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5 Easy Ways To Go Green At Home Without Going Broke

By March 27, 2017December 7th, 2018Insurance

Green homes have exploded in popularity in recent years thanks to political and media focus on climate change. We all want to “do our bit” to help save the planet, and as the saying goes, charity starts at home.

You might wonder what components make a home “green,” and unfortunately, there are currently no national standards by which to abide when it comes to building or remodeling homes. Most people assume it means a house with environmentally friendly features and wherein effort has been taken to conserve resources like energy and water.

Some people choose to fully invest in the green home initiative, opting to install solar panels and under-floor heating, but you can take much smaller and lower-cost steps to get on the path to environmental consciousness.

Buy Energy-Saving Light Bulbs

Energy-saving light bulbs can be bought readily from any number of DIY stores and are one of the easiest ways to decrease your household electricity consumption. Technically, they’re known as compact fluorescent (CF) bulbs and are 10 times more efficient than ordinary incandescent light bulbs. Therefore, not only do they use much less energy, but they lower the cost of your electricity bill too.

Recycle

Most governments have been encouraging their citizens to recycle for the last decade or so, with a particular focus on plastics, food waste, and paper. You should be able to procure suitable recycling bins from your local council to allow regular pick-ups of your waste.

Instead of simply being deposited into landfill like normal waste, your recycled items will go on to be used in new products and government initiatives. Landfill is not only a huge visual blight in countries across the world, but it also releases dangerous chemicals and greenhouse gases into our atmosphere.

Turn it Off

Another easy thing that all green home owners have in common is a habit of turning off electronic appliances. TVs, laptops, lights, and air-conditioning don’t need to be left on standby when you’re not using them. Again, this will reduce both your electricity consumption and your bill.

Stop Buying Bottles of Water

Aside from being incredibly overpriced and usually unnecessary, bottles of water are also a blight on the environment. They waste much-needed water resources, and the large plastic bottles they are usually sold in will go straight to landfill if they’re not recycled properly.

If you’re not happy to drink water straight from the tap, you can buy a low-cost water filter jug to keep in your fridge instead or, to go one step further, you could get a filter tap installed in your kitchen sink.If you must buy a bottle of water when you’re out and about, buy one that comes in a BPA-free plastic bottle, which will reduce the amount of harmful chemicals released at landfill.

Introduce More Plants to Your Home

House plants are one of the best and most beautiful ways to spruce up the air in your home and filter it of any pollutants. Plants absorb carbon dioxide in the air and provide your home with extra oxygen for you to breathe.Spider and rubber plants are common, cheap, and easy to look after.

Before you start spending thousands on green home initiatives, start off small with these low-cost and convenient ideas. You’ll be surprised at how much greener your home can become with relatively little work, and as a bonus, you can enjoy a lower electricity bill every month too