More homeowners are embracing a sustainable lifestyle. They want to reduce their carbon footprint and help in making the world a better place. It may take a bit of adjustment to start living a healthier and sustainable life. But the rewards we can enjoy are indeed life-changing. What better way to start embracing sustainability than by upgrading your new home?
If you are in the process of moving houses, this can be the perfect opportunity to start a more sustainable life. There are numerous ways you can do this. The only limit is your creativity and of course, your budget.
Source Your Materials and Appliances Wisely
Your new home’s HVAC system may still be working perfectly. But if your appliances are almost a decade old, then it is time to invest in new and more energy-efficient ones. But before you buy kitchen appliances on the web, consider buying locally.
When you buy from local stores instead of overseas or in another city, you reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted when delivering the products into your new home. You also get to support local businesses in the area. The same goes with sourcing materials if you plan to improve the house before you move.
When it comes to buying materials for any home improvement project, choose sustainable products sourced locally. These are non-toxic, renewable, and recycle. These are safe for the environment and you can have that peace of mind knowing you are not putting your family’s health with your material of choice.
Downsize Your Lifestyle
Embracing minimalism enables you to enjoy living a lesser materialistic lifestyle. You get to appreciate the little things in life, produce less waste, and have more space to enjoy in your home. With less physical clutter, you will have fewer things to clean up and more time to spare on more productive tasks.
You can start downsizing your lifestyle by getting rid of the things you no longer like or have no use for. Give these away to your loved ones or to people willing to pick them up from your curbside. You can also make some extra money by selling these off on a garage sale or the internet.
The fewer possessions you bring in your new home, the better. Of course, it pays to limit your purchases so as not to end up investing in things you don’t really need and will only take u unnecessary space in your home.
Utilize Sunshine the Best Way You Can
Sunshine is free, can boost our health and mood, and can help us save money when used the right way. You can start small by opening your windows to let the sunlight in and reduce the need to keep your artificial lights open. When drying your clothes, hanging them out in the sun is a great way to save energy.
If your home has a yard that gets plenty of sunlight, you can use this opportunity to grow your own vegetables. If you still have enough budget, consider investing in solar water heaters. Aside from the monthly savings, this allows you to boost your home value, improve air quality, and protect the quality of water in your home.
If you want to make a big statement and are willing to invest in renewable energy, you can choose to add solar panels. You can enjoy energy savings and tax credits and rebates. These typically last for 25-30 years, which makes them a good deal whether you plan on staying in your new house for a long time or not.
Minimize Your Waste as Much as Possible
Apply the classic rules of reducing, reuse, and recycle. If you can, start a compost bin to make sure no leftovers are put to waste. You can use this to add nutrients to your backyard garden.
When buying things like kid’s clothes, furniture, and books, choose to buy in a thrift shop. You can revamp old furniture, mix and match gently used clothes and use hand-me-down books as effectively as you would when buying them brand new. The best part is you can enjoy them at a discounted price.
When out shopping, it is best to shop in bulk. Bring your own eco-bag and containers and choose items with eco-friendly packaging. If possible, go paperless, ask for digital receipts, and use apps instead of paper to reduce your paper wastes.
Buy items you can reuse. This includes glass containers, newspapers and magazines, old clothes and beddings, and even old bathroom items. You can use these for storing different items, for arts and crafts, DIY projects, and as cleaning materials. All it takes is a little creativity to reduce your wastes and turn whatever wastes you have into something useful and functional.
There are many ways to start living a sustainable lifestyle. All it takes is to be aware of how and where you can start and your willingness to make it work. You can start small or go all out by investing in large scale sustainable practices. Consider your family’s needs and budget when making a sustainable choice.