Cost-Effective Ways to Make Your Home Green

Every day, we are constantly reminded about the impact we have on our planet. Be it pollution or global warming, it seems it’s always in the news. As technology moves forward, from better solar panels to electric cars, all the improvements follow the trend of being green. Still, the price of these innovations makes them out of reach for average people. However, there are ways you can start saving our planet that doesn’t require a whole lot of cash, and it all starts in your home.

Fix Air Leaks

Air leaks are a major problem when it comes to regulating the temperature in your home. Although you might not have the funds to redo your wall insulation or install double glazed windows, you can always buy a couple of insulating pads for your doors and windows. It may not look very appealing, but it does the trick at a reasonable price.

Turn Down the Heat

Being green also means being conscious about ways to conserve energy. Reduce the temperature in your home by at least one degree in winter. It may not seem like much, but actually over the course of the entire heating season, this substantially cuts both power consumption and costs.

Turn Off the Lights

When leaving a room, always turn off the light. This is another simple way of conserving energy, which over time also helps in your energy saving plans. If you are still unsure, consider how every year the entire planet’s population is asked to turn off non-essential lights for one hour during Earth Hour. It definitely has an impact on our planet.

Turn Off Your Devices

Another thing you should try turning off are your devices. You might think that when your computer goes to sleep, it doesn’t use power, but it does. The same goes for the TV, DVD player, and any other smart or electronic device you might have plugged in during the day.

Unplug Your Chargers

You should also look to disconnect all of your chargers when you are done charging your batteries. Despite re-chargeable batteries being the greenest option available, most people are unaware that cell-phone and battery chargers continue to drain additional power even when not charging your device. So, when you’re done, pull the plug out.

Take Shorter and More Efficient Showers

Water is yet another natural resource which is under threat of over-consumption, and showers are among the main culprits. A simple way to regulate your use of water during a shower is by changing your shower head for a low-flow one. In combination with a shower timer (a device which restricts your shower time to two minutes), you will be saving one of planet Earth’s most valuable resources while lowering your water bill at the same time.

Switch to an Electric Hot Water System

Another way to conserve energy in your bathroom is to install an electric hot water system. An electric hot water system regulates how much hot water you can use, and heats up only that amount. As they range in size, they can accommodate any household’s demand for hot water, while still saving you money on both the water and power bill.

Replace Household Items on a Need-To Base

Another factor worth mentioning when talking about pollution is waste. Today’s consumer society tends to replace existing devices, furniture and products as soon as something new comes out, without having a viable recycling solution. Therefore, you should always replace your items, especially larger appliances, like washing machines, dishwashers and fridges, only on a need-to basis. It’s okay to replace them once they start breaking down. If they are 10 years old and still work properly, why should you replace them?

Buy Green

Going green in your home also means supplying your home with green products. Buy products made from recycled goods at your local shops. Consistent green shopping habits can help eco-friendly businesses grow, giving them an added incentive to produce more recycled goods.

In the end, you should look to recycle. Research the policy of your nearest recycling plant, and make sure to separate your trash accordingly. Together with the previously mentioned ways to conserve energy, water, and minimize waste, this will help you create a greener household without over-spending.