 If you want to make your home more eco-friendly, EnviroCitizen.org can suggest a few simple steps you can take. Start out by changing your light bulbs. While there is an initial investment, once you install compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs you'll have a smaller electricity bill and your carbon footprint will shrink. Changing your light bulbs seems like a simple step, but it makes a big difference. If every home in the United States replaced their bulbs with CFL bulbs, a huge percentage of coal-fired power plants would be able to shut down! Also, with each CFL bulb that you install, you'll save more than sixty dollars over the life of the bulb (5-7 years on average).
Next, check to make sure that you're not wasting water and fix any leaky faucets. You can also install low-flow showerheads, which will reduce both your water consumption and energy consumption. Another way to make your home more eco-friendly is to start composting. Composting is great because it has many benefits to both you and the environment. By composting your biodegradable food waste (meats can't go in your compost pile, but egg shells can), you'll reduce your contribution to your local landfill. You'll also enjoy the finished product: nutrient-rich fertilizer that you can add to your garden—and that stuff really works well and costs you nothing!
Another great way to make your home more eco-friendly is to install some clothing lines to dry your clothing with. You can put these lines practically anywhere and you can remove the strings when you're not using them. This makes a big difference, since even the most energy-efficient clothes dryers use a lot of energy. You can also collect rainwater to reduce your water consumption. Collecting rainwater is simple. Just put a collecting barrel below your gutter's drainpipe. You can then use the water to water your lawn and garden!
A great way to make your home eco-friendly is to clean green. Instead of using chemicals, use natural ingredients to clean your home. The two best cleaning agents are probably already in your kitchen: baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda is a great abrasive. By mixing a paste of baking soda and water, you can get rid of tough stains like baked-on grease on your stove. Vinegar is a disinfectant and works great when diluted with water to clean practically every surface, from your floors to your windows.
EnviroCitizen.org also suggests stocking your home with local, organic produce. You'll reduce your carbon footprint by not purchasing food that came from far away. The further that food has to travel to get to you, the bigger the carbon footprint. Also, if you don't have a recycling plan in your home yet, set one up. Label separate bins to recycle metals, plastics and paper.
Finally, make sure to close your curtains at dusk. This will help both in the summer and in the winter. In the summer, it'll help keep cool air in and in the winter it'll help keep the warm air from escaping through the windows. Unplug appliances when they're not being used as they still draw energy even when off. Keep in mind, all of EnviroCitizen.org's suggestions for small changes can translate into a smaller carbon footprint and a more eco-friendly home.
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