The new year is fast approaching, so you’re probably already thinking about your resolutions. If adopting a greener home life is at the top of your agenda for 2022, now is the time to get started.
There are many reasons for wanting to go green. Reducing the carbon footprint will protect the planet, encourage improved family health, and save you money in the long run. Moreover, it has become an increasingly common concept for people to embrace. For the sake of keeping up the expected standards, getting your situation under control is advised.
But how? Here’s everything you need to know.
1- Upgrade your lighting situation
Simple steps often yield the biggest change, especially when dealing with our approach to energy usage. Upgrading your lightbulbs is a job that can be completed in a single day while it shouldn’t require a significant outlay either.
The difference between incandescent and LED lights is huge. Moreover, modern LED lighting setups provide far greater flexibility for creating comfortable vibes. The color schemes, dimmable switches, and ability to use recessed lights will work wonders.
Given that it’s one of the simplest updates to make, this is the ultimate starting point. Just be sure to update all lights rather than just some of them. This includes all internal and external living spaces. Trust us, it’s a brighter idea.
2- Focus on insulation
Whether hoping to save money or the planet, improved insulation should be a priority. As a rule of thumb, the average home loses 25% of heat loss through the roof and 35% from the walls as well as another 35% from windows. 10% is lost through the ground.
As such, you will want to consider double glazing and window shutters. Insulating the walls is another immensely rewarding task while new roof tiles will serve you well. Of course, internal features like draft excluders can aid the cause too.
Reducing the amount of heat lost through the property doesn’t suddenly make you carbon neutral. But there is no doubt that it will have one of the biggest impacts, which will also be reflected in your bills. So, the initial investment will be worthwhile.
3- Consider power resources
Finding greener energy sources is one of the most effective ways to create a greener lifestyle. Even if you use the same amount of energy, you’ll find that your carbon footprint is reduced without any impact on your daily lifestyle habits.
Renewable energy has been a hot topic for several years. Solar panels are the best solution as they can cover your electricity usage. In many locations, you can even sell unused energy back to the power grid. So, your efforts will help others stop wasting energy too.
Solar tech can also be used for garden light. Hydro tech and other renewables are somewhat less common but are still possible. Aside from the home, you should look to use greener tech for your driving habits.
4- Embrace outside spaces
Adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle is often about making smarter daily choices. With this in mind, one of the best upgrades for your home life is to simply spend more time outside. Being around nature will aid your health as well as the desire to live green,
Most people want to spend more time in the garden and are happy to transform their spaces. However, ongoing maintenance duties can cause a far bigger problem. Opting for a minimalist garden design removes most of those issues. Perfect.
There will still be opportunities to grow fruit and veg or implement other steps aimed towards greener living. The fact that more time spent outside with your family, or friends, will aid your mental wellness should promote other upgrades.
5- Learn to repair rather than replace
Home products will become faulty or succumb to wear and tear over time. When this happens, the natural instinct is to replace the product immediately. While it is a necessity from time to time, you should always consider the prospect of a repair.
Repairing a faulty item is often more cost-effective, regardless of whether you use an expert or take the DIY approach. There are plenty of online guides to help you complete a range of tasks. You should gain a sense of satisfaction from doing this too.
By avoiding any thoughts of prematurely sending your appliance to landfill, your carbon footprint will fall. Similarly, by restoring the product to full health, it will run smoothly. Added efficiency will reduce the operating costs.
6- Choose efficient appliances
It might sound a little contradictory following the point above. However, there are many household appliances where tech has evolved at a rapid rate. So, persisting with an outdated machine may be wasting a lot of energy.
Some of the most obvious products to consider are your dishwasher, refrigerator, and washing machine. Upgrading to an energy-efficient toilet is another very popular choice that can cut around 70% of your water usage per flush. That’s a huge difference.
When updating appliances and embracing new tech, you will need to dispose of the old products well. If parts can be recycled, you must ensure that you do this. Otherwise, your poor decisions will undo a lot of the progress gained elsewhere.
7- Consider the brands you use
Many of the habits implemented into your home life can be used outside of the property too. Partnering with eco-friendly companies is one of the best examples. Their influence on the planet easily outweighs yours. So, encouraging change at an industrial level is key.
The best businesses should use renewable energy and efficient practices. You should be eager to support companies that use eco-friendly packaging instead of harmful plastics. Biodegradable materials are the preference.
Aside from the direct impact on your home life and other areas of your existence, it brings change. Other people will follow suit. And as green companies thrive, the others will need to take note and implement changes too. perfect.
8- Use digital tech
Digital technology has improved our home lives in many ways. However, the fact that it can enhance our approach to green living is often overlooked. With the right facilities, though, you can generate a huge improvement.
A wide range of modern tech features can reduce the carbon footprint. Using a Smart thermostat, for example, means that the system will learn your habits. In turn, it can automate the temperature to ensure optimal comfort without wasting any energy.
Other steps can include using paperless tech for bills, or online streaming services over hard copies. In addition to reduced carbon footprints, it saves valuable space in the home. If that doesn’t inspire you, what will?
9- Change your habits
Adding the right tech features to the home is important. Ultimately, though, the impacts will be severely restricted if you fail to change your ways. Close doors. Turn off appliances at night. And try to cut your waste by reducing your food waste.
In addition to the aforementioned repair jobs, you can look to upcycle. Turning old items into something useful for the home also gives you fun projects. This should be supported by proper recycling duties too. This is one of the best ways to put less strain on resources.
It doesn’t take long to make new habits a natural part of your life. In most cases, you will see natural improvements within a matter of weeks. As long as you commit to this as an entire household, you won’t go far wrong.
10- Be consistent
Finally, whatever you do, you must do it with consistency. Your approach to green living will be better than ever. And once it becomes second nature, you’ll feel on top of the situation like never before.
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