According to a recent survey, almost 80% of Americans want to lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Are you one of them?

If so, there are steps you can take in your own home to help the planet. You might be surprised by what a profound impact your house is having on the earth if you’re not making it your mission to make it “greener.”

Here are seven simple hacks that can provide you with the eco-friendly home you’ve always wanted.

Ecofriendly

1. Fix Any Leaks That Exist in Your Plumbing System

Did you know that Americans waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water every year as a direct result of leaks in their plumbing systems? Don’t allow your home to be a part of this statistic.

If you know that you have a leak somewhere in your plumbing system, have it fixed right away. And keep a close eye out for any signs of leaks that you may not have uncovered yet.

By fixing the leaks in your plumbing system, you can bring your water costs down. You can also play a small part in preventing the U.S. from wasting so much water each year.

2. Install Low-Flow Showerheads and Water-Conserving Toilets

Fixing leaks in your plumbing system is one way to avoid wasting water in your home. But it’s not the only thing you can do to conserve water.

You can also:

  • Commit to taking shorter showers
  • Shut the water off when you’re brushing your teeth
  • Use rain barrels to water your lawn

Additionally, you can install things like low-flow showerheads and water-conserving toilets in your home. They’ll cut down on how much water your household uses day in and day out.

3. Put LED Light Bulbs Into Your Lighting Fixtures

Do you still have old incandescent light bulbs in all the lighting fixtures in your home? They use a lot more energy than newer LED bulbs do.

Old bulbs also burn out much quicker than LED bulbs and don’t produce the best kind of light for your home. These are all reasons why you should think about throwing your old bulbs out and going with LED bulbs instead.

LED bulbs will cost you a little bit more upfront than incandescent ones will. But since they’ll use less energy and last for a longer period of time, they’ll pay off for you in the end while helping you do what’s best for the planet.

4. Replace Your Old Windows and Doors

If your home is still on the newer side, it might contain green building materials that are great for the earth. But if it’s been around for a while, it probably has older building materials in it that aren’t eco-friendly at all.

Take your old windows and doors, for example. They could be allowing lots of air to sneak in and out of your home, thus wreaking havoc on your HVAC system’s efficiency and affecting the comfort level of your house.

You can stop this from happening by replacing old windows and doors with new ones. That alone will provide you with a more eco-friendly home.

5. Bring in an Expert to Inspect Your Insulation

Because you don’t see your insulation every day, you might not be all that concerned about it. It might not ever cross your mind to consider replacing it with new insulation that will work better.

But if your insulation has seen better days, it’s doing a bad job as far as insulating your home and keeping it comfortable is concerned. It could also be causing your HVAC system to run for longer than it should and driving your energy bills up in the process.

Call on an expert to come and take a look at the insulation in your attic and behind your walls. You might be due to upgrade your insulation.

6. Consider Installing Solar Panels on Your Roof

It used to be rare to see a home with solar panels on top of it. It took a long time for Americans to buy into the solar energy craze.

But these days, there are more than 2 million U.S. homes with solar panels on them—and that number is expected to double in the coming years. It seems many Americans are finally getting on board with the idea of embracing solar energy.

If you haven’t done it yet, consider having solar panels installed on your roof. It’ll give you an opportunity to harness the power of the sun by using sunlight to power up your home.

You might be able to save a significant amount of money on energy every month by having solar panels put into place.

7. Create a Compost Bin in Your Backyard

The world as a whole produces enough waste every single year to fill more than 800,000 Olympic-sized pools. America contributes to this more than any other country on the planet.

You can make sure that your home isn’t contributing to this problem by recycling as much of your waste as you can. One way you can do this is by creating a compost bin in your backyard and filling it with things like food scraps and other biodegradable items.

This is an especially good idea for those who have kids. You can teach your kids all about leading a more eco-friendly lifestyle by showing them how to build and maintain a compost bin over time.

You’ll Feel so Much Better When You Live in an Eco-Friendly Home

Do you worry about what’s going to happen to our planet in the years, decades, and centuries to come? If so, there is no time like the present to spring into action and help do something about the future of the earth.

Start within your own house by using the hacks found here to create a more eco-friendly home. You and your family will feel good about the steps you’re taking to help the planet when you put these tips to good use.

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