Small Changes That Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly

It is remarkable that you are interested in making your home more eco-friendly. However, the truth is that not all homeowners can afford to make serious financial investments. This is a shame since we have so many great Energy Star appliances and even solar panels made out of plant waste. While these would be great, if you cannot afford them, there is nothing you can do.

Fortunately, there are numerous budget-friendly options that are available for all homeowners. They are definitely efficient and can help make your home eco-friendly, to some degree, of course.

So let’s not waste more time and highlight some small changes you can make right now.

Wash Clothes With Cold Water

Most people do not know this but up to 90% of all the energy the washing machine uses is utilized to heat water. Simply use the machine’s cold water setting. Do this to reduce your carbon dioxide emission and even keep clothes in a better condition for a longer time. This is because hot water deteriorates fabrics and make the colorful clothes lose their vibrancy.

Obviously, you will need the hot water setting from time to time, like when you need to remove oil stains. However, in most cases, the cold water setting is enough. At the very least, try to use the washing machine’s warm setting, which is still better than full hot.

Use LED Bulbs Instead Of Regular Bulbs

When you use the best energy-efficient light bulbs, it truly makes a huge difference. Less electricity will be used and your home will become so much more environmentally-friendly. Incandescent bulbs are tempting but the truth is LED bulbs are simply a much better alternative. They will last for a longer time, will help you save a lot of money, and are eco-friendly.

Install A Programmable Thermostat

The programmable thermostat is not at all expensive and can help you to easily monitor the home’s heating and cooling systems. Thermostats will reduce utility bills and make the home a tad bit more eco-friendly.

Buy Some Plant Herbs

If you wonder what you can do with fertilizer, just plant a herb garden. The great thing about herbs is that they do not take a lot of space. They can be planted in small pots and you can keep them inside. Just place them close to sunny windows. The reason why you want to do this is that you have the herbs you need to make your dishes better, all while you have something to do with your fertilizer.

In a related tip, you can always use other plants to decorate your house. They offer great indoor air cleaning. At the same time, they are great for interior design.

Use Window Treatments

Blinds and curtains are not useful just to hide what happens inside the home from neighbors. They are also very effective when it comes to maintaining heat inside and keeping cool air outside. Remember that both cold air and heat can enter the home even when the windows are closed.

Every single homeowner that does not have a large tree protecting the home during hot summers knows that a home can easily feel like an industrial oven. Just upgrade blinds and curtains to maintain temperature and use your AC less.

Buy A Good Water Filter

You can surely use an under the sink water filter, a pitcher filter, or a faucet filter. There are even whole-house filters that can be purchased. You want to seriously consider this because the water filter will save you money and time. Also, it drastically reduces how much single-use plastic you use on a day-to-day basis.

Use Natural And Homemade Cleaning Products

Last, but certainly not least, this is one of the best advice anyone can ever give you. Natural cleaning products, contrary to what some might tell you, are very effective, just like the chemicals marketed on TV. The difference is that they do not contain harmful chemicals. They are safe for both your health, and the environment. The only problem with them is that they tend to be more expensive. Make your own then with items like lemon juice, baking soda, and vinegar.