of your clothes in cold water. You’ll save a lot of money by doing that, too. By washing your clothes in cold water, you reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, clothes that are washed in cold water tend to last longer and maintain their colors.
If your clothes and bedding have stubborn stains, you’ll want to use hotter water, but even warm water, rather than hot water, is sufficient for removing most stains. So, by sticking to the cold water and warm water settings, you can significantly reduce the environmental impact in your home.
Use a Water Filter
If you usually buy bottled water instead of drinking water from the tap, as many households do, you’re contributing to plastic waste which is harmful to the environment. Therefore, if you want more purified water while also helping to reduce plastic waste, switch to a water filter.
Not only does switching to a water filter reduce the amount of single-use plastic that ends up in landfills. It also saves you money. And it’s worth pointing out that water contamination is becoming more and more of a major environmental issue around the world.
For instance, you may have heard about the pollutants that contaminated the military base of Camp Lejeune between the 1950s and 1980s. Camp Lejeune water contamination symptoms resulted in people on the base experiencing conditions like Parkinson’s disease, birth defects, and various cancers.
The contamination not only harmed people. It also harmed the environment.
Switch to LED Light Bulbs
One of the simplest and best things you can do to make your home more environmentally friendly is to swap your regular light bulbs for LED light bulbs. The latter are much more energy-efficient and therefore are much better for the environment.
LED bulbs last longer too. So, in this era of high energy costs, you can also save money by switching to LED light bulbs.
If you run your own business, you should also consider using LED lighting in your parking lot.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
Cleaning products that are full of harmful chemicals can often be very damaging to the environment. So, if you want to make your home eco-friendlier, use natural cleaning products instead.
When you use cleaning products that contain natural ingredients, you’re reducing harm to yourself as well as to the environment. While it’s true that many off-the-shelf natural cleaning products are more expensive than regular ones, you always have the option of making your own cleaning products.
Things like vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda can be just as effective for cleaning as products that contain chemicals.
Stop Using Gas-powered Lawn Equipment
If you have a lawn, you should use hand-powered or electric lawn care equipment to maintain it rather than using gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and other equipment.
Why? Well, a gas-powered lawn mower produces almost the same amount of pollution as using your car for a 100-mile trip. That’s why.
By switching to hand-powered or electric lawn equipment in addition to adopting the above eco-friendly tips, you can dramatically reduce the effect that your home has on the environment.
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