It really is easy being green, especially at home. There are simple steps we can take to make our houses more sustainable, which can benefit more than just the earth. Small, manageable changes like the ones listed below will not only reward the environment, but can help us save money and simplify our lives as well.
1. Change your bulbs and recycle them.
According to GE, incandescent bulbs use heat to produce light, while a fluorescent bulb (CFL) creates light that is four-to-six times more energy efficient. When replacing your bulbs, use the chart below to compare wattages between the standard bulb and CFLs.
- Standard Bulb/CFL Bulb wattage
- 60w/13w–15w
- 75w/20w
- 100w/26w–29w
- 150w/38w–42w
Just don’t stop there, because whenever your bulbs blow, you can safely recycle them to protect the environment from unnecessary mercury contamination.
2. Compost your food and use biodegradable bags for pet waste.
Composting your food puts it back into the soil where it belongs and lessens the production of methane and leachate formulation, which forms from waste materials liquefying into an acid water solution. If you have a garden, find out how to start your own compost pile. I like to use BioBags to line my compost bin, and they even make some for pet waste, though you should not compost your pet waste. My roommate pitched in by switching to biodegradable kitty litter and poop bags in the meantime until pet waste is used as an alternate form of energy!
3. Buy green cleaning supplies or make your own.
I choose cleaning supplies that keep my nose hairs away from chemicals that will fry them. Other householders like to make their own using what is already in their cabinets or under their sink. Other green cleaning supplies I use because I love their natural scents in my home and on my clothes are: Mrs. Meyers Clean Day, Seventh Generation fabric softener and Lavender detergent.
4. Put on a sweater and turn down your heat.
This was what my parents quipped every winter growing up in their home. Now that I pay my own heating bills, I finally heed their advice. In an apartment with a heating unit on the wall, I turn it on first thing in the morning for fifteen minutes to heat up my apartment, making sure to close all bedroom doors, and do the same in the evening. Then I turn it off. With adequate insulation, your home can hold the heat while you grab your grandmother’s Afghan or that hand-knit sweater that makes you feel cozy inside.
