The climate crisis is getting worse, and no matter what we do, we cannot completely reverse its effect on our planet. A few decades ago, climate and environmental activists started a campaign to create awareness about ‘climate change.’
However, the world didn’t attend to the matter with the urgency it required, and now we are paying for the consequences of our actions.
Looking around, you’ll see that our environment is slowly but surely deteriorating. Climate changes like extremely hot summers and cold winters, bushfires, floods, and even species extinction are clear indications that the earth is not in good health.
To counter this, we need to go green and look for environmentally friendly and sustainable ways. We need to eradicate excessive CO2 emissions, natural resource depletion, and the use of plastic waste in the environment. They are the biggest source of land as well as air pollution. This ultimately affects the environment and the ecosystem in ways in unprecedented ways.
The least we can do is look for ways to make our lives as eco-friendly as possible. As you spend most of your time at home, start making it as eco-friendly as possible.
Here are a few ways you can make your home eco-friendly:
Try Renewable Modes of Energy Production
Renewable ways to produce energy are an incredibly hot topic today. Al Jazeera states that approximately 30 percent of the world’s electricity is produced via renewable resources like hydropower, solar, and wind.
This has led to a positive global dialogue regarding environmentalism and ways how we can save the earth and counter climate change. We can see that the UN has even given most global and multinational companies standards to abide by for sustainability.
As an individual entity, we see that there is a lot that we can do for environmentalism as well. For instance, you can install solar panels in your home as a source of electricity.
This saves tons of carbon annually. They have no noise and air pollution and greatly improve the air quality in your vicinity. Getting solar panels is a one-time investment and has the potential to give you miraculous returns.
In addition, you can use light-saving blubs to reduce electricity consumption.
Declutter and Reduce Consumption
Our consumption patterns are unhealthy and unsustainable. We gather far too many things, things that we don’t even need, and start storing them in our homes. It leads to unnecessary clutter and waste. Hence, when you go for your next purchase, ask yourself whether you even need the product or not, whether it be food, clothes, or even electronic devices.
Put your purchase in perspective every time you are about to buy something rather than going for impulse buying.
You’ll see that this way of sustainable living will not only make your living space look welcoming and clean, but you’ll also be able to save a lot of money. You’ll automatically observe that your productivity will increase due to the reduction in the clutter around.
Keep The 3R In Mind
We’re sure you have heard about the 3R; Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The second point above gave you a clear understanding of reducing your consumption and adopting healthy consumption patterns.
The next step is to start reusing. Before you decide to throw away anything, make sure that you analyze whether it can be used again. For example, if you have an old t-shirt, you can reuse it as a rag.
Moreover, try purchasing things that have a good lifecycle and can be recycled.
When something has served its purpose, it needs to be thrown away to avoid cluttering. Hence, recycling is a great way to reduce your waste. Many things, like plastic and glass bottles and containers, can be easily and readily recycled.
However, remember not every plastic can be recycled. For example, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, and polypropylene are commonly recyclable. While polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and other such types of plastic are rarely, if ever, recyclable.
Use Eco-friendly Products
Cleaning products like detergents, foaming agents, and preservatives result in toxic and harmful chemicals that damage our ecosystem.
When disposed of by factories, they lead to toxins streaming into the rivers and the ocean. This leads to marine life displacement and, in adverse cases, even extinction.
Hence, try to use products that are made sustainably. Once you start opting for them and encourage your social circle to do the same, you’ll see that slowly and start making a healthy environmental change.
Your consumption patterns will become healthy and responsible, and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment. In addition, your home will also become a source of eco-friendliness.
Moreover, you can also go for DIY hacks, like using natural cleaners like lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda, and vinegar mixture to use as a cleaning agent. This is a sustainable and cheap alternative to buying expensive and toxic detergents.
Use Water Responsibly
Did you know that at least two-thirds of the world’s population experience extreme water scarcity at least a month a year? Therefore, it is our responsibility to use it properly.
Every time you use water, try to gauge how much of that water you need and how much just went down the drain unused. Try taking quick showers instead of lengthy baths. It will save thousands of gallons of water every year, and you’ll see that your water bill has also been reduced.
Additionally, try and look for any possible water leakages in your home and get them sorted out; if it is too much hassle for you, then you can also call-in professionals that can have a look at your water supply system/plumbing system and if there are problems, they can resolve it promptly. This way, you conserve water and make your house eco-friendly.
Bottom Line
Sustainable living has great potential, and you’ll see that your life will become much easier. Using the 3R mechanism for every possession you own will help you put your purchase patterns in perspective. Moreover, using eco-friendly products and using the biodegradable mode of consumption will make your home environmentally friendly.