Do you have a habit of throwing away scraps of food or broken items, without thinking of how they can benefit you?
On average, up to 40% of the food supply goes wasted in the United States. Recycling and reusing organic materials can help people gain access to sustainable energy. There are plenty of small ways to help make your home and family eco-friendly.
If you want to find sustainable solutions to daily problems, keep reading below to discover new options!
Update Your Bulbs
Upgrading your lightbulbs is one of the cheapest sustainable solutions for the house.
If you still have incandescent bulbs in your light fixtures and lamps, it’s time to replace them. LED bulbs are more energy-efficient and can help you save money on electricity bills.
There’s no reason you should be using old bulbs, especially when LEDs have an additional 30,000 hours of life expectancy. Bulb replacements contribute to sustainability since they help with energy efficiency.
Use Cold Water
Whether you’re relying on solar power or traditional energy, using cold water can help you save your resources.
When you wash the dishes or laundry with hot water, it requires a significant amount of energy to stay warm. You’ll save money on utility bills and reduce energy consumption by using cool or cold water instead.
Cold water and soap can still get rid of stains and bacteria. Many people have grown used to using hot water, but it isn’t always necessary.
Compost Your Waste
If you are gardening and want your family to increase sustainability, you should consider composting.
Composting is the process of letting organic items break down and decompose. After a period, these organic items will turn into dense soil, enriched with nutrients. Although composting can create an unpleasant smell, there are plenty of ways to avoid the problem.
Depending on your set-up, you can compost leftovers and bruised produce outside or inside the house. You can even put your tea bags, paper products, and coffee grounds in your compost bin!
Once your waste starts decomposing, you can watch the process of creating soil. The best part is that you don’t have to worry about buying bags of dirt again.
Avoid Chemicals
Cleaning products and candles may give the impression that your home is safer, but they pose a significant risk.
Harmful ingredients used in these items contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the ingredients are toxic and hazardous, but they still end up in the waterway systems and farms.
You can make your home smell fresh and purify the air by using essential oils instead. Essential oils and organic products can help you clean and sterilize the air in your home, helping the environment. Natural cleaning solutions are simple and safe to make, you can look up details online.
Go Paperless
Endless junk mail and bills go to the trash and recycling facilities each year.
Paper may not be as harmful to the planet as plastic, but a lack of trees creates a more serious problem. Going paperless can help you save trees and reduce your carbon footprint.
Not only will you help wildlife thrive, but you will also prevent pollution during transportation. If you receive regular mail from a company, research if you have the option to go paperless. All you have to do is provide your address and confirm your statement changes.
Switch to Solar Power
Many homeowners are investing in residential solar panels since they offer a clean source of energy.
Solar panels don’t release pollutants into the atmosphere when they are converting energy. Solar power will be an investment, but there is a Federal Tax Credit and other reimbursements you may qualify for.
Aside from using clean forms of energy to power your home, you can also save money. Solar power will reduce your utility bills in the long run and lead to significant savings. You can browse this page to learn more about the benefits of using solar energy.
Shop with Reusable Bags
Aldi and other retail stores have stopped offering plastic bags to customers.
Paper bags are better than plastic, but reusable options are the best. Plastic bags are one of the worst things that can be found in the environment. They don’t break down and when they enter the oceans and lakes, they can cause damage.
Canvas bags, totes, and other durable materials can be used for transporting groceries. Using recycled and reusable bags can save hundreds of bags from going to landfills each year.
If you don’t like dealing with bags or totes, you can also get a large basket. Soft baskets can carry all of your loose items, even the larger ones!
Buy from Local Vendors
Whether you need beauty products, groceries, or furniture, you should check your farmer’s market.
Farmer’s markets have many types of vendors and you can often find a lot of your needs in one place. Shopping locally, versus online, saves energy consumption and requires less fuel for transportation.
Your household can become more sustainable by eating plant-based foods as well. Shop at your markets to find the best deals and most nutritious foods, so you don’t have to go to the store as often.
If more people shop locally, it can boost their communities and encourage growth.
Find Peace with These Sustainable Solutions
Nothing is calming about climate change, but when you make changes at home, you can benefit.
Using these sustainable solutions can help you save money in the long run. Composting is a free solution for people that love to garden, but it also prevents landfills from growing. Switching to solar power can also help you save money and you can even get financial assistance.
If you want to learn more about sustainable living and saving money at home, check out our page for the latest content!
