6 Ways To Green Up Your Home
If the recent increase in support for green issues is anythingto go by, there will soon be a huge wave of converts who are becoming eco conscious. It’s very easy to become quite overwhelmed when you decide to go green. A lot of people often think that there is no point to it except if you are going to go 100 percent sustainable. However, this is not so as if we all do a bit, then the overall effect will have much more impact than just if a few people are going the full hog.
You can start your eco friendly journey by looking at ways to make your home and lifestyle more low impact. This isn’t as daunting as it may sound and with a few steps that are listed below, you can be well on your way to reducing the carbon footprint.
1. Houseplants: these often overlooked beauties can help reduce toxins and dangerous chemicals in the house by up to 90% in 24 hours. For example, the Aloe Vera plant has been known to remove toxins like formaldehyde which are released by synthetic substances around the house. Studies have further shown that growing one plant for every 100 square feet around the house is enough to reduce your risk of certain illnesses like asthma and other diseases and conditions.
2. Bamboo: If you’re looking at some home improvements bamboo is a very good alternative for hardwood and can be used for floors, countertops, and even furniture. Unlike hardwood trees like oak, bamboo can be grown in a short time so is a very sustainable option.
3.Grow Your Own: This is a great way to reduce your shopping list, eat seasonally and reduce food packaging from shops. You do not need polytunnels or big greenhouses, all you need is a couple of pots or some vegetable beds and you can grow fruit, veggies and herbs. Not only will it cut your carbon footprint but it will also increase wellbeing as you’ll be getting fresh air and exercise too.
4. Use Energy-Efficient Appliances: Household appliances that are being made are much more energy-efficient than their older counterparts. If your energy bills are skyrocketing then it is most likely due to the old appliances you are using or the frequency of your usage. Check your boiler, TV, and even your freezer. If they are of obsolete designs, then they are probably the reason your energy bill is so high and you should consider upgrading to a newer and more efficient design when they eventually need replacing. Also consider if you need to use the washing machine or tumbler dryer every day.
Initially, it might seem the cost is much higher, but in the long run, you might be saving up to 300 pounds a year just from using a new and more efficient boiler. This shows that using eco-friendly house features will not only help in saving the planet in the long run, it will also help you save money too.
5. Reduce the amount of clothing you buy: The major factor with clothing manufacturing is the amount of energy and resources needed to make them. Not to mention the pollution that can also be caused in the processing of the fabrics. Buying preloved clothing online or from charity shops can ensure you cut your carbon footprint and save money too.
Take your old clothes to charity shops and any too old for repair can be recycled from the kerbside or at your local recycling centre.
6. Don’t throw away things that can be repaired: If you tend to throw away things just because they don’t seem to be working very well or have broken see if there is a repair café in your area or if an online tutorial or you tube video can help you fix them. The manufacture of household items and electrical gadgets cause a huge source of waste materials and use up the earth’s valuable resources.
Most of these steps are easy things that you can do by yourself in little to no time. However, there are certain steps that might require a little more time investment. When this is so, you need to confirm how these upgrades will affect your home insurance. For example, if you’re adding eco-friendly house features like solar panels that will most likely affect the value of the house, your present policy might not be able to cover it. Therefore, whenever you are working on a renovation in your home, you should always report it to your insurer first. Also, in the case where you are on the lookout for an insurer, you can always check out home insurance quotes from AA Ireland.
Going green is an important task that we all as inhabitants of the earth need to take more seriously. For now, this planet is our home and there are no alternatives yet for us if we render it inhabitable. Following some of the above steps can help us reduce our impact on the planet and its resources.
