Top Reasons to Make Your Home More “Green”

The earth may seem to offer us limitless resources, but the truth is that we are rapidly using up the planet’s natural resources thanks to our growing size and our unbridled consumption. If we don’t make changes to our habits, there could be catastrophic consequences for ourselves, the animals on the planet, and the planet itself.

Many people start by making what changes they can at home. That can include making simple changes like using recyclable paper bags instead of plastic or it can include huge changes like installing solar panels or canning foods that you grow in your garden. How little or how much you do depends on what you’re comfortable with and how much time and money you have to invest. However, any moves you make can contribute to positive changes for the environment.

Here are some of the top reasons to make your home more eco-friendly:

Reduce Waste

We are creating waste at astronomical rates, and we are creating enormous landfills and polluting our water, soil and air. That is contributing to climate change and poisoning our wildlife, which affects our eco-system and our food supply. We are even polluting our own water supply.

You can reduce waste by reusing as much as you can and recycling the rest. Also look for products that have recycled or reclaimed materials.

You should also cut back on your use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other toxic chemicals. For your lawn, choose plants that are native and naturally repel pests. Put in artificial grass in places that won’t grow, such as areas where your pets defecate.

Choose natural cleaners for your home, such as vinegar and baking soda. Choose natural beauty products and fabrics that are not chemically treated.

The more you do, the greater your impact on reducing overall waste.

Reduce Dependence on Natural Resources

Oil and coal are finite resources. Even seemingly ubiquitous resources like water and wood need to be conserved because they do not renew quickly, and our consumption can easily outpace the rate at which they are replenished.

Since we are so dependent on these resources, we could be in serious trouble if we did not have them. Think about how different your life would be if you did not have nuclear or coal power to heat your water for showers, light your stove, or even turn on the lights.

By making eco-friendly changes to your home now, you can reduce your consumption of and dependence on these resources. You can install solar panels to generate your own electricity, add a cool roof to make your home more energy-efficient, or install compact fluorescent lights, energy-efficient appliances and vinyl windows to lower your home’s energy consumption. You can install low-flow toilets, faucets and appliances to cut back your water consumption, and you can set up rain barrels to collect water for gardening and landscaping. Choose bamboo or cork flooring instead of hardwood, which takes years and years to grow.

The more changes you make, the fewer resources you will consume.

Save Money

Making these eco-friendly choices isn’t just good for the environment — it’s also good for your wallet.

Reducing your energy and water consumption will help you save hundreds or thousands of dollars per year on your utility bills. Reducing your reliance on chemical cleaners and products will help you save money — vinegar and baking soda are a lot cheaper than commercial cleaners. Reusing products will save you money on buying new.

In some cases, you can not only save money but actually make money. You can get tax credits for making some changes to your home, such as installing solar panels. Your local utility company may even offer you rebates for installing energy-efficient appliances or low-flow toilets.

Explore all the options available in your area to get the maximum savings and rewards.

Get Peace of Mind

The feeling you get from knowing that you are helping make the world a better place is priceless.

When you read news stories about climate change or the terrible effects of pollution on marine animals and water supply, you can feel good knowing that you are taking action to make it better. You won’t feel helpless — you can feel empowered by knowing that you are directly making a difference.

Making changes to your home is just one way that you can make a positive difference for the environment. Look at other areas of your life to find more ways that you can help, such as by purchasing an electric vehicle or taking public transportation more often. Spread the word to friends and family and do what you can to get others to make positive changes, as well.