Money-saving Ways to Make Your Home Sustainable

We all know how important it is to take care of the environment. Residential and commercial spaces all need to do their roles in making sustainable living possible. Even in the construction industry, activists and experts are pushing the envelope when it comes to using sustainable building materials. In every facet of our lives, we are constantly reminded of the need to do everything we can to start conserving energy and water, use as little fossil fuel as possible, and minimize the harm we cause to nature.

Homeowners are also at the forefront of this battle. If the degradation of the environment does not concern you, the high utility bills and home maintenance costs should shake you to the core. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways that you can make homes more sustainable. And they won’t only be eco-friendly homes, but they’ll also save a ton of money.

Install a Smart Meter

A smart meter is, as its name implies, smart enough to turn on and off when needed. It will factor in the temperature in the house and the cost of energy being consumed to heat or cool the rooms. The smart meter can be programmed to turn on at a specific time of the day so that you don’t come home to a freezing house which you will try to solve by cranking up the heater. That will use more energy than necessary. In the winter, the smart meter can turn its heat level higher once you wake up since you’re wrapped in a blanket when you sleep anyway.

Check Your Garage Door

The warm or cool air inside the room might be escaping through the gaps in the doorway. This is particularly true for the garage door, which is usually made with a thin piece of wood. Why not have a new garage door installed? The door you will choose should be ready for all weather conditions. You can line the gaps at the bottom of the door opening to keep the temperature inside the garage controlled.

Keep House Repairs Local

If something needs to be repaired at home, why will you hire a tradesman who comes from outside the city? Why should someone burn gas for 50 miles to repair a broken roof shingle when there’s a local tradesman who can do it? In fact, the local handyman can do it cheaply, and he won’t need to travel too far, wasting time and resources. So, keep your house repairs local by checking them out on Google.

Choose Water-based Paint

Water-based paint has natural pigments as opposed to oil-based paint that is not eco-friendly. On top of that, water-based paint has more color pigments. It also does not have the strong odor that oil-based paint has. The aesthetically pleasing colors of water-based paint should be enough reason for you to pick it over the traditional gallon of paint.

Pick Eco-friendly Cleaning Materials

Most households are used to buying chemical-based cleaning products. You are so concerned about the cleanliness of your home that you do not care what these products do to the environment. It’s time to stop that now. Once these products go into the drain, they might go into the water supply. It will take more energy to filter these chemicals out of the water supply. Using natural ingredients such as soda, lemon juice, and vinegar instead of bleach will help keep the home clean without the use of harmful chemicals.

Compost Food Waste

What’s an eco-friendly home without proper composting? What do you do with spoiled leftover food? Create a compost bin. Over time, you can use the compost to fertilize the garden. You can also give the leftover food to recycling facilities. Check out what facilities your town has for leftover food.

Buy Recycled Furniture

Instead of buying a new bed frame, why not check out some secondhand items that are still well-maintained? Not only are they a lot cheaper, but you’re also saving a ton of energy. If these secondhand items are not sold to new owners, they will end up in landfills. That’s a waste of good space. Also, make sure to ask the seller if the furniture is made from recycled wood. That’s another way to ensure you’re not contributing to environmental degradation.

It takes one step and one person to turn the Earth around. Experts have been warning governments and societies for years about how their activities can impact the environment. It took global warming, storm surges, and winter storms for the world to take notice. Every person should understand the impact of his activities on the environment. It starts at home and trickles to your work and other places.