Did you know that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is located between California and Hawaii, has grown to three times the size of France? If you are planning to shift to California then you might want to check out how to form an LLC in California to register your business. While the situation may often seem beyond our control, there are still various measures we can take from the comfort of home to reduce our environmental impact.
You don’t necessarily need to install solar panels or splurge on the latest appliances. In fact, the best solutions are often the simplest. Here are 6 quick and affordable ways to make your family home more eco-friendly.
Grow Your Greens
Whether you have a sprawling yard or a few pots to plant in, consider growing your own produce for the kitchen. Herbs are a great option for beginners and will save you money otherwise spent at the grocery store.
Cultivating your own food is a fun and rewarding task with numerous benefits. For instance, your produce will likely be more fresh, tasty, and nutritious than anything you could buy elsewhere. You’ll also lower your reliance on food that gets covered in chemicals and pesticides.
Save Water
How much water do you think you can save? According to Patch, the average home sees 11,000 gallons go down the drain just from waiting for the tap to reach temperature, such as when taking a shower or washing the dishes. Of course, you can capture this water and use it elsewhere instead.
It’s also wise to shower instead of bathing, so long as you stick to less than 5 minutes. Another solution is to check for any leaks. Don’t forget to turn the tap off when brushing your teeth and shaving, too.
Install a Smart Meter
Heating is likely one of the largest energy consumers in your home. It can be particularly easy to leave your heater on for longer than necessary during the colder months. This naturally leads to wasted money and energy. A simple solution is to invest in a smart meter, which can be programmed to turn on during specific times of the day.
Mind Your Mattress
When last did you change your mattress? If it wasn’t recently, you might be sleeping on one that uses flame retardants and PVC (plastic) that can harm both the environment and your health. An eco-friendly mattress comprises natural materials and is free from products such as teflon and formaldehyde.
Keep an eye out for materials such as bamboo, hemp, wool, and cotton. For most families, latex mattresses are often the best in terms of sustainability. Be sure to check your bedding and pillows at the same time.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
As you can probably guess, the majority of cleaning products are loaded with unsavory chemicals. Even when you wash them away, you’re simply putting them in the surrounding soil or water supply. Fortunately, there are countless natural alternatives that you can buy or make yourself. Key ingredients include citric acid, bicarbonate of soda, and vinegar.
Stay Insulated
Another way to increase your energy efficiency is to make sure that your home is properly insulated from the elements. Effective insulation helps hold in heat, meaning you don’t have to spend as much energy (and money) reheating.
You might want to hire a professional to inspect your home and determine the location of potential air leaks. These can exist in your walls, roof and around windows. On that note, consider investing in double glazing for any older windows. Area rugs are a smart solution for floor leaks.
Needless to say that these tips make up only a fraction of the things you can do to make your home more eco-friendly. Take a look around and see where else there might be room for improvement.
*This is a collaborative post
I wish we could grow more plants, but the slugs around here are savage!