There are over 7 billion people in the world utilizing the planet’s resources. As we continue to use these resources, they continue to dry up. In fact, by 2025, 1.8 billion people will struggle to find water to drink. That’s why it’s more important than ever to conserve resources anyway we can, and it starts at home. Here are 7 ways to live a more green life at home.
1. Choose the Right Transportation
We all need transportation to get to work, family events, and stores. Many of us use large cars that waste a lot of gas. When possible, it’s a good idea to avoid driving all together. Walk or take a bike if possible. Of course, not everything is close enough for that to be a possibility.
When you need to drive, drive with the environment in mind. Drive a hybrid or electric car that uses significantly less gas, putting less toxins in the world and leaving gas supplies in tact. If you can’t realistically change your vehicle at the moment, carpool as often as possible.
2. Conserve Water
While the world is made up of mostly water, most of it is not able to be consumed by humans. We need to preserve the water we have left. Start at home by taking shorter showers and not letting the water run when brushing our teeth. You can even switch to low-flow toilets in your home. Most standard toilets use 3.5-7 gallons of water for every single flush. Low-flow toilets cannot use more than 1.6 gallons per flush. That could end up saving you quite a bit on your water bill over the years, too.
3. Buy Energy Star Appliances
There are many items in your home that use a lot of water and electricity. Your washing machine, dishwasher, and your HVAC system all collectively make up a large portion of your utility bills. Using all of this energy is putting more pollution into the world. You need to wash your clothes, though, right? So buy appliances with the EnergyStar logo on them. These appliances are specifically designed to meet certain industry standards when it comes to using less energy and water. Even then, examine the products thoroughly to determine which one will provide the most savings for you and best results for the planet.
4. Keep Your HVAC System Maintained
Your HVAC system needs to be properly maintained. You should clean or change the filter in it regularly. If you don’t, the system isn’t running as efficiently as it could be. You should also make a point to get a checkup and maintenance every single year before winter. The technician will be able to fix any problems that might be slowing it down. And you can reuse any water that comes off it in the summer.
5. Buy LCD/CFL Light bulbs
Iridescent light bulbs are becoming obsolete since there are much better options available. Be sure to put LCD or CFL light bulbs in every room of your home. They use less energy and last significantly longer. It’s a no-brainer! They are a slight initial investment at first, but you save money on your electric bill. There are regulated electricity rates in Alberta, so you will be able to clearly see the difference. There are incentives on when to use power in all the provinces, usually on off-peak hours. My mom puts her dishwasher on later at night to save half the energy costs for running that appliance.
You can check with your power provider in your county. Peak demand is one of the words you can use in Google to find peak demand rates near you.
6. Recycle
You should make a point to recycle in your home. Make it easy by providing two different bins in all of the main areas. Be sure that the recycling bin is clearly labeled.
You can even use recycled materials at the beginning of the home-buying process when building the home.
7. Teach Your Children Good Habits
Good habits start at home. You should teach your children to take these habits with them as they get older and start their own families. We all should do our part. People are more likely to do the right thing when they have encouragement at home.
We have a responsibility to the planet and to future generations to do our part. That does not mean that we should not use cars or appliances. However, it does mean that we should use them wisely. Use these tips to help make your home green. You’ll save money, and you’ll help conserve resources, too. It’s a win-win.
