As awareness around the importance of sustainability grows, people are hunting for ways that they can actionably make their lives—and their homes—more environmentally friendly.
But changing your home lifestyle can be challenging when you don’t know where to start. There are so many ways to prevent wastage and promote eco-friendly alternatives that the prospect of such a big change can be overwhelming.
However, small incremental changes are a great way to adjust to sustainable living that is simple and easy to execute. If you want your home to be more eco-friendly but aren’t sure where to begin, look at this list of small but powerful ways to improve sustainability one step at a time.
1. Wash Your Clothes On Cold
As much as 90% of the energy a washing machine uses goes towards heating up the water. And while there might be some sensitive fabrics that need a warmer wash sometimes, not everything we toss in the machine needs a 130°F blast.
When doing a load of basic laundry like underwear, t-shirts, or shorts, turn the heat down and let your machine run a much more eco-friendly wash cycle.
2. Swap Out Your Incandescent Bulbs For LEDs
LED light bulbs use up a whopping 90% less energy than regular light bulbs. Need we say more? LED stands for Light-Emitting Diode, which is a type of bulb that uses a tiny microchip to emit light.
Amazingly, LED bulbs are really affordable and can even last longer than some incandescent bulbs. In fact, some incandescent bulbs can be up to five times more expensive than LEDs. Swapping your bulbs out for LEDs is one of the easiest ways to make your home more sustainable.
3. Ditch The Dryer
We’ve come to see tumble dryers as essential home items, but are they really? Dryers are extremely energy consumptive and not all that necessary if you live in a warmer climate. Instead of using a dryer, consider hanging your clothes on a washing line in summer and going to the laundromat during winter.
4. Have A Garden? Get A Compost Bin
If you have a garden, there are loads of ways to integrate more earth-friendly alternatives into your home—and one of them is getting a compost bin.
Compost is organic waste that gets used as fertilizer for plants or even for generating natural power. By collecting all your plant-based food waste in a separate bin, you can use the compost you make to fertilize the ground outside and facilitate a healthier garden. Or donate it to someone who farms.
5. Use Biodegradable Cleaning Products
Many of the cleaning products we use contain toxic chemicals that damage the environment when left to run into lakes and animal habitats. By switching them out for biodegradable products—i.e. ones that can be broken down organically—you can significantly reduce your impact on the environment.
6. DIY Instead Of Buying Brand New
Want a new wooden bench for your patio? A new table or shelf? These are actually surprisingly easy to make when you have a guide, and can save both you and the environment some precious resources.
Using reclaimed wood to build simple furniture is not only a sustainability win, but it can also be a very fun and rewarding process.
7. Insulate Your House For Winter
During winter, houses get frosty, and most of us turn the indoor heating high. But there are much cheaper and more environmentally friendly ways to stay cozy and warm during colder months. One of them is through manual insulation.
By installing eco-friendly insulation strips, you can dramatically increase the heat level inside your home and cut down on energy costs at the same time.
8. Reduce Your Water Consumption
There are plenty of ways to reduce your water consumption and make your home more sustainable. Pop a brick in your toilet cistern so that you use less water when you flush, regularly replace water filter cartridges so you don’t end up running water down the drain because it tastes funny, and shower instead of bathing. You can also invest in water tanks that catch rainwater for watering the garden.
9. Plant Seasonal Herbs
Not everyone is born with a green thumb, but everyone can learn. Planting seasonal herbs is a great way to introduce more greenery to your household and attract planet-friendly critters like butterflies and bees. Plus, you make your kitchen more sustainable and get free access to fresh herbs such as mint, rosemary, and basil. Yum!
10. Get A Smart Thermostat
Sometimes it’s hard to determine when you’re being indulgent with indoor temperatures or not. But a smart thermostat can help bring that information to your attention in a practical way.
Some smart thermostats can even be connected to an app on your smartphone, so you’ll always be aware of what the temperature is and when it’s time to reduce your consumption.
11. Fix It, Don’t Toss It
When it comes to appliances and electronics, it can be very tempting to toss them in the junkyard when they stop working. But many of those items can actually be fixed, lengthening their shelf life and saving you a considerable amount of money. Think before you toss.
12. Invest In Solar Panels
Installing solar panels for your home may be expensive, but the money and energy it saves overall are well worth the effort. If you can afford to invest in solar panels, this is one of the most effective and rewarding ways to introduce more sustainability at home.
Small Changes Make A Big Difference
With all the stress our planet gets put under, it can be easy to feel like sustainability efforts are futile. But this couldn’t be further from the truth! Every little change you make to the way you live your life has the power to make a difference in the long run.
Instead of fretting over all the progress that still needs to be made, focus on making small, intentional changes to your lifestyle that lighten the load today and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
