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However, if you are using a dryer regularly, remember to clean the filter. If your dryer has a dirty filter, it uses much more energy than it needs to and increases your bills significantly. You will want to use eco-friendly cleaning products to clean your home. Most people have cupboards full of cleaning products and detergents from a store. However, not everyone realises how all those chemicals can influence water once it goes down the drain. There are many easy and inexpensive solutions that will help your household to become more eco-friendly and, at the same time, give your home more character.

Also, make sure it’s properly installed using the Energy Star Quality Installation guidelines to save you even more energy and money upon installation. All organic matter decomposes, it’s the planet’s way of recycling so it doesn’t get overrun by new growth. (We could all take a lesson from Mother Nature at times!) This circle of life starts with a living organism – flora or fauna. It lives, it dies, it’s decomposed by fungi, bacteria, bugs, and worms and is reabsorbed by the soil. Compost is fuel for life and it’s absolutely necessary for our survival.

Switch off the lights!

Houseplants liven up space by adding green life to your home but they also improve the air quality. Simplicity is popular in the eco world but if you have a little extra room in the budget you can get fancy with an impressive living wall that promotes all kinds of greenery indoors. According to a study from Arizona State University, modular homes fabricated, delivered and installed, saved 30% – 38% in carbon emissions compared to traditional, site-built homes. Carbon emissions savings go up as construction companies improve processes, particularly since delivery is the aspect of modular homes that produce the greatest amount of carbon. Electronic appliances like TVs and computers use a lot of energy even when you’re not using them. When you turn off your TV, it actually goes into standby mode instead of fully shutting down, and electricity will still be used to power it. Even things like cell phone chargers, toasters and lamps still have a small amount of energy flowing to them if they’re plugged into an outlet when not in use.

Choosing to air-dry your clothes can reduce your household carbon footprint by nearly 2,400 pounds a year. Climate change is on many homeowners’ minds and how the various climate risks such as flooding, fire, and drought may affect your home. Now may be the time to turn to a more sustainable future of homeownership, and sustainable architecture is paving the way to mitigate our impact on the environment. So whether you’re looking to buy a new home that’s more eco-friendly or looking for sustainable upgrades to your existing house, we’ve got you covered. We’ll explain what sustainable architecture is and how you can make a greener future for your own home. Self-supply consists in consuming the electricity produced by solar panels, often installed on the house’s roof. The excess electricity generated can then be repurchased by a provider and reinjected into the global energy grid.

Create a recycling center

And for more ways to start living a more responsible lifestyle, check out the40 Ways to Make Your 40s Your Healthiest Decade. To start, it reduces the amount of water that needs to be pumped from the ground, which conserves energy. Second, it reduces the demand for municipal water supplies, which helps conserve water. Third, it reduces the amount of runoff from your property, which can help prevent flooding and erosion. Finally, it can provide an alternative water source during drought. If you’re interested in reducing your environmental impact, consider harvesting rainwater the next time it rains.

You can also paint your house with low-VOC paint to prevent emitting toxins to your apartment. Another idea is to burn beeswax candles instead of paraffin candles to prevent carcinogen release into the environment. Read the full guide for more on green design for your home. Also, use newer toilet cisterns that reduce water consumption to 1.3 gallons per flush.

Sustainable Architecture: Designing an Eco-Friendly Home

Sometimes they are more limited in what they offer, but if you refer back to your DIY waste audit and chart you will most likely be able to find some bulk alternatives. If your bulk section needs work, you might have to shop for those items in another store. Make a list of the items you need before you shop, this helps to prevent buying something you already have. This is really so important, not only does it help you stick to a healthy meal plan all week, it helps you stock up on staples, which are normally much cheaper. Gaps in wooden floorboards can make your home cold and uncomfy and wastes a ton of energy.

• So, it makes sense to ensure that the energy you’re using isn’t being wasted by having that climate controlled air seep out through your walls and attic because of poor insulation.
• Extend the lifetime of items in your household by learning to reuse, repurpose, and upcycle them.
• Just spray the dryer balls with a bit of water before throwing them into the dryer.
• Also make sure you have tons of jars at home, if you are shopping in bulk and using bags you will need to store that food when you get home.

Always read the label, but keep in mind that even eco cleaners can contain some of these harsh ingredients. Do your homework, talk to the manufacturers, and ask questions. It’s cheap and efficient, use it to clean your floors and surfaces. Add half a cup of vinegar to two liters of water for floors.

Use Eco-Friendly Interior Designs

And many states offer tax incentives if you decide to install solar panels at your home, so that alone can help make those installation costs more affordable. I stash mine in the trunk, the glove box, and even under the seat. Also make sure you have tons of jars at home, if you are shopping in bulk and using bags you will need to store that food when you get home. Look in your fridge, I bet you have some glass you can reuse. You can also use these jars at the bulk shop for dry goods like lentils etc. I have forgotten my bags many times, so I started writing “BAGS” on my grocery list, it helped me a lot!

Another example of an innovative sustainable material is recycled shipping containers. You can build an entire tiny home from a recycled shipping container, or you can construct your home from pieces of recycled shipping containers. Sustainable architecture considers many different elements with an overarching focus on our impact on the environment. Therefore, these types of How to make your home more environmentally friendly homes use little energy and are pleasant to live in. For paint, opt for brands that are Greenguard certified or ones that contain little-to-no volatile organic compounds . Also, consider attaching your gutters to a rain barrel or other rainwater catchment system to use for watering your lawn or nonedible plants. Beeswax candles are excellent at eliminating odor and mold.