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Your home’s environmental impact plays a key role in your overall sustainability goals. It all begins at home, and what you do inside will affect the outside and immediate environment. From getting to grips with recycling to conserving water, here are some green and handy ideas.
Table of Contents
Maintain Vital Systems
Looking after your home as well as you can will reduce how much it costs. This is all well and good. But a poorly maintained home can be an environmental nightmare. For example, your home’s wastewater systems and drainage can cause a toxic incident without regular gutter cleaning. And an old and outdated heating system will produce a lot more carbon emissions than a modern one. Home maintenance is a great first start to reducing your overall impact.
Recycle Your Waste, Of Course
Of course, the impact of your household’s contribution to waste can be greatly reduced by simply recycling. Back in the day, this meant trips to recycling centers. But today, recycling containers are available for pickup from right outside your home, so there really is no excuse. It is estimated that up to 80% of the stuff we throw away can be recycled. And in some cases, items can also be repurposed. And food waste can always be composted in the garden.
Appliances and the Home’s Environmental Impact
Energy efficiency has taken a long time to really hit home with the general public. But because of rising energy costs, people are beginning to see the benefits, if only financial. Even so, these are good changes. But there’s still a long way to go, as surveys suggest that only about half of us are energy efficient. Some of the best ways include using eco modes on appliances, not leaving devices on standby, and switching to low-power alternatives such as LED light bulbs.
Conserve Water Where Possible
Water is among one of the most wasted commodities we have, which is a shame given there are countries where people don’t even have access to clean water. Water is also valuable and costs money. It costs money to clean and produce, to consume, and to keep flowing to your home. Overuse of water is one of the biggest causes of burst pipes, which cause all kinds of environmental damage. Using only what you need when you need it will help conserve water.
Improve Internal Energy Efficiency
There are two types of energy when talking about homes. There’s actual electrical energy, as mentioned above. And there is heat energy. Heat energy is one of the most wasted and contributes to excess carbon emissions. It also costs a lot more on your bills. But simple changes like replacing old insulation, proper use of a thermostat, and sealing windy gaps in your home will help keep the heat in your home, saving money and keeping you warmer for longer.
Summary
Your home’s environmental impact can be bigger than you think without maintenance. Using appliances on lower settings or even switching entirely can help reduce electrical usage. Simple heat insulation and correct use of heating systems can reduce how much is wasted.
