Three Ways to Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly
Posted by admin | Decor TIPs | Posted on February 17th, 2012
Not too long ago, many rushed to deride the eco-friendly and sustainable living trend as a fad, that would eventually run its course and leave us all be, to resume our existence as we’d previously known it. However, ever since Al Gore’s documentary film “An Inconvenient Truth,” popular attitudes on the matter appear to have radically shifted. Nowadays, almost everyone who owns a home in the Western world is (or should be!) interested in creating and maintain a better environment for the future, and for the sake of our children and the generations that will come after them. As such, eco-friendly home-making has stepped to the forefront of the design and architecture scenes. Now look around your home and ask yourself if, for better or for worse, your home truly is eco-friendly. What are you doing to preserve the delicate balance of the environment? More importantly, what are you doing to throw that balance off kilter and how can you prevent that from happening. There are a few simple measure that anyone can take at home, some of which you can find briefly explained below.
Even a Small Garden Makes a Difference
We were all taught in school that, via a substance called chlorophyll and a process named photosynthesis, plants produce oxygen. This is a pivotal aspect of day to day existence, since the hole in the ozone layer, of which we have known for decades now, makes oxygen less and less available. Of course, without oxygen there can be no life on Earth, be it human or otherwise. This is why, if you can afford it, you should cultivate at least a small garden at home. Grow some vegetables, flowers and perhaps a tree or two in your back yard. If you live in a block of flats, set up your small green corner on the terraced roof or even in your balcony. Not only is gardening a highly relaxing pastime, but it is also beneficial for the environment.
How Inefficient Are Your Bathroom and Kitchen?
You might be surprised to learn that many homes have a significantly high carbon footprint because of water and power losses in the bathroom and kitchen. The two most functional rooms of any home are also the main places where we consume water, gas and electric power. With the exception of the very last resource, these are all non-sustainable. As such, look into having timed faucets installed in your bathroom, for more efficient use. Replace your current toilet basin with a more efficient one, that does not use too many liters of water per flush. Last but not least, replace your current gas stove with an electric one, then research to see if you can have solar panels installed for your home.
Water is one of the most perishable of resources on Earth. Consequently, it is important to conserve as much of it and use as little as possible. In this respect, rain water is very much like a free gift from the Heavens. People who own homes with a yard should definitely have a rain water tank installed, without fear this would eat up their yard space. Recent technologic improvements have made it possible for such tanks to be placed underground, without any losses in terms of efficiency.