44 Cost-Efficient Ways To Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly

Let’s face it: Reducing your home’s negative impact on the planet will likely require a huge amount of work.
But solar panels and temperature-regulating walls aren’t the only ways to help your household adopt more eco-friendly practices. There are a ton of easy — and fun — ways to conserve energy.
Luckily for us, UK-based magazine Good To Be Home has some clever ideas on other ways to do it.
Being green doesn’t require spending lots of money on fancy gadgets. An environmentally-responsible home not only saves you money, but saves the earth too.
Living Room:

1. Replace bulbs: you will save 66% more energy by replacing incandescent light bulbs with Compact Flourescent Light Bulbs (CFL).
2. Use CFL Light Bulbs: it will save 400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions if you trade in 1 incandescent light bulb for 1 CFL light bulb.
3. Use Extension Leads: by using multi socket extension leads and turning it off when not in use, you can reduce your home’s energy consumption by up to 15%.
4. Unplug: TVs are typically left on standby for 17 hours per day. Unplug you TV when not in use to save electricity.
5. Bamboo is Better: bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth. This quick rate of replenishment means it’s more environementally friendly than timber trees to use as hardwood flooring.
6. Open the Blinds: 10% of energy can be saved on heating when you open the blinds during the day to let the sunlight in.
7. Cuddle UP: 13% of people cuddle their cats or dogs as an alternative to keep warm.

Kitchen:

1. Shady Fridges: having your refrigerator in the sunlight will force it to work harder to keep it cool. Move your refrigerator into the shade.
2. Refrigerator Gazing: peeking into the refrigerator can cost $24 - $49 per year. So, decide what you want before opening up the door!
3. Low Energy Appliances: ‘Energy Star-Qualified’ appliances use 10%-50% less energy than standard models.
4. 7.6 cm: the recommended space between the refrigerator and the wall to ensure proper airflow.
5. Compost Kitchen Scraps: separating and composting kitchen scraps not only reduces the amount of household waste in landfill but also eases the costs associated with rubbish collection.
6. Clean with Vinegar: it’s a natural way to kill bacteria, germs and mold. 
7. Use a Microwave: 50% less energy is used by a microwave oven than a conventional oven.
8. Smart Dishwashing: save energy by avoiding pre-rinsing, always run a full load and air-drying dishes at the end.
9. Multitask in the Oven: use both oven racks at the same time to bake, roast, or warm up food.
10. Keep it Closed: the oven temperature can drop by 149 F when opening the door for 30 seconds. Don’t be tempted to keep unnecessary checking-in on your cooking!

Bedroom:

1. Eco-Scents: instead of chemicals and synthetic fragrances, opt for 100% essential oils and non-aerosol scents.
2. Grow Houseplants: be literally green and improve the air quality in your bedroom.
3. Use Eco-Friendly Paints: they contain very low levels of volatile organic compounds.
4. Repurpose: get creative! Reuse and repurpose old furniture instead of buying brand new.
5. Sleep on Organic Sheets: cotton linens account for 25% of the world’s insecticide use. Switch to organic cotton or sustainable bamboo instead.
6. Wool not Polyester: if you have a choice between wool and polyester blankets, go for wool. It’s more eco-friendly to produce.
7. Energy-Efficient Windows: energy-efficient windows will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter due to their better insulation.

Bathroom:

1. Turn it off: when brushing your teeth, remember to turn off the tap.
2. Install a Low-Flow Toilet: flushing toilets account for 30% of total indoor water use.
3. Stop Leaks: 182 liters of water is lost per week from a leaky tap.
4. Buy Recycled Toilet Paper
5. Open Your Windows: excess humidity causes mold. If there’s no toxic mold, there’s no need to use any harmful chemicals. 
6. Shave Smart: use a cup of warm water to rinse your razor rather than using the tap.
7. Install a Low-Flow Showerhead: A family of four can annually save 160,000 liters of water by installing a low-flow showerhead.
8. Get A Spider Plant: having a spider plant in the bathroom will help purify the air.
9. Fix Leaky Toilets: A leaky toilet can waste 757 liters every day. If it’s leaking, get it fixed ASAP.
10. Shower: Taking a shower can use as little as 14% of water used during a bath.

Laundry Room:

1. Hang Dry: 4 – 6 lbs. of carbon emissions is produced for every hour a dryer is in use. Hang dry your clothes instead.
2. Wash at 86 F: Washing clothes at this temperature uses around 40% less electricity than washing at higher temperatures, saving $18 annually on energy bills.
3. Energy Star: An Energy Star washing machine can save 50% more water, compared to a standard model.
4. Cold is Better: 85% - 90% of energy goes into heating water when washing clothes. Use cold water instead.
5. Use Concentrated Detergent: These have reduced packaging and a smaller carbon footprint due to their cheaper transport cost.

Garden:

1. Install A Water Butt: Water butts can reduce your council’s water system strain by 70%.
2. Compost Organic Matter: Composting organic waste can reduce the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides.
3. Fire Pit: Burning logs made out of alternative materials will release 80% fewer emissions than regular wood when burned. Options include logs made out of recycled sawdust, used coffee beans, and soy.
4. Native Landscaping: Protect your local environment by planting plants that are native to your area.
5. Use Home Made Pesticides: Chopped tomato leaf spay or garlic oil spray are just a few recipes that can keep bugs away.

Small things do make a big difference. Even if you can do a few of the actions above, you’ll be one step closer to living on a greener planet.
 
*Anderson, Cumberbatch Jessica. (n.d.). 50 Cost-Efficient Ways To Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly. Retrieved from, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/01/eco-friendly-home-50-ways-to-do-it_n_5916442.html.