In an era where sustainability is a top priority for many homeowners, you may find yourself looking for different ways to live a greener lifestyle at home. Well, we have good news for you: you can embark on your sustainable home journey today with just a few simple tips! Delve into our curated list of practical and transformative tips specifically tailored for every room in the house. Your sustainable living journey starts here – discover eco-friendly ways to create a greener home!
Reducing Waste in the Kitchen
Reusable Towels and Bags Are In
There are numerous ways to reduce waste in the kitchen. Opt for reusable cloth towels instead of paper towels, store food in Tupperware containers (preferably glass-based) instead of single-use Ziploc bags, and take a reusable grocery bag to the store so you don’t bring home a million plastic bags you likely won’t ever use. It’s essential to remember that there is no such thing as perfect sustainability; the goal is to do what we can. If you can’t ditch paper towels or plastic bags entirely, you can still use them as a last resort and opt for paper grocery bags when you can.
Endless Herbs and Vegetables, Right at Home
When it comes to reducing food waste, consider planting an herb garden. This can be as simple as a few pots of your favorite herbs on the windowsill! It’s an amazing feeling to simply pluck basil or mint from the garden without having to leave the house. Another way to minimize food waste is to regrow certain leftover vegetables, such as green onions! Don’t throw them away once you use them; instead, place the green onions (roots attached) in water, preferably in view of sunlight. Then, watch them grow tall and thrive! Check out other vegetables you can regrow in just water. For plants that you can’t regrow, consider starting a compost bin. Include leftover scraps like used coffee grounds, eggshells, vegetable peels, and much more to create a rich compost, perfect for fertilizing gardens and flowerbeds.
Cultivating a Smart Living Room
Decor That’s Both Stylish and Environmentally Friendly
Your living room haven can be modified and decorated with the planet in mind! For furniture, try looking for secondhand furniture to incorporate into the decor. If you’re not a fan of secondhand items, you can always find new, sustainably sourced furniture made from recycled and/or organic materials. Do you know what pairs perfectly with any type of furniture? Houseplants! Houseplants can better your life in numerous ways by cleaning the air, reducing stress levels, brightening a room, bringing nature into the home, and giving you a sense of pride in taking care of something that grows and thrives with you!
Work With Your HVAC, Not Against
Reducing heat and electricity usage benefits the environment and saves you money. Don’t make your HVAC work harder than it has to! Hang curtains to conserve heat during the winter, install double-paned windows to stay cool during the summer, invest in a smart thermostat to regulate the temperature of your home and analyze energy usage, and replace fluorescent light bulbs with LED bulbs to make your bulb last longer and conserve energy. Implement any of these options to take a step towards a greener home!
Creating a Sustainable Bedroom and Closet
Improved Insulation = Greener Home
Taking simple steps to minimize energy usage applies to the bedroom, too! In the winter, ensure that your windows are properly insulated, let as much natural light pour in as possible, and invest in quality, thick curtains to prevent heat from escaping during the day. Another way to make your bedroom more sustainable is to use bedding with non-toxic materials. Mattresses and sheets that are comprised of natural, organic materials decrease your exposure to chemicals and are better for the environment.
Closet Cleaning, Anyone?
Don’t forget the closet! If you’re looking to simultaneously practice a greener lifestyle and experience the ultimate catharsis, go through your closet and collect clothes and items to donate or give away. This frees up closet space (resulting in less clutter), prevents quality clothes from ending up in a landfill, and helps those in need. It’s truly a win-win-win! Do you find joy in cleaning? Check out our blog, “Spring Cleaning – 5 Tips to Prepare for Spring,” to make cleaning and organizing even more enjoyable! Another tip to make your closet more eco-friendly is to shop secondhand. Not only are thrifting and vintage shopping in style, but you often find unique treasures for great prices! This is a great way to diversify your wardrobe and make your personal style one-of-a-kind, not to mention it decreases dependence on fast fashion.
Saving Water and Waste in the Bathroom and Laundry Room
Many eco-friendly practices in the bathroom revolve around maintenance and using water-efficient technology. If possible, install a low-flow showerhead, low-flow toilet, attachable bidet, and stay on top of leaks to save water. For cleaning the bathroom, choose cleaners that prioritize natural cleaning elements and rely less on chemicals that could harm your home and the environment. Bonus points if the cleaner containers are comprised of recycled materials! For a cost-effective choice, use vinegar and baking soda, a tried and true way to get your home looking fresh!
Simple Switches for Shower Products
For shower products like body wash and shampoo, try switching to soap bars and shampoo bars instead of plastic containers. However, we know that your favorite products may not always be available in bar form. If you need to buy plastic bottles, buy in bulk! In other words, buy bigger bottles of product less often as opposed to smaller bottles more often. This gives you a better price per ounce and results in less waste.
Cleaner Laundry Room and a Cleaner Earth
The laundry room may not be the first room that comes to mind when you think of a greener home, but small changes can make a significant difference, such as running a cold wash instead of using hot water. Cold washes have been shown to be just as effective at removing stains and consume less energy to heat up the water. For drying clothes, opt for dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. Dryer sheets are single-use, but dryer balls can be used for 1,000 loads before they need to be replaced!
Go Green at Traditions of Braselton
This is just the beginning of how you can make your home greener, one step at a time. If you’re looking for a new home and want to implement these tips, look no further than Traditions of Braselton! Not only is our private 18-hole golf course green, but we can help you incorporate greener, sustainable options into your home. Come visit us and tour our beautiful country club community!
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