“Going Green”

The movement has gone mainstream. As per a study, more than 50% of builders expect that approximately 55% of the homes will be green. Surprisingly, a considerable amount of Millennials are ready to pay even more if they get a credible “green certification.” 

In fact, the current generation is practicing a novel concept, “eco-wise,” where they are ensuring to pass the green values to their next generation. In this concept, just like you form healthy eating or living habits, you’re required to practice green habits. And why not when the same habits turn out to be an economical solution for you in the long run. 

That said, you’re aware of the 3R’s, right? While we are pretty focused on reusing or recycling, we tend to forget the importance of “reducing.” So, to expand the movement further, here we are providing you with a few green and easy choices to transform your home into an eco-friendly paradise. 

Create a Garden (Indoor as Well)

Turning your home into a botanical haven is not complicated anymore. And if you don’t have enough outdoor space, doing the same indoors would be quite an exciting habit that will add a refreshing element to any room of yours. 

This is quite beneficial even for those who don’t consider themselves too much of a “green thumb.” Honestly, doing so will allow you to improve the health and air quality of your space. 

There are a variety of options available to transform your home into a “green place.” For instance, people who look to buy indoor plants online often end up asking for fiddle leaf figs to create a tropical feel. In fact, who can forget those Instagram images where homeowners have used the same plant with gray tone furniture to add ambiance and a nice amount of color to their living spaces. 

You can also opt for creating a small kitchen garden and lower indoor air pollution significantly. Who doesn’t love green salads, veggies, or herbs from their very own garden? Luckily, you can plant these too inside your home. 

Use Energy Efficient Home Appliances 

While everyone raves that the country is more than 40% energy efficient, we fail to understand that the other part of this percentage (around 55%) is wasted. And since the residential sector uses more than 20% of energy, your responsibility in reducing the energy waste increases significantly. 

To make our life comfortable, we happen to use a variety of appliances, ranging from refrigerators, HVAC systems, lights, dishwashers, dryers, and others. But if you turn to energy-efficient appliances, not only will you make your presence count in reducing the carbon footprint, you’ll easily consume less energy. And this goes without saying that less energy means comparatively reduced utility bills. 

For instance, things like replacing incandescent lights with LEDs or CFLs will help you save anything in between 30-80% on energy bills. Additionally, washing clothes in normal or cold water will help you save money. 

Get Some Reusable Bags or Start Making Your Own

Did you know that plastic bags end up in landfills or oceans? And if by any chance any animal or bird mistakes them as food, it fills their stomachs with toxic chemicals. Also, more than 12 million barrels of oils are consumed to manufacture plastic bags. But did you know that one can use the same amount of gasoline that’s used to make 14 plastic bags to drive a mile in a car? 

So, either reduce their usage or simply replace them with sustainable options. In fact, many convenience stores are providing people with reusable bags now. You might even create a collection of yours without even spending much. You can also choose other alternatives, like cardboard, for your day-to-day tasks.

Keep Toxins Out of Your Home When Cleaning 

Cleaning your home is a prerequisite for keeping it healthy and in pristine condition. However, when doing so, we often forget about the materials we use to achieve that result. Honestly, conventional cleaning products contain various allergens or toxic chemicals, such as soy, gluten, sulfates, formaldehyde, chlorine, and so on. These chemicals cause skin irritation and respiratory health problems. 

Contrary to that, if you opt for natural cleaning products, you can keep toxins out of your home’s water supply and air. The best part is that by using such products, you will indirectly advocate against animal testing used by conventional products. 

Place a Recycling Bin/Compost Bin at Your Home 

Owning a bin at home will make you more conscious of your environment. You’ll naturally start recycling bottles, jars, paper, and other recyclable materials. Surprisingly, if you recycle even 30% of the trash every year, you can save energy around 11.9 billion gallons of gasoline. That’s a huge amount. Isn’t it?

Also, what if we tell you that you’ll even be partly responsible for boosting your economy with this gesture? Yes, you heard it right. It’s because it takes more than 20 people to run a recycling plant. 

Further, adding a compost bin will help you get rid of the food leftovers and transform them into a treasure for the garden you will have for your home. Plus, with the technology improving day by day, you won’t have to worry about the cleaning or odor of the compost anymore. In short, you can quickly reduce household waste. 

Final Thoughts

We often hear the words “climate is changing.” But the fact is, “there is no longer a climate change.” Instead, we are already in crisis. And with the billions of tonnes of CO2 that we pump every year, things are getting worse. 

So, one needs to get into action rather than just sifting through pages to make the real difference. And since you spend more than half of your time at home, it’s better to start from there. Besides the options mentioned above, you can try going for wide-open windows to bring nature into your home or install proper installation to reduce the energy consumption by many folds. Every small step you take will make a huge difference. 

Remember, being sustainable is not transforming your lifestyle completely, it’s about making changes that help you avoid draining the planet’s resources.