BCC Builders
  • HOME
  • About
  • PROGRAMS
  • Portfolio
  • Social
  • Blog
  • OBIE AWARDS
  • Client Login
  • Contact

        Check out what's happening...

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

9/15/2017

0 Comments

 
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.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    BCC Builders 
    building eco-friendly homes for healthy living...
    ​We help you design, develop, and build your dream home!

    Archives

    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Company

Home
About Us
Portfolio
Social
Blog
OBIE Awards

Support

Contact Us
Client Login
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • HOME
  • About
  • PROGRAMS
  • Portfolio
  • Social
  • Blog
  • OBIE AWARDS
  • Client Login
  • Contact