Sustainability is all the rage nowadays! Organizations of all shapes and sizes are endeavoring to make a smaller ecological footprint, and governments around the world have begun to take decisive action. With all this going on, it can be hard to imagine yourself making much of a difference. After all, you’re just one person. Luckily, just changing your living space can contribute to environmental preservation. Here are a few ways to make your home more sustainable.
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Shop Conscientiously
It’s often tempting to buy short-lived products, especially if you’re young. These items are cheaper and can be easily replaced. However, sustainability requires less resource usage. This means that a long-lasting product is far more eco-friendly than one which needs to be replaced. Therefore, it’s wise to shop for higher quality items that won’t break down quickly, or used products. You may also look for companies that use renewable resources. Products like the Cariloha bed pillow, which is made from bamboo, can be made and sold without wasting environmental resources. If you have an accident that results in an unusable item, this type of product makes the replacement process far safer.
Use Renewable Energy
Using renewable energy is one of the primary ways everyday citizens can help the environment. It substantially cuts down your carbon and ecological footprints, thereby taking less resources from the ecosystem. Even better, there are many different ways to use it. You don’t have to shell out an unreasonable amount of money to get solar panels. Try to find an energy provider that uses renewable sources. You can also use a less expensive renewable energy system, such as small wind turbines. It probably won’t provide as much electricity, but you’ll still be making a difference.
Install Smart Systems
Think about how many times you’ve accidentally left lights on or let the air conditioning run for hours. These mistakes aren’t just hurting your bills – they’re also hurting the environment. Fortunately, you can eliminate the possibility of these mistakes occurring with smart systems. While you might not have the funds for an entirely smart house, just one smart mechanism in your living space such as a smart thermostat can increase its sustainability. These systems keep set functions running for a certain amount of time, as well as at a specific level. This greatly decreases waste and the chance for human error.
Conserve Heat
The less you use your HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) system, the better for your sustainability. One way to tackle this is to naturally heat your house. If you’re able to, it’s efficient to install thicker windows that keep out the cold. You can also insulate your home to contain heat, particularly in the walls. For those wanting a cheaper solution, try investing in warm clothing, and other products like insulating blackout curtains for the summertime. Don’t give yourself hypothermia, but do be frugal with your heat usage.
Keeping your home sustainable is generally worth the effort. You’re making a significant contribution to environmental conservation! It may seem small, but if everyone thought that nothing would get done. Stay informed and have fun helping Mother Earth!
I recently had a conversation with my dad about converting their heating system. Never a bad idea to implement some of the other ones mentioned as well.