Most people know that they have to do something to protect the planet. But while things like recycling and limiting the amount that you travel are useful, they’re not going to be enough to reverse the threat of climate change. In order for that to happen, we need to radically rethink how we exist and operate. Of course, the burden falls more heavily on the large polluters, which are, in nearly all cases, corporations. But we can all play our role too, especially in our homes.
In this blog, we’re going to look at a few ways that you can make your house a bonafide earth-friendly home.
Earth-First Mentality
The problem that many people have when it comes to their home and the earth is that they try to fit in earth-friendly practices around their existing structure. It makes a lot more sense to view your house through the lens of the earth rather than trying to make the earth fit around your home. There are many ways you can do this, but it’s not so much about your actions. It’s primarily about your mentality. If you put the earth, rather than your comfort or status, at the core of what you do, then you’ll be on the right track.
Energy Sources
It’s not the house itself that’s typically the problem. The walls and floors don’t use all that many resources once they’re up, after all. The climate-damaging aspect of the home is the energy that’s used to power the home. So if you want to improve the eco-credentials of your house, then take another look at the energy source. Once you know ‘how much do solar panels cost,’ you might just decide that they’re the correct way to go. It’s not just about electricity, either — you can also reduce your water consumption by a significant degree by collecting rainwater for use.
Vegetable Gardens
You can also use your home to further minimize your impact on the planet by developing a vegetable garden. The vegetables you buy in the supermarket might seem earth-friendly, but unless they’re specifically sourced from local farms, then that’s probably not the case. They’ll likely have travelled from very far distances just to end up on your plate. If you grow your own veg, then you’ll know exactly where they come from — plus, it’s just way more fun to eat vegetables that you know you’ve brought into this world.
Modern Appliances
Some people think that it’s better to keep a hold of their old appliances, on the basis that you should extract as much use from what you own as possible before buying a replacement. But when it comes to home appliances, that’s not the case. Older appliances are way more energy intensive than modern ones, so it can be worthwhile updating your appliances. It can feel like an investment, but it’s not really, since you’ll end up saving money on your energy bills. Good for the planet, good for your wallet – it’s a win-win situation!
