Wanting an eco-friendly home has become a widespread urge in today’s world as homeowners look to minimize their environmental impact. As we try to fight climate change and preserve our planet, we continuously look for eco-friendly ways to improve our home’s sustainability.
In this blog, let’s discuss how you can turn your home into a sustainable one that supports the abovementioned agenda and elevates your quality of life. With four actionable tips, transform your home into a greener haven, creating an eco-friendly and personally enriching living environment.
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Green Building Materials and Furniture
Your materials and furnishings are crucial in turning your home environmentally friendly. Wanting to reduce your carbon footprint means considering recycled materials for your finishes. Some available options are reclaimed wood, bamboo, reused metal or plastic, cork, and natural fibers. Use these to build your floorings, wall cabinetry, coverings, textiles, and even outdoor furniture.
Aside from these types of materials, multi-purpose furniture pieces are a way to go. Sleeper sofas made in Australia are good examples. They combine comfort with sustainability, especially in homes with limited spaces. By using these materials inside your home, you’re being more responsible without compromising style and functionality.
Tip: When shopping for furniture, look for certifications like FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) for wood products or GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) for fabrics to ensure they meet strict environmental and social standards.
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Solar Power Integration
Using solar energy at home offers advantages not only for you but also for our environment. By installing reliable sun-powered panels on your roof, you’ll be enjoying clean, renewable energy while reducing your consumption of fossil fuels.
Benefits of Using Solar Energy at Your Home
Although the initial cashout for solar panels seems to be notable, its long-term benefits far exceed its cost. From reducing electric bills to increasing your property value, these are just some of the advantages that you’ll get from embracing solar power.
Starting Small with Solar
It’s totally understandable that, for some, equipping solar panels for the whole house is just too much. But if you’re really eager to create an eco-friendly living environment, you can opt for smaller, more manageable projects. From your phone charger to garden lights and water heaters, these are some of the simple accessories at home you can start transitioning to solar power.
Keep in mind as well that these smaller installations can be your first step to bigger solar projects in your living space. This move can also serve as your initial experience of solar energy’s benefits, ultimately leading to broader solar solutions.
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Energy-Saving Lighting and Appliances
Alternatives are now available in the market that can lower your electricity bills and impact the planet. Let’s tackle some of them to help you make an informed decision.
Conserve Energy with LED
Start off with eco-efficient lighting. LED bulbs, unlike traditional ones, can conserve up to 90% less energy than conventional bulbs. Not only that, you’re also lowering your expenses on light bulbs because LEDs can work up to 25,000 hours compared to only 1,000 hours of incandescent ones.
Choose Sustainable Appliances
Moving on to appliances, picking models with high energy efficiency ratings can lessen your electricity consumption at home. To know that the product you’re buying passed environmental products, there are labels you can check before buying, such as ENERGY STAR, EU Energy Label, and Energy Rating Label.
Save More with Smart Home Systems
Lastly, try using smart technology in your home. This type of enhancement can give you unique advantages like remote control of your lights and appliances. Smart home systems can also help you conserve energy because they can adjust their settings based on time of day or weather conditions, reducing unnecessary electricity consumption at home.
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Green Roof Innovation
Did you know that your roof can also help you in transitioning to a healthier lifestyle? Partially or fully covering your roof with vegetation will significantly improve your home’s sustainability while gaining advantages from it.
Aside from providing natural insulation and effectively managing stormwater, green roofs also naturally filter pollutants and produce oxygen, resulting in improved air quality. This type of roof also extends the lifespan of the underlying structure from environment-caused damage. Lastly, and probably the most important one, green roofs are perfect habitats for local wildlife, promoting urban diversity.
Bonus: Have an air purification system at home to improve further your indoor air quality. These systems can remove pollutants, allergens, and even some viruses from the air circulating in your home.
Green Roof Alternative
If a green roof is not for you or maybe just not feasible, you can go with a cool roof made of reflective materials. Unlike conventional roofs, they can reduce the heat around your home and lower your cooling expenses.
Starting a Sustainable Lifestyle
Your long journey of creating an Earth-friendly home has just begun. Remember that you will be making changes in your home from time to time. But each of these tweaks will move you closer to a healthier living space. These efforts might even urge your neighbors to care more for our nature.
