Your home is your castle, but it might also be a substantial contributor to environmental contamination. That certainly isn't a very encouraging thought, but you can do something about it. These tips can help you create an eco-conscious home that is safe for your family and the environment.

Upgrade Your Appliances

The major appliances in most homes use a lot of energy, and older ones tend to be the least efficient. Upgrading to energy-efficient models can help the environment by reducing your dependence on electricity or fuel oils. The heating, air conditioning and water heater systems are prime targets for the biggest reduction in resource consumption. Look for new models that are ENERGY STAR certified for the highest level of efficiency. When visiting a water heater company in Ojai, look into tankless heaters that supply a nearly endless amount of hot water on demand.

Invest in Smart Home Technology

Smart homes can also help you reduce utility consumption and your carbon footprint. Even if you have a programmable thermostat, consider adding a Wi-Fi-connected one to make adjustments while you are away from home. You will have a more comfortable and customizable experience that way. Smart refrigerators are not only very efficient, but some also let you see inside without opening the door. That means they can maintain a more even temperature, requiring less run time. They can also help you cut down on repeated trips to the store by allowing you to see inside while you are wandering the aisles of your local supermarket.

Switch Cleaning Products

How you clean your home affects the environment inside it as much as it does the planet. Most people wouldn't knowingly expose themselves and their family to hazardous materials Yet, by choosing to use many common cleaning products, that is exactly what they do. These chemicals can cause irritation if allowed to contact the skin and respiratory symptoms if inhaled. In addition, many make their way into groundwater where they can cause potential contamination. Luckily, it is an easy situation to remedy. Environmentally friendly and safe green cleaning products are readily available at most grocery and big box stores, so you can make the switch without having to go out of your way. They are just as effective and much safer to use.

Eliminate Food Waste

Nearly half of all food purchased in the U.S. becomes waste. That is both sad and completely avoidable. Embrace root to stem cooking techniques to consume more of the fruits and veggies you do buy. Scraps can be saved in the freezer and turned into delicious vegetable stock later on. Many fruits and veggies that are starting to show their age can also be made into baked goods like bread, cookies and cakes. For the carnivores out there, don't toss those bones after a meal. Instead, turn them into a nutritious stock or bone broth.

Turn the food waste you do produce into compost — something useable and eco-friendly. Learning how to compost can be simple and fun for the whole family. Check with any HOA or other neighborhood associations to ensure you don't run afoul of their policies regarding outdoor composting before you get started. Or, explore indoor composting option instead. Vermi-composting using a worm bin is often a favorite method for kids who will have a blast playing with the wriggly critters. Bokashi composting uses an inoculant to transform virtually any food scraps into compost in about a month.

The investment of time and resources you make in creating an environmentally friendly home will pay you back in improved health and well being. Use technology to your advantage with smart and energy-efficient appliances, minimize harmful chemicals and reduce food waste to get started.