Most people with organized homes understand that a clean house is a happy house. Often, the best way you can maintain cleanliness is by decluttering first. In addition to always finding what you need and avoiding uncleanliness, decluttering can also save energy and help the planet.
Numerous Benefits Of Decluttering
Various benefits of home organization can improve your life. For one, you’ll generally be happier when your house is cleaner. Messy environments can make you feel stressed because the worse the clutter gets, the more impossible it seems to remedy. You’ll be happier when everything has its place, and you can focus on other things, including your sustainability goals.
Another perk of home organization is that it makes your home more appealing, which can be important if you plan to sell it in the future. Cleanliness and order can also improve your home's value. To further increase the value, you can add energy-efficient appliances and other sustainable features, so you’ll have a highly desirable property.
Decluttering Can Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
If your house is cluttered, you probably use more electricity and resources than necessary. There are a couple of potential energy-wasting problems you can consider and remedy.
Improving Air Flow
If your house is so cluttered that you have piles of boxes and items on top of each other and lining the hallways, then those blockages can decrease airflow, and your heating and cooling systems may be overworking. At the end of the day, you’ll likely find that you’re wasting energy and seeing higher utility bills.
Once you clean up those messes, you can continue to save energy and money by installing a smart thermostat. You can use it to set personalized temperature control at different parts of the day. As an example, during the summer, you can set it at a higher temperature while you’re out of the house at work and then have the AC run cooler when you arrive home. That way, it's always the optimal temperature, and you’re not wasting energy in an empty house.
Cut Down On Lighting
It’s possible to have the lights on longer when your house is cluttered and you can’t find what you need. You could spend hours looking for a certain item or working longer in a disorganized room. If the room was organized, you wouldn’t need to be in there as long, so you’d reduce your energy bill as far as your lighting use.
Another issue is that if your house is so cluttered that items are blocking the windows, you will get less natural light into the space. Since it will be darker, you’ll be more prone to turn on the lights and waste energy. In addition to solving your clutter problem, you can continue reducing the effects of energy usage on your utility bill through solar power.
Many wonder if solar panels are worth the investment, and the answer depends on your particular situation. If you still spend a lot on energy even after you clean the clutter, then going solar can give you the same amount of energy while cutting down drastically on the monthly cost. Plus, you could be eligible for tax incentives. Of course, you also need to live in a property with a roof that can hold the weight of solar panels, but you can consult with an expert for the answer.
Tips For Decluttering Sustainably
Even the act of decluttering can benefit the planet and help yourself and others to cut down on energy usage.
For instance, while you’re organizing your space, you’ll likely find at least a few items you no longer need. When you do, you can donate them to a local organization or thrift store. By allowing other people to buy your used goods, you reduce their desire to buy brand-new items. Factories waste a lot of energy producing products, so you can cut down on those resources simply by decluttering and passing your belongings onto others.
You may also find items in your house that you like, but if they’re broken, you may have the urge to throw them out and repurchase them brand new. Instead of doing that, you can continue your sustainable decluttering by repairing or repurposing those items so you can continue to use them and not waste energy driving to the store or adding to the landfills.
Conclusion
If you know your house is more cluttered than it should be, chances are good that you’re wasting energy at home. Consider these tips and changes, and you’ll help yourself and the planet.
