Whether you’re concerned about living green in the present or if you’re committed to preserving the future of the planet, cultivating an eco-friendly lifestyle is a must. Living green requires more than just recycling your everyday soda cans, especially in today’s world. Learning more about living green will help you to make the necessary changes in your own life and household to have a significant impact on the world around you and our future.
Transition to Solar Energy
One of the biggest trends on the horizon includes individuals transitioning their energy source to solar power. Transitioning to solar energy is not only a way to reduce costs when it comes to energy, but it’s also a way to save on energy usage and waste altogether, helping you live a much greener life in a short amount of time. If you are pondering the idea of transitioning to solar energy, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is my current home suitable for solar panels and solar energy?
- How can I go about starting the transition process to solar energy for my own home?
- What type of roof is best for the solar panels or system that I’m interested in for my home?
- Are there currently solar solutions near me that offer the installation of solar panels and the type of solution that I’m seeking?
- Is it possible for me to install a solar energy system or panels that I’m interested in myself?
- How much will I save by transitioning to solar energy?
- Is it possible to obtain financing for the solar energy solution I’m looking for?
Implement Solar Power Into Your Home
Once you decide to go solar, you will need to learn more about the process to understand all of the options available to you. If you are new to working with solar energy or if you simply want to learn more, it’s best to turn to the pros. Professional experts who specialize in solar power and solar energy understand the ins and outs of the industry. They can also guide you through the process of finding the proper equipment and solar panels that are just right for your home or place of business.
When you are in the process of implementing solar power into your own home, keep the following in mind:
- Estimated energy needs: Solar power needs will vary based on the size of your property as well as your overall energy usage needs. Estimate your energy needs based on how much energy you are using prior to going solar. This will help you determine the number of panels you will require and the type of solar system that will work best for your energy usage needs.
- Calculate the space you have available: When you are investing in solar energy, it’s also necessary to calculate the space you have available throughout your home. This includes the complete square footage of your property as well as the prime space you intend to keep cooled or heated year-round. You should also consider the type of climate you are living in when choosing the solar system that is right for your residence.
- Research solar brands and systems: Take the time to research solar system providers and panels that may be right for you. Research customer reviews and testimonials to find providers that are high-quality and guaranteed. When researching solar companies, be sure to verify that they are properly licensed and insured. Check how long each provider has been in business and whether or not they provide panels and service themselves or if they work with subcontractors. Also, be sure to research whether or not warranties are available for any of the work you are interested in when it comes to solar panels and energy today.
Hire Ongoing Home Maintenance Services
Hiring ongoing home maintenance services will also help to protect your home as you cultivate an eco-friendly way of life. From tank cleaning professionals to scrap metal recycling services, paying attention to all aspects of your home is key as a homeowner who is interested in living green. Some maintenance services to keep in mind year-round as a homeowner living green include:
- Tank cleaning: Keeping your septic tanks cleaned and cleared year-round is imperative for all homeowners, especially those who are consciously attempting to live an eco-friendly lifestyle.
- Scrap metal recycling: If you have scrap metal you want to clear from your property, you can do so by working with professionals who purchase and collect scrap metal from members of the local community.
- Junk removals: Hiring junk removal professionals is another way to minimize the collection of garbage in and around your property.
- Well drilling: If you have your own homestead and are looking into living green, consider hiring well-drilling professionals. Well-drilling professionals can help you to locate a source of well water for your entire property.
- Work with an eco-friendly lawn fertilization company: Another way to ensure you are living green is to hire an eco-friendly lawn fertilization company. Eco-friendly lawn fertilization providers will work with healthy treatments, as opposed to using chemical pesticides in the treatments they deploy.
- Regular water treatment services: Depending on the type of property you own, you can also invest in regular and ongoing water treatment services. This will ensure that, regardless of your source of water, it is drinkable and suitable for bathing and cooking.
Recycle Regularly
Recycling regularly is also key for living green, whether you are doing so on a homestead or in a high-rise apartment. Recycling is possible by separating trash based on material type and usage. You can also opt to compost hundreds of everyday items if you have your own garden in your backyard, reducing the amount of waste you throw out even more. If you are new to recycling or if you want to optimize your ability to recycle at home, keep the following tips in mind:
- Never recycle bags: If you have a bin you use to recycle at home, avoid placing bags of any kind in the bin. This is especially important for plastic bags, as they have the potential to easily become tangled in machines, disrupting operations.
- Avoid recycling tiny items: While you may think that recycling includes any and all items that involve recyclable material, this is not always the case. It’s important to avoid recycling items that are smaller than a credit card in most cases. This means, sticking to recycling boxes, pieces of cardboard, plastic, and other materials is highly advisable.
- Clean and dry items: In order to optimize the process of recycling from home or in any recycling location, be sure to recycle only items that have been thoroughly cleaned and dried.
Buy Used Clothing
If you want to live an eco-lifestyle in other ways besides recycling and taking care of your property, buying used clothing is a great way to get started. Rather than purchasing brand-new clothing or items that you will only wear a few times, visit a thrift store or local pawn shops to find used clothing and other goods for around the house.
Both thrift stores and pawn shops provide unique opportunities to find new purchases at discounted prices. Not only are you reducing waste by purchasing goods, but you can also save a significant amount of money by going this route.
Save Energy Around the House
Whether you own your own home or if you are living in a luxury apartment, there are many different ways to go about saving energy around the house. You can save energy by being consciously aware of whenever your lights and appliances are running while also keeping the following tips in mind:
- Weatherize your home properly: Investing in air sealing and insulation services can help weatherize your home properly. A properly weatherized home is less likely to experience drafts and unwanted airflow during the hottest and coldest months of the year. When your home is properly insulated, your energy bills will be significantly lower.
- Invest in programmable or smart thermostats: A smart or programmable thermostat in the home is essential for those interested in living green. Programmable thermostats make it easier than ever to set temperatures based on the time of day and when you are out of the home. Additionally, smart thermostats also provide in-depth information on home energy usage.
- Maintain your home’s air ducts: Keeping your home’s air ducts clean and clear year-round is also key to ensuring an eco-friendly lifestyle.
- Invest in modern windows: Modern windows are designed with eco-friendly lifestyles in mind. Also, depending on the layout and shape of your home, additional skylight or large bay windows can provide more natural light throughout your home, requiring less energy usage.
Landscape Regularly
Landscaping regularly around your home is a great way to cultivate an eco-friendly lifestyle. Maintain the landscaping around your property by removing weeds and preventing bushes and shrubs from becoming overgrown. If you’re unsure of where to begin when it comes to landscaping your own yard, consider working with a professional landscaper or a professional tree removal service provider.
When you landscape regularly, you can also nurture the soil on your property, making it suitable for a fruit and vegetable garden. This will also help you to live a more eco-friendly and sustainable way of life by providing you with a way to grow your own food. Landscaping regularly is also a way to become acquainted with the plants and flowers of your local area. The more familiar you are with the local flora of a region, the easier it will be to identify both poisonous and edible plants in the wild.
Invest in Sustainable Living Practices and Eco-Friendly Products
At times in life, there will be moments when you do need to make a new purchase. Anytime this is the case, you can make a conscious effort to purchase sustainable and eco-friendly products. When you are shopping for sustainable brands and products, ask the following questions before making a purchase:
- How were these products manufactured? What type of materials were used in the manufacturing and packaging processes of these products?
- How much energy was utilized when making these products?
- Was water used when manufacturing these products? If so, how much was used?
- How much pollution is generated in order to create the products I’m interested in? What alternatives are available on the market?
- What actions has this specific brand taken in order to produce products that are more eco-friendly and, ultimately, sustainable? How are they demonstrating their actions and their goals of sustainability?
When you begin living an eco-friendly lifestyle, you can do so by becoming familiar with organizations such as Forest Stewardship Council, Soil Association, or even Cradle to Cradle. These organizations are trustworthy and environmentally friendly. Seek out reusable products, recyclable products, and even secondhand items to help reduce your overall carbon footprint.
Common Environmentally-Dangerous Actions to Avoid
Unfortunately, living green is not always as easy as throwing away items in proper trash receptacles. There are many common environmentally-dangerous actions that should be avoided at all costs if you are consciously attempting to live an eco-friendly way of life, such as:
- Throwing away items in good condition: Rather than throwing away an item because you no longer want it, consider an alternative use for it or find another owner.
- Purchasing single-use items: Avoid purchasing single-use items such as disposable coffee cups or plastic bags.
- Using pesticides: When landscaping, skip out on using dangerous weed killers and pesticides. Instead, opt for all-natural and alternative solutions.
- Importing products and goods: If you want to live a conscious way of life, consider shopping locally. Important goods and products not only drive up costs, but also require more energy and ultimately, more pollution to transport items.
- Recycling all materials together: Unfortunately, recycling all of your home’s recyclables in one bin is not always ideal, nor is it viable in many instances. Separating glass from plastic and other recyclable materials is often necessary in order to optimize the recycling process.
When it comes to living green, it’s possible to do so by making simple changes to your everyday life over time. From creating less waste to maintaining the landscaping in your own backyard, there are many ways to go about living green that can make a difference in the future today.