Do you ever wonder about your carbon footprint?
Your carbon footprint is a measurement of your negative impact on our earth’s environment. The bad news is that everyone’s got one. The good news is that there are simple ways to minimize it.
It doesn’t have to be complicated: pick a room in your house and focus on one way you can promote sustainability in that room. Once you’ve got it down, add another green behavior. And another, and another–until you move on to the next room of your house. Here are a few ideas to get you started on your very own green initiative.
In the Bathroom: Save Water
There are plenty of ways to stay green in the bathroom, but your first green initiative should be to turn off the water when you’re not using it. Turn it off while you’re brushing your teeth and make sure to take care of any leaky taps or toilets ASAP. Go the extra mile by installing a low-flow shower head or low-flow toilet flushing system. Mother nature will thank you!
In the Laundry Room: Save Energy
It’s easy to save energy in the laundry room. Hang your clothes up to dry instead of using a dryer and consider investing in an energy-efficient washing machine.Since a lot of the electricity needed to wash clothes is used for heating up water, you’ll save lots of energy by opting to wash with cold water instead.
In the Kitchen: Reduce Waste
What’s the easiest way to go green in the kitchen? Composting! Compost whatever you can to minimize kitchen waste and recycle mother nature’s nutrients naturally. Compost materials make great fertilizer that you can use in your own garden later! Other ways to go green in the kitchen are investing in low-energy appliances, using energy-efficient cookware, and limiting your oven use.
In the Backyard: Garden the Green Way
Your backyard may already look pretty “green” to you–but it can be even greener! Using recycled materials to build your garden, harvesting rainwater with a rain barrel, and growing your own food are all ways to reduce your carbon footprint with your very own garden. Do you have a pool in your backyard, too? Strive for responsible pool ownership by lowering the temperature of your heat pump, keeping it clean to minimize the need for drainage, and investing in a sturdy pool cover.
Replace Old Lights with LED Lighting
If you’re still using incandescent bulbs in your house, switch to more energy-efficient LED lighting. Not only can this simple switch cut back on greenhouse gas emissions, LED lights use up to 80% less electricity. It’s good for the planet and for your wallet! Start with small initiatives in these five areas and challenge yourself to add new green practices regularly. A few changes here, a few changes there, and you’ll be the greenest you’ve ever been in no time.
