Five Easy Ways to Green Your Home
Eco-Friendly Ideas for an Environmentally Friendly House
May 19, 2009
Living green is not only a trend but has become a lifestyle for many. With daily reports of global warming, energy availability and the overall cost of energy, many homeowners want to know how they can help make a difference. The National Institutes of Health report that the United States generates about 208 million tons of municipal solid waste each year (or about four pounds per person per day), so even small changes in the home can make a big difference.
Rainwater Gardening
Capturing rainwater in a rain barrel and reusing the water to water plants is a great green practice. Consider installing a rooftop garden or a rain garden to use rainwater and help reduce your usage of water from the local reservoir. Composting is also another fantastic way to reduce trash output and create fertilizer for your garden. Growing your own herbs and vegetables also reduces your carbon footprint and saves money on groceries.
Save Energy
Encourage your family members to turn off lights when leaving a room. Run the dishwasher only once a day or once every other day. Save laundry to run full loads. Consider showering every other day. The old 1970s adage "if it’s yellow, let it mellow – if it’s brown, flush it down" can be used in your bathroom to save hundreds of gallons of unnecessary freshwater waste. Replace old appliances with energy saving models, which could save you hundreds of dollars per year on your energy bill. Use energy-efficient light bulbs.
Use Green Products
Luckily, consumers now have access to an increasing number of green products in regular grocery stores and other retailers. When shopping for items like cleaning products, paper towels, toilet paper, and other household goods, find eco-friendly products to substitute for your regular brands. Even choosing an eco-friendly laundry or dishwashing detergent can significantly lower the amount of nitrogen you send out into your local waterways. Consider re-usable grocery bags made from recycled materials. Use compostable materials (like disposable silverware and plates) in your kitchen.
Recycle
If your household doesn’t already recycle, this is the easiest way to help the environment. If your neighborhood does not have access to curbside recycling, look online at your local county or state government office's website and find a recycling center where you can bring your aluminum, plastic, newspaper, etc.
Learn More!
One of the best websites to check for more ideas is Green Home, which displays a graphic of a household; by clicking on a room of the house you can find out how to make green changes in that room. You can also buy a book (printed on recycled paper and shipped in green materials, of course!) on ways to make your home more eco-friendly.
It is easy being green!
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