Practical Ways to Introduce Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Your Home
With more focus on green living, experts encourage families to find new ways of adding eco-friendly elements to their homes and lifestyles. For example, if you consider yourself an eco-mum, rather than using regular ceramic or plastic plates to feed your toddlers, you can do a quick search online for a ‘bamboo suction plate in the UK’ and find lots of durable wooden alternatives. Beyond playing a role in creating a sustainable world, being more eco-friendly can also save you a lot of money in the long run. So, if you’re looking for more ways to make your home environmentally-friendly, then take a look at the following tips.
1.Backyard gardening
Not everybody may be into gardening, but owning a small backyard goes way beyond having a love for plants or sprucing up your home. You can start a small backyard garden to plant some raw veggies and herbs you need at home. With so many artificial elements going into the production of most of the fruits and veggies we see on the market, it is safer and greener to start growing your own. Besides, creating a backyard garden is one way of cutting down on your grocery budget while serving healthy food.
2. Wash your clothes in cold water
According to experts, about 90% of the energy used by our washing machines goes towards heating our water. That means whenever you do your laundry with hot water, you’re contributing to the increase in carbon dioxide emissions. Using hot water also causes more harm to your clothes, as it deteriorates fabric and makes colourful materials look a lot less vibrant. Therefore, unless you are trying to get rid of really stubborn stains, it is better to do your laundry with cold water. This way, you will reduce emissions, increase your clothes’ lifespan, and save some money.
3.Insulate your home
Making sure that your home is properly insulated will help cut down on your energy bills considerably. Adequate insulation helps trap heat by blocking off all escape points in your home, and therefore, it requires the use of fewer fossil fuels. According to experts, you can save up to 15% on your energy bills while reducing emissions.
4.Use natural cleaning products
Aside from using cold water for your laundry, you should also invest in natural cleaning products. Using harmful chemicals to clean is bad for your clothes, dishes, health, and the natural environment. When you rinse them away, the chemicals remain in the wastewater and go back into the environment. Fortunately, you do not need artificial cleaning products, as there are various natural options available. For most of your daily cleaning tasks, you can use natural products like bicarbonate soda, vinegar, and citric acids in citrus fruits.
5.Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs
Energy-efficient light bulbs are better alternatives to the traditional incandescents. They may cost a little more, but they also help you save a lot more on your light bills. These bulbs last 3 to 25 times longer, which means you get to save on replacements and repairs. Aside from changing the bulbs, adopt simple habits like turning off your lights whenever you leave your room.
6. Use eco-friendly products
There are plenty of eco-alternatives currently on the market for use within your home. Consider switching out plastic for a bamboo toothbrush, make sure to use a vegan soap bar instead of liquid soap which comes in plastic packaging and use bamboo cotton buds instead of plastic. Little swaps like these can make a huge difference when we collectively do it and that starts with you.
