How to Save the Environment at Home

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There are plenty of little steps that people can take at home to help save the environment . While the eco-footprint of each step is small, thousands of people doing the same thing can make a difference. In making some small changes to the way that you do things at home, you are gradually making a difference, even as an individual. [1] We’ve put together a few tips, tricks, and ideas to help you get started!

Things You Should Know

  • Turn off lights and electronics when they’re not in use and switch to fluorescent light bulbs to reduce energy consumption.
  • Weatherproofing your home and lowering your thermostat in the winter are other simple ways you can conserve energy and help the environment.
  • Recycle when you can and buy reusable products. If possible, avoid buying disposable or single-use products.
1

Turn off the lights.

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    Rooms that are lit with nobody in them are wasteful.
    • In the era of solar, wind, and hydroelectric, nonrenewable options like fossil fuels are only used to offset demand for electricity. Since there are very few feasible ways for storing power for later use, electricity has to be generated, transmitted, and consumed all at the same time.
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2

Switch to compound fluorescent light bulbs.

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    Lately, LED lamps have started to pick up the pace too -- they are up to 10 times as effective as fluorescent, and totally blow incandescent bulbs off the charts.
3

Power down your TV when you are not using it.

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    Simply buy power strips and switch them off when you’re not using them. They use far less energy while turned off. [2]
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4

Turn off the computer every day.

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    You also reduce any risks of overheating or short-circuiting by turning computers off overnight. [3]
5

Lower the thermostat in the winter.

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    Plus, an extra layer or blanket will not only keep you cozy but will help to reduce your electricity bill significantly.
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6

Regulate your home’s temperature with your windows.

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    Also, open the windows in summer. The cross breeze will often keep you cool and flushes out stale air (indoor air is often more highly polluted than the air outside). Importantly, the use of fresh air to cycle through your home saves the cost of running an air conditioner.
7

Pair ceiling fans with AC units.

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    However, pairing fans and air conditioning will significantly increase the effectiveness of your temperature control. The fans will circulate the warmed or cooled air generated by the air conditioning unit.
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8

Fill in any gaps around your home.

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    By caulking gaps around windows and doors, you increase the ability of your house to retain heat and cool at the right times of year, allowing your heating and cooling systems to work less.
9

Insulate your home.

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    Consider not only the ceiling but also the walls and under the floors. [4]
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10

Replace gas stoves with induction.

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  1. The burning of gas like propane or natural gas releases its own greenhouse emissions and can be potentially dangerous. However, even when switched off and properly sealed, gas stoves still leak small amounts through the cooktop and pipes. While this amount is too small to start a fire, it does contribute to greenhouse emissions. [5] [6]
    • Induction stoves are different from traditional electric stoves in the sense that the heating element is not located in the stove itself. In a traditional electric stove, the heating element switches on with varying amounts of power or switches on and off at various intervals to keep the pot warm. However, in an induction stove, the changing magnetic fields generated by the stove are used to induce eddy currents in the cookware, the result being that the cookware getting hot. They are considerably safer and greener than traditional gas and electric stoves.
11

Install low-flush toilets in your home.

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    This cuts your water consumption by more than half.
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12

Take showers instead of baths.

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    While you’re at it, don't forget to install an efficient showerhead.
13

Wash full loads of laundry with cold water.

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    In fact, use cold water at any available opportunity. It saves a ton of energy.
    • When you can, choose phosphate-free soaps and detergents.
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14

Air-dry your clothes when you can.

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    Your clothes will smell fresher and the sun's rays ensure that germs are successfully sizzled.
    • Some homes come with a drying room that can be used to hang clothes out to dry during inclement weather. The dryers in these homes are controlled by a switch inside or outside the room
15

Stick your dishes directly in the dishwasher.

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    If you skip rinsing your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, you can save gallons of water. You can also save both the time it takes for the water to heat up as well as the energy it consumes.
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16

Air-dry your dishes.

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    Leave the door slightly ajar (or more open if you have the space) and let the dishes air-dry. The drying cycle of the dishwasher consumes a lot of energy. [7]
17

Update your refrigerator.

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    This means that a poorly maintained and energy inefficient fridge is costing you money , let alone adding its burden to the atmosphere. Recent fridges use 40% less energy than fridges of 10 years ago. If you do decide to upgrade the fridge, make sure that you buy for its excellent energy rating, longevity and durability and that you have the old fridge recycled. [8]
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18

Recycle when you can.

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    [9] Even if your city doesn't, you can launch a growing trend. Set up four separate waste baskets, and make sure the contents end up in the appropriate recycle bins.
19

Ditch disposable products.

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    Use reusable towels and dishwashing cloths in place of paper towels and disposable dish sponges. [10]
    • For instance, you could switch out one-use tampons and pads for reusable alternatives, like menstrual cups.
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20

Start composting.

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    Make sure the heap is warm and well-turned. If you need to, read a few books about composting—it's rare to find someone highly skilled in the area! Remember, soil is a living thing, it should not be powdery and dead. Life comes from the soil, and therefore the soil should be kept alive. Avoid highly invasive tilling if at all possible, but be sure to keep the soil aerated. [11]
21

Throw out hazardous items carefully.

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    should not be tipped down the drain. Unfortunately, the residues end up in our waterways. Instead, dispose of these items through municipal disposal schemes or use the landfill option if there is no other choice.
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22

Save paper in your home office.

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    When you can, double side your printing and give scrap paper to the kids or turn it into note paper for the phone table.
23

Plant trees.

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    Trees absorb carbon dioxide and provide shade. Also, it reduces the soil and air temperature. They provide homes for wildlife and some trees can provide you with a bountiful harvest. What more incentive do you need?!
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24

Reduce your lawn.

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    Lawns are costly to maintain, the chemicals used on lawns are dangerous to our health and to that of the surrounding wildlife and lawnmowers emit high levels of pollution. Replace lawns with shrubs, ornamental garden structures, pavers for entertainment areas, native grasses and ground creepers etc. In addition, what's better than being able to step outside and pick a few strawberries or an ear of corn? Increase your own resilience by converting wasted lawn space into a vegetable garden.
    • Consider using drip-irrigation systems or constructing or purchasing a rain barrel (it saves you having to pay to pump water back into the ground).
25

Grow native plants in your garden.

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    Plus, they attract the local wildlife and are used to the local weather conditions.
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26

Maintain your bike.

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    Keep it in good condition and then use it to keep yourself in shape.
27

Switch to an electric car.

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    While electric cars still have greenhouse emissions associated with their manufacture, some car manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz are offsetting the greenhouse gases caused by the production of electric cars. Electric cars are considerably greener than gasoline cars with similar range; just note it takes tens of thousands of miles driving before electric cars start becoming greener than gasoline cars.
    • If you cannot find suitable electric or hybrid vehicles for your need, then switching to a compact sedan over an SUV may be another alternative. These use considerably less gasoline for the same range.
    • If you're really serious about going all-out green, consider living without a car -- not only it's green, but could also save you a lot of money!
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28

Drive your car less.

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    When you can, walk to your local stores, take public transport to work and cycle to your friends' houses for dinner. Join a carpool and ferry others to work rather than driving in alone. You'll make new friends and you'll all share the costs. [12]
    Jane Goodall, Conservation & Animal Welfare Advocate

    Take action in your own life to protect the environment. "You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."

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    It can be, depending on whether you have an organic garden or use a lot of pesticides. In general, gardening is good for the environment as it contributes to conserving nature.
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    Doing anything "too much" is by implication not OK. Eating one or two helpings of meat a day is plenty. Some people manage quite well without meat at all. The point is: indulge liberally in moderation. As Oscar Wilde famously said, "Everything in moderation, including moderation."
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      References

      1. ↑ April Jordan. Sustainability Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 September 2020.
      2. ↑ https://www.nrdc.org/stories/keep-your-devices-wasting-energy-and-money
      3. ↑ https://www.energy.gov/articles/top-11-things-you-didnt-know-about-saving-energy-home-summer-edition
      4. ↑ https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-at-home/reducing-home-heat-loss/
      5. ↑ https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/02/gas-stoves-climate-change-study-methane/
      6. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2021/10/07/1015460605/gas-stove-emissions-climate-change-health-effects
      7. ↑ https://smarterhouse.org/dishwashing/energy-saving-tips
      8. ↑ https://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/your-old-refrigerator-energy-hog
      9. ↑ April Jordan. Sustainability Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 September 2020.
      1. ↑ https://sfenvironment.org/reduce-waste
      2. ↑ https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
      3. ↑ https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ocean/earthday.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      You can easily help save the environment at home by recycling your trash and reducing your utility bills. Turn off your electrical appliances, like computers, TVs, and sound systems, when you’re not using them, instead of just using their standby settings. During the colder seasons, consider turning your thermostat down a few degrees and wearing a warm sweater. This will help the environment and save you money too! If you have a little spare cash, consider getting your house fully insulated, which will reduce your heating bill. You can also wash your laundry on cold cycles to save a ton of energy. If you don’t already have separate baskets for your trash, consider getting one for recycling, which will prevent a lot of waste from going to landfill. For more tips, including how to change your travel routine to help save the environment, read on!

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