12 Eco-Friendly Home Ideas to Try
Greening your home or finding eco-friendly ways to update your house and landscaping can help protect Earth's treasures. Consider upgrading your home with today’s latest technology and products that may protect our natural resources. These changes take minimal time but may have a significant impact on Earth. It’s time to turn your home into an eco-friendly place!
1. Repurpose Old Home Décor Items
The next time you shop for household items, consider things that were previously owned, as typically, these pieces have been well-cared-for. Repurposing things such as glassware, dishes, tools, linens, and utensils keep these items from ending up in landfills, and may lessen the toll on our natural resources. Antique store furniture has a lot of life left in it, and you may be lucky enough to discover its history. Reuse wood by building bookshelves, coffee tables, or end pieces.
2. Switch to Energy Efficient Lighting
With all the latest lighting gadgets on the market, you could possibly save money and energy at the same time. For example, Energy-efficient lighting for the kitchen and bathrooms is better than those old heat-emitting incandescent bulbs. LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs are brighter, last longer, and are eco-friendly. Some people leave their lights on all day while they are out, but with SheaConnect we have smart wall light switches, so you can control your lights anywhere and everywhere via your smartphone, saving you energy!
3. Purchase Appliances that are Energy Efficient
It’s finally time to replace that old washer and dryer set. Or maybe it’s time for a new refrigerator or dishwasher. When performing your research for new appliances, be sure to look for those that are “Energy Star” certified. Energy Star appliances are noted by a bright yellow label that shows electricity savings and the cost of operating the unit. Eco-friendly appliances use less energy than older appliances and can potentially save homeowners money.
4. Save Water
Gallons of water are wasted every year in homes, but there are many ways to cut down and save on water. For example, there are faucets, toilet flushers, and showerheads that are built to help use less water. Pure Living by Shea Homes offers features like a touchless kitchen faucet to help reduce germs while maximizing convenience with hands-free water flow activation.
5. Take Showers Instead of Baths
Sometimes, soaking in a nice bath can be perfect – but baths can use a large amount of water. Taking showers, dependent on the length of time, can help to limit water use. In any case, be conscious of the amount of water you are using while showering or bathing.
6. Wash Your Clothing Less Frequently
Most of the time, clothes do not need to be washed as frequently as you may think. Unless they have stains or are extremely dirty, your clothes do not need to be washed after every use. When you do your laundry, try to use a larger load to limit the amount of energy and water used across smaller, more frequent washes. Tip: When washing your clothes, use cold water instead of using additional energy for warmer water.
7. Air Dry Wet Laundry When Possible
Air drying laundry is a great alternative to using a dryer. Not only can it save you money, but it’s good for the environment! Not to mention air drying your clothes can help them last longer. If you don’t have somewhere you can line-dry, hang clothes around the house, and open the windows.
8. Grow Your Own Food
Ever thought about growing your food? Well, now’s the time! You can have a garden outside or even grow some herbs inside. Growing your food or plants can help produce oxygen, reduce your carbon footprint, and can be a better option for you.
9. Compost Your Food Scraps
There are many benefits to composting. Having a compost bin can help limit food waste and be used as fertilizer for plants, replenishing the earth! Plus, adding compost to soil can increase the amount of water it holds, which in turn replenishes local springs, ponds, and lakes. Compost bins can also be designed to be odor-free.
10. Produce Your Own Cleaning Products
Cleaning products can contain chemicals that are harmful to both you and the environment. Homemade products can be cheaper and a more natural alternative. Plus, you don’t have to worry about throwing away plastic containers when you make your own products, and you know exactly what goes into them. Some simple products that have great cleaning benefits include:
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Lemons
11. Get a Recycling Bin
Recycling is one of the simpler things you can do to help the environment. Owning a recycling bin will help you be more mindful of recycling glass, plastic, and other materials instead of ending up in the landfill. Many communities provide homeowners with recycling bins that get picked up by the city during the week. However, if don’t live in a community or neighborhood that picks up recycling, a quick Google search can help you locate a recycling center nearest you for drop off.
12. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat
Running your AC or Heat can spike up your utility bill, especially when you are not home. With SheaConnect’s Pro Smart Thermostat, you can remotely control your home’s temperature or program a daily schedule all from your smart device. Managing your home temperature while you’re out saves energy and can save you money.
People have become more conscious of their impact on the world over the past decade. Getting started in small and subtle ways will help you move toward a more environmentally sound way of living. The home is where people spend most of their time, so starting there can be a great first step. Home builders have adapted to these lifestyle changes and are now starting to incorporate designs and products that can help you become more efficient while staying comfortable. Shea builds homes that fit your needs, taking your health and the health of the environment into consideration. Learn more about our SheaConnect and Pure Living packages available in most communities.