Did you know that 3.5 million tons of waste are produced each day? The United States leads in waste production, the country is responsible for 250 million tons of trash per year. That equates to about 4.4 pounds of waste for each person, every single day.
Reducing your carbon footprint might seem hard in a country where takeout containers can be picked up around every corner. You can make changes in your life and at home to create the eco-house of your dreams, however. Keep reading to learn how.
Build It with Sustainable Materials
If you’re creating your own eco-house design and building your house from scratch then you have a lot of tools at your disposal to make it as sustainable as possible. There are many sustainably sourced materials to choose from.
Typical building materials like concrete create a massive carbon footprint so choosing something like sustainable wood that’s a renewable source is a great alternative.
Using recycled steel not only saves the planet from more waste but saves you money. Bamboo is a great material to use for cabinets or floors. It’s durable and completely natural.
Try to Conserve Water When Possible
Conserving water doesn’t take much effort and can have a huge impact on the planet. Take the time to fix leaks in your home and install low-flow faucets and showerheads to use less water when you wash your hands and shower. Another simple change you can make is to turn off the water when you brush your teeth.
You can also collect rainwater to use for things like watering your plants and washing your car. This will prevent you from turning on the hose each time you do these tasks and wasting more water.
Add Some Nature
The best way you can create a more eco-friendly house is by adding some nature around it. Having an eco-home is all about using natural elements and getting some houseplants for your living room is the perfect way to do it. House plants aren’t only beautiful to look at but they can help detoxify the air as well.
Adding a garden to your roof is another way to add some nature to your home. A roof garden has a lot of great benefits. It helps to add some local species of plants to more cities, it can reduce the heat coming into your home during the summer months, and it adds to the community’s beauty.
Change Your Laundry Routine
Everyone needs clean laundry, so this isn’t something you can stop doing completely. There are, however, ways to reduce your carbon footprint when doing your laundry.
A washing machine uses a lot of energy when it needs to heat water so opting for cold water during a cycle is the best choice. A dryer similarly uses a lot of energy. If you live in a place that gets a lot of sun try putting your clothes to dry on the clothing line.
Change to Solar Panels
A must-have in your eco-friendly house plans is installing solar panels. Solar panels are a big investment but they are the best clean energy you can use to power your home and help save the planet.
The benefits of solar panels include lower electrical bills and tax credits for using solar power. If you’re asking yourself where to find solar providers near me, you’ll find all the information you need here.
Install Better Technology
The best eco-homes have technology that helps the home waste less energy. One thing you should commit to is a change to energy-efficient light bulbs. These light bulbs will run on less electricity and are made to last more than regular lightbulbs.
Another idea is to install a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats are programmable devices that will turn on and off by themselves.
You can set them up to turn on the air conditioner or heat when you leave for work each day and turn back on right when you return. These thermostats will reduce the amount of energy used in your house and will also decrease your electric bill.
Avoid Pollutants
Having an eco-house means trying not to bring any harmful chemicals into it or producing more waste than necessary. Many of the cleaning products on store shelves contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment, humans, and pets.
You can resolve this issue by buying natural cleaning products or making your own. Baking soda, vinegar, and essential oils are key ingredients in many of the DIY cleaning products you can make at home.
Recycling plastic when you can’t avoid buying it is crucial. You can also get yourself a compost bin to reduce your amount of food waste and have a natural fertilizer for your garden.
Recycle Your Furniture
If you’re moving in or out of a home opting for recycled furniture is a must. You can be more green by simply fixing up old pieces so you don’t have to throw them away. If you have an antique dresser that looks a bit dated, you can sand it and paint over it to make it look brand new.
If you’re wanting to get rid of some furniture, there’s always someone looking for some pieces. If you’re in need of new furniture go thrifting for it instead of buying new pieces. These small decisions can have a big impact on the planet.
The Best Tips to Create an Eco-House
Building an eco-house or making your current home more green is possible by following the tips in the article above. Simple changes like using natural cleaning products or composting food waste are ways to go greener. Make sure you read some of our other blogs to learn more.