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These choices include factoring wind patterns and sun orientation into the building’s construction. During the design process, architects may choose larger roof overhangs to protect the sunnier side of the home, allowing for better insulation during warm months. Another popular passive design choice is cross-ventilation, giving homes better airflow and reducing air conditioning use during warm months. Other examples include using recycled materials, durable exterior building materials, higher efficiency windows, and rainwater collection systems.
- If you want an environmentally friendly fragrance, burning beeswax candles infused with essential oils is a decent alternative.
- But I find when you write it all out and can see it clearly on a piece of paper it makes you more aware of the waste you create and that is where the power of this exercise lies.
- It takes less energy to create paper through recycled and used sheets than by creating ‘virgin’ paper.
- They last longer, are eco-friendly, and they help you save money in the long run.
- The slow, excruciating drip of a leaky faucet is enough to drive anyone insane.
I used to live in an apartment and used to dry some of my clothes on the radiator, turns out this is not such a great idea. When you cover a radiator it prevents the heat from circulating around the room the way it’s intended to. A better alternative is to dryline your clothes in an area that is well insulated. You can use it to deodorize your mattress, your pet bed, and your carpets, simply sprinkle it into the area, let it sit for 5-10 mins then vacuum the area.
Choose reusable items
Simply put, a green roof is a roof that has a top layer of plants. That picture is an extreme example of what a green roof can look like. Green roofs come in all sorts of varieties depending on the layout of your home and what type of vegetation will thrive in your climate. Eco-conscious homeownership can have many different looks, from suburban homes with white picket fences to urban townhomes in the heart of a city. Whether you’re in the process of building a new home or upgrading the one you have, this article is here to guide you on all things eco-friendly home care. If you want an environmentally friendly fragrance, burning beeswax candles infused with essential oils is a decent alternative. Also, unlike MDF and particle board furniture, wood lasts longer and can be recycled.
Greywater is the water that comes out of the drains of showers, baths, sinks, and washing machines and is distinctly different from black water, which is what gets flushed down the toilet. When you buy foods from these shops, you should take into consideration the fact that these foods travel an average of 1,500+ miles before ever being consumed. If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a WaterSense® labeled model. According to EPA.gov, showering accounts for nearly 17 percent of residential indoor water use for the average family.
Waste Hauling
Sustainable architecture considers many different elements with an overarching focus on our impact on the environment. Beeswax candles are excellent at eliminating odor and mold. They also positively affect people with hay fever, asthma and allergies. Beeswax candles can be used with fragrance to produce a calming effect.
Low-flow showerheads, such as those with the WaterSense label, use less than two gallons per minute, conserving more water and cutting down your water bill. You can buy weatherstripping from any hardware store and install it yourself in a matter of hours. If your home has gaps, the air coming from your HVAC system will be going out the window. These substances keep your lawn green and pretty, but they can contaminate groundwater, alter the chemistry of the soil, and even cause cancer and other diseases. That’s a lot of cash and empty aquifers just for green grass. Contrary to common artificial grass myths & misconceptions, manufactured grass is actually good for the environment.
Buy Energy-Efficient Appliances and Lighting
Putting weather stripping around doors and windows will save you money on your heating and cooling bill, and will make your home more energy-efficient. The manufacturers of the Ecobee smart thermostat claim customers save 23 percent on combined heating and cooling costs. With a smart thermostat, it’s easy to schedule your HVAC to run less while you’re out for the day, so you’ll use How to make your home more environmentally friendly less energy by cooling your home only while you’re in it. What makes a home environmentally friendly is open to interpretation. Some people believe that simply adding green features is enough to qualify a standard home as green. Others argue that certification through green building programs such as LEED is the only way to be sure a home meets adequate sustainability standards.
It’s hard to avoid the temptation of technology, especially when you get home from a long day of work and want to unwind with an episode ofUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. But if you want to slash your carbon footprint, you should aim to keep the device usage to a minimum. Harvesting rainwater is a process of collecting and storing rainwater for future use. You can collect rainwater from roofs, gutters, and even the ground. It can then be stored in tanks or other containers for later use.
Compost Your Scraps
Don’t get trapped into buying something because it’s cheap. There is a large debate concerning the carbon footprint of organic and conventional agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations claims that by switching to organic agriculture farmers can reduce up to 66% of CO2 emissions. For example, BASF claims that organically grown apples have higher overall energy consumption (+15-25%), CO2 emissions (+5-15%), and land use (+30%). Remember new items, even if they are eco-friendly have an environmental impact. Glass jars are recyclable but they have a pretty big carbon footprint when manufactured. Glass is made from sand and uses a great deal of water in the manufacturing process, so use it before you lose it.
- If you are looking to save money, you can even make your own eco-friendly furniture from recyclable or reclaimed materials.
- Even though winters don’t dip below 30 very often, our heating is expensive and inefficient.
- You can add 125ml of vinegar or baking soda to the rise, to achieve the same thing.
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