This Year's Trendiest Eco-Friendly Home Upgrades
Taking steps to make environmentally responsible decisions is something that many people are trying to adopt. From switching to eating more plant-based foods, recycling, or buying products from environmentally-conscious companies, it’s a trend that has a positive impact. When it comes to our homes, there are eco-friendly trends that you can adopt. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular options you can do at home!
Composting
Composting takes your scraps and organic material and turns it into rich, nutrient-filled material that you can add to the soil for your garden. You can take your kitchen scraps and yard waste such as leaves and grass cuttings to create this organic material. There are many benefits to composting; you save money by not buying fertilizers, you avoid the use of chemicals, and it reduces your carbon footprint by keeping trash from landfills. Food that ends up in landfills eventually creates methane, a greenhouse gas, so it’s important to take steps to prevent this as much as we can.
From a consumer standpoint, there are products that you wouldn’t normally expect to be compostable. Products like compostable coffee pods, dog poop bags, packaging, utensils, and even compostable shoes exist in the market.
Starting a compost pile in your backyard or purchasing a composter is a worthwhile endeavor. Grow a healthier garden while doing your part for the environment.
Water-Saving Shower Fittings
Taking showers is already a great way to save on water usage vs. taking baths. There are shower heads on the market that reduce the amount of water that flows through. A low-flow showerhead creates the impression of a greater volume of flow while reducing water consumption. Clever huh?
When you’re looking for the perfect low-flow showerhead, make sure you choose one that is truly conserving water. Some showerheads claim to save water but actually produce the standard flow rate.
Rainwater Collector
You’ll also find rainwater collectors in many of today’s homes. These clever additions are inexpensive and allow you to use your gutter as a way of harvesting water and then using it to water your garden, reducing your reliance on the need to use the water supply. If you’re composting, you can use the rainwater throughout the composting process. Surprisingly, you can even use it for cooking or doing laundry.
Get Solar Panels
It is hard to write a post about eco-friendly living without mentioning solar panels. These nifty devices allow you to live more independently and become less reliant on traditional energy sources. You can also install solar panel pigeon protection to prevent birds from damaging them over time. Solar panels cost more upfront but it’s certainly a home improvement that will pay off over time. If you have high utility bills and are positioned well, it’s something you should consider. You may also qualify for incentives for installing solar panels in your home.
If you’re interested in using clean energy but aren’t ready to invest in solar panels yourself, there are companies that make it easy to access renewable power. For example, providers like CleanChoice Energy allow you to tap into solar and wind energy from local farms, giving you the benefits of clean energy without the cost or commitment of installing panels. Checking CleanChoice Energy reviews can show how simple it is to switch to renewable energy and lower your carbon footprint.
Add Native Plants
Many traditional homes just grew whatever plants were fashionable in their gardens. But eco-conscious people know that growing species not suitable for the prevailing climate is working against nature, not with it. Often these plants require lots of additional water and feed, which puts pressure on natural resources even further.
Adding native plants to your garden and letting go of the traditional format, therefore, is a great way to get more in-tune with nature. What’s more, it can actually look good if you get it right because the plants themselves can thrive without your continual attention and support.