6 Steps to Make Your House More Eco-Friendly

Green living and environmental awareness have made headlines lately. With so many people concerned about making eco-conscious choices, what better place to turn than your own home? Here are six steps you can take to make your house more eco-friendly.

Minimize Waste

There are so many ways to reduce the amount of waste your household produces, that it is one of the easiest steps you can take to be more eco-friendly. Check with your municipality about what materials can be recycled in your regular pickup. Most places allow for plastics, metals, and paper or cardboard to be placed in curbside containers. Your town may also have a central recycling facility that accepts larger or specialty items like electronics. If you have large amounts of scrap metal, you may want to look at taking it to a metal recycling facility. They will generally pay per pound for metals like aluminum, steel, or copper.  

Recycling can be extended to other waste also. Limit food waste by using or freezing leftovers. Start a compost pile for plant scraps and yard waste. Not only will this help cut down on what goes in your trash, but it can also be a good source of fertilizer and soil conditioner in the future. 

Switch to Sustainable Energy

There is a lot of talk about electric vehicles, but your home is also a good place to embrace sustainable energy. A solar lease can reduce or eliminate the upfront cost of adding solar panels to your house, and can be a good option if you are planning to stay in your house a while. If you want to take advantage of tax credits and other incentives, you might want to look at other purchase or financing options. 

Shop Secondhand Stores

When you think of the number of natural resources, hours of labor, and miles of transportation involved in making stuff, it's no wonder that buying second-hand goods can be environmentally friendly. Think about the impact you can make buying used before you purchase that new piece of furniture, clothing, or cookware. Shop thrift and consignment stores for great deals on gently used ones instead. Some stores even help support job training or community-building efforts, so your purchases can go that much further. 

Adjust the Temperature

Moving your thermostat just a few degrees can have a big impact on both your environmental impact and your utility bills. Try turning the heat down two degrees in the winter to lower heat use. Start making the switch at night, when you can snuggle under warm blankets and you may not even notice the change in your house.

In the summer you can adjust up a few degrees during the day. If you live somewhere that gets very hot, setting your thermostat to 75 degrees can still make your house feel refreshingly cool in comparison. Use ceiling fans to help circulate air and create a cooling breeze. 

Insulate Empty Spaces

Many older homes don't have adequate insulation in empty spaces like the attic and basement. Adding insulation to these spots can make a big difference in how much it takes to heat and cool your home. You can eliminate leaks around doors and windows with spray insulation, too. All of this will help to make your home more environmentally friendly. 

Turn Out the Lights

Sometimes, it's best to start with baby steps. Make it a point to turn out hte lights when you leave a room. This simple act can make a big difference in the amount of energy you consume. Changing from incandescent to LED bulbs can make the change even more pronounced. 

No matter where you are on your journey to becoming more environmentally conscious and friendly, there are steps you can take to help you move forward. If you are just getting started, look to make little changes. It will become easy to embrace larger ones as you start to see their impact.