Considering your home is the place where you spend most of your free time, it should obviously provide you with a healthy environment. Besides living a healthy life, however, another thing you should be focusing on right now is sustainability. More people are starting to adopt environmental-conscious practices. Awareness being spread on the matter in recent years, and perhaps it’s time for you to start doing the same.
An eco-friendly approach here doesn’t mean you’ll have to deal with expensive and inconvenient lifestyle changes. Sometimes, the easiest and most accessible solutions make the biggest difference. But what exactly should you know on the subject? What are the best ways to green your home, and what can you do to make the household healthier? While you have various possibilities available, here are some of the easiest changes you can go for:
1. Assess your water consumption
Start with the simplest, yet often the most neglected sustainability solution, and that is reducing your water consumption. Being eco-friendly means more than just energy efficiency practices. Despite many people’s misconceptions, it’s a holistic approach to life, and becoming more considerate about saving water should be a priority.
What you can do first is to check your faucets and see if there are any leaks. A lot of water is being wasted in households regularly, due to unfixed leaks, taking shorter showers, not keeping the tap running when you’re brushing your teeth or shaving. No longer pre-rising your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher – the are many useful changes you can make with minimal effort.
Also, if you want to get even more efficient in regards to your water consumption, consider the possibility of installing a low-flow showerhead. Over time, this adjustment can save you thousands of liters of water.
2. Test indoor air quality
Your household won’t be able to provide you with a healthy and sustainable environment you desire if the air you are breathing is causing your harm. Often, hidden issues might exist that affect the quality of indoor air, and a periodical assessment can be necessary here.
A wide range of problems is often linked to improper indoor air quality, starting from mold growth and up to the presence of asbestos or pollutants. Being negligent in this department can lead to multiple health concerns, such as skin rashes, respiratory issues, or even a state of fatigue. According to professionals at safeair.ca, air quality testing is something you should pursue if you’ve never done it before. You’ll find out if there are any red flags you should know about, and what solutions you have available.
Getting an air purifier is also advised here. This type of appliance can help you maintain indoor air clean and keep your family protected.
3. Install energy-efficient light bulbs
You already know how much energy efficiency matters when it comes to sustainability. When trying to figure out the options, you have at close reach to reduce how much energy you are consuming in your household. One of the actions that come to mind first is replacing your light bulbs.
You’d be surprised to discover how much fewer energy LEDs consume in comparison with traditional light bulbs. Using less energy will, of course, help you lower your electricity bill, so there are only positive aspects revolving around a light bulb replacement. LEDs are known to last longer as well, so once you’ve installed them, you won’t have to worry about a potential replacement requirement anytime soon.
4. Replace chemical-based cleaning products
A healthy home and sustainable at the same time should be cleaned and sanitized using all-natural products. A big percentage of homeowners currently rely on chemical-based cleaning products, which not only affect the environment but the health of those living in the household as well.
Many products you buy from supermarkets contain synthetic fragrances, which eventually end up in your water supply. Keeping your home clean and sanitized doesn’t require you to work with chemicals alone. There are plenty of natural alternatives that can get the job done quite well. Baking soda, vinegar, citric acid, lemon juice – you have plenty of great options you can resort to instead of supermarket-purchased products.
If you do a bit of research, you’ll discover that toxic chemicals have been linked to multiple health problems, such as aggravating asthma or triggering reparatory problems. Natural cleaning solutions are better for your health and the environment.
5. Insulate
Energy loss is often caused by improper home insulation. If your house isn’t properly insulated, with materials that are actually qualitative and efficient, you’ll find yourself often turning up your heating or cooling system to its maximum capacity, just to maintain indoor temperatures comfortable.
Insulating will give you the chance to reduce your energy consumptions and automatically lower your utility bills. Although this home improvement project does come with an initial investment, the money will be worth spending.
6. Recycle
You already know how important recycling is and how much eco-friendly activists are promoting adequate practices in this department. So are you actually pursuing the right approach here? Always separate your household waste, and that includes anything from plastic and paper to metal. Get in contact with the right recycling companies, and make sure your recycled trash is actually collected by the right people.
7. Filter your tap water
Installing a tap filter will allow always to have clean water, safe to drink. Tap water is usually filled with different contaminants, such as coli, chlorine, or pesticides, so drinking it directly from the tap could put your health at risk. With a filter installed, you won’t longer have to worry that you’re consuming contaminated water. This is also an eco-friendly action because it gives you the opportunity to stop buying plastic bottled water, reducing thus your plastic waste.
If you’ve been thinking about making your household more sustainable, and at the same time, opt for a few improvements that ensure the general health level of the place. These are the tips you should know about. Each one of these recommendations can help you obtain your ultimate goal, living in a healthy and eco-friendly home.