7 Easy Ways To Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly
image: three birds renovations
Going green doesn’t have to drastically change the way you live. Most eco-friendly changes are quite simple, but over time will make a positive lasting impact on the environment and your electricity bill.
Here is a checklist of some of the simple ways you can improve your household's carbon footprint.
Use your fan
Although Queensland summers are incredibly hot try and minimize the use of your air conditioning throughout the year. Try sleeping with your window open and if that's not enough then use a ceiling or pedestal fan as this will use far less energy than air con.
Black-Out Curtains
Black out curtains not only help you sleep, but they also work as a form of insulation as they reduce the heat in your home over the summer while keeping the heat from escaping the home in the winter. Black-out curtains come in a range of prices to suit every budget.
Energy Efficient Appliances
When buying new appliances for your home be sure to check out their energy rating label. An easy way to check the effectiveness of your current appliances and compare them against other brands is by using the energy rating calculator website.
Composting
You probably don't think twice about throwing away unused fruit and vegetables as it can be assumed that they will harmlessly decompose in landfill. However this is not the case as the landfill sites don't have the oxygen required for the decaying process which results in the release of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. To help avoid this you can simply compost your food waste by investing in a compost bin, worm farm or Bokashi bin. If you require more information read this How To Start Your Own Compost Garden guide.
Grow Indoor Plants
Growing plants indoors is a good way to clean the air inside your home, acting as a filter for any common pollutants.
If you aren't confident with growing plants here is a list of 10 low maintenance plants that are hard to kill:
• Bromeliads
• Yuccas
• Lady Palm
• Orchids
• Peace Lily
• Dracaena
• Calathea Orbifolia
• Tillandsias
• Snake Plants
• Zanzibar Gems
Energy Saving Bulbs
A quick energy saving tip is to do an audit of your current light bulbs. If you are not already, switch to energy saving bulbs. This will reduce the amount of energy you currently spend on lighting, sometimes by up to 50%.
Click here for help finding the best type of energy saving light bulbs to use in your home.
Unplug
Simply, if you are not using something then switch it off at the powerpoint. While making a habit of switching off your powerpoints when you leave the house will seem like a small thing, you will notice a difference over time.
Source: Homes To Love
