Cover with a wet cloth, wait 5 minutes, and then flush with hot water. To keep sinks and basins draining freely, pour a mug of soda crystals down the plughole regularly, then flush with boiling water. If how to make your home more environmentally friendly you do want to grow some annuals in your beds, try growing them from seed (preferably seed collected from last year’s plants) instead. Locate your nearest Library of Things and start borrowing items instead of buying new.
Eco-Friendly Living: 100 Practical Ideas You Can Easily Do
And reusable cotton bags have to be reused at least 131 times to break even with a plastic bag due to the environmental impact of their production. According to the EPA, toilets account for almost 30 percent of the average household’s indoor water usage. One easy way to slash this number is by upgrading an older toilet model to an EPA-certified WaterSense model. Nationwide estimates that the eco-friendly models can save as much as 13,000 gallons of water per year, plus slash water bills by $90. Putting your plastic water bottle in the recycling bin doesn’t make up for the fact that you’re using a plastic bottle in the first place, unfortunately.
Reduce food waste
Waxed cord is also great for traditional micro macrame projects because the ends can be burned off and fused with the macrame itself! Working with waxed macrame cords may require a slightly different approach than uncoated cords. As consumers become increasingly conscious of their environmental impact, bamboo yarn has emerged as a sustainable alternative that doesn’t compromise on quality or comfort. Eco-friendly homes are not just a trend but a fundamental shift towards more sustainable living. As energy costs continue to rise and environmental concerns grow, implementing green solutions can create a win-win situation for homeowners. The Carbon Offsets to Alleviate Poverty Organization (COTAP) reports that an estimated 13 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States stem from the production and transportation of food.
Clean your windows the green way
Heat and cool air easily escape through these holes and run up your energy bills. You’d be amazed at how much energy you can conserve when you insulate your attic. When you wash with hot water, your washing machine requires 75% more energy to heat the water. If you simply can’t see yourself getting sprinkled on the bottom every time you go, consider sustainable toilet paper. It’s a better option than the thick, fluffy toilet paper most Americans prefer. The more recycled materials that have gone into the toilet paper, the better.
- So, before going on vacation, unplug your devices from the wall sockets to save electricity.
- The textured quality of the Jute cord adds depth and character to your projects, and its versatility allows you to experiment with various knotting techniques to create one-of-a-kind pieces.
- When thinking about fitting this type of heat system, it’s essential to note that you’ll also need a existing central heating system for a heat pump to work.
- Rainwater (depending on your area) can even be used for drinking if you filter and purify it.
- And for more ways to keep some extra cash in your wallet, discover these 52 Ways to Be Smarter with Money in 2018.
- ‘Smart appliances don’t just turn off during times of peak electricity demand – instead, they use subtle ways to shift energy use,’ explain experts at The U.S. Department of Energy.
You’ll also need to make sure you factor in how good your insulation is and whether it would be wise to install underfloor heating to make sure the system is working as efficiently as possible. To add even more insulation to your home (more cooling in the summer, than heat in the winter) and increase the biodiversity of your garden, you could install and grow a green roof. According to the Trust, PV systems are classed as permitted developments which means there’s no need to apply for planning permission. Although it’s always a good idea to double check with your local authority before installing in case there are any limits or restrictions. Choose low or no VOC paint from companies like Clare Paint, founded by interior designer Nicole Gibbons. Or consider a natural clay plaster wall finish from British company Clayworks that blends unfired clays mixed with minerals and natural pigments to create a sustainable wall paint alternative.
- It’s crucial to do your research and get these decisions right in the planning stages, as many things can be expensive, not to mention wasteful, to change later.
- Usually, when yarn and macrame cords are used together, we use them in macraweaves.
- If you’re just starting out, a simple keychain is a great beginner project.
- Bochiknot’s Rainbow cotton cord line is always an excellent choice for beautiful macrame decorations.
- “I was making a lot of these changes to save money and have more control over the products and ingredients I was bringing into my home.
However, you don’t have to make your home resemble an igloo (unless you want to)! The idea is that a compact design is better than a spread-out one. A compact two-story house will tend to be more efficient than a one-story spread-out house. For example, if you want to build a 2,000-square-foot house, making two stories with 1,000 sq ft per story will most likely be more efficient than building one story of 2,000 sq ft. Furthermore, how you orientate your house is also a key component of sustainable house design. Where you put your windows, in particular, can help you take advantage of natural light and heat.
Compost fruit and veggie waste
You can identify its energy efficiency by checking the energy efficiency label, which runs from A, with A being the most energy-efficient. Double-pane windows help keep cold air out in the winter and heat from the sun out in the summer. The high-performing windows can reduce the amount of heat escaping by up to 50%. For an extra environmentally-friendly touch, add sustainable blinds made from hemp or bamboo, or cotton curtains for a cozy and quiet bedroom.
The Essential Guide to Sustainable Living
Repaint that dated china hutch and turn it into a display piece for your out-of-control collection of plants. Cut the legs down on an old wooden farm-style dining table and you’ve got yourself a rustic coffee table. Recover your throw pillows by repurposing old curtains or that groovy patterned shirt that you love but can’t quite pull off. Many of us have internalized the planet-friendly mantra to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
