As appealing as going green is, it can be just as equally daunting. We’re talking about rethinking old and established ways of thinking to build new ways of doing things that are centered around caring deeply about the environment.
But how can you possibly start? Practicing sustainability begins at home, as this is the place where you have the most control over the energy spent, things consumed, and so forth. Here, we have listed the most simple ways to start living greener in your home.
Stop Wasting Food
Sadly, America is one of the countries that produces the highest amount of food waste. It’s so easy to carelessly buy more food than you or your family can consume.
After all, eyes are bigger than stomachs, but it’s essential to be mindful when going grocery shopping to only buy foods that you know you and your family can consume before the perishables go bad. If this is something that you struggle with, then perhaps you can try making meal plans for the week and shopping lists that you stick to.
Reduce Meat Consumption
There are plenty of ways to reduce your overall meat intake, and it can be as simple as starting with one meatless day a week. There are plenty of protein sources out there that are not of animal origin, and to name a few, they include legumes, nuts, seeds, protein powders, and nutritional yeast. The livestock industry accounts for nearly 60% of greenhouse gas emissions from food production sources.
That’s a pretty high figure, so if you can reduce your meat consumption by even just a little, then you’ll be making a small impact on this number. It’s all about baby steps!
Opt for Energy Efficient Appliances
The next time you need to replace one of your home’s appliances, you could help the environment a lot by opting for a certified energy-efficient appliance. By switching to these appliances, you could reduce your home’s energy output by a staggering 20 to 50 percent. As a bonus, you will also be spending a little bit less money on your monthly energy bills.
Reduce Energy Usage
Need to dry your clothes? Hang them up outside to dry in the wind instead of using a tumble dryer. Washing your clothes in cold water also saves energy, plus your clothes will last longer than if you wash them in hot water. Reducing your bath frequency and taking shorter showers will also reduce energy usage, plus you will be using a lot less water.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
There are tons of ways out there to reduce, reuse, and recycle in your home. Start by reducing water and energy usage. Then, proceed to reuse things like scrap paper to write shopping lists and old newspapers as shelf liners.
If you have a knack for sewing, then there are tons of ways to repurpose old clothes. Recycling takes a bit more work at first, as you will need to set up a designated area to cycle recyclables, such as individual boxes or crates, to recycle things like paper, cardboard, steel, glass, and the work.
You will then have to do some more research to find out how you can dispose of these recyclables. It may take time to start, but once you’ve got the hang of it, it should become like second nature to you and not take much time at all.
3 Outdated and Overdone Bathroom Design Trends That Are No Longer Trending
One could say that bathrooms are equal parts utility and sanctuary. Essentially, they’re the place where you can light a candle and wind down from a long day, but at the same time, it’s the exact spot where most of your grooming and getting ready for your day (or bed) happens. In terms of aesthetics, we do want our bathrooms to feel welcoming and serene, but, at the same time, they need to be functional.
3 Outdated and Overdone Bathroom Design Trends That Are No Longer Trending
15 Home Trends That We Wish Were Already Over
The home design trends that are so popular today will be out of style tomorrow. The “in” styles usually start at the designer level before trickling down to the public. It’s helpful to look ahead at the next trends when having work done for your home. What’s in today among the public may already be on its way out and no longer be used by designers.
15 Home Trends That We Wish Were Already Over
12 Household Items You Can Throw Out Today (You Really Don’t Need Them)
Do you feel sometimes like all you ever do is clean up and put away clutter? No matter how big your space is, it seems like all of our “stuff” just takes over, making it harder and harder to have a clean and tidy space.
12 Household Items You Can Throw Out Today (You Really Don’t Need Them)
20 Areas of Your Home That Need a Spring Clean the Most
As the season changes and the days grow longer, breathing new life into your living space with a thorough spring cleaning can be just what your home needs. While cleaning every nook and cranny might seem overwhelming, focusing on specific areas can make the process more manageable and rewarding.
Here are 20 home areas that could use extra attention during spring cleaning.
20 Areas of Your Home That Need a Spring Clean the Most
5 Ways to Easily Declutter Your Home
Have some New Year’s Resolutions? Is one of them making your home less cluttered and more streamlined?
Having an organized and decluttered home is important for mental health and a great way to make your life more organized and calmer. You can also sell your extra stuff and make some extra money.