It’s good to remember where our food originates, and it doesn’t have to be huge or complicated. In addition to turning off taps when brushing your teeth, save a sink’s water flow by up to 30% with a WaterSense-labeled faucet. Low-flow shower heads also decreases water consumption by at least 40%. Check under your cabinets How to make your home more environmentally friendly and you might be surprised to find evidence of small but steady drips. What a difference taking care of such little leaks can make on your water use. A quick audit of all water sources throughout the home (and fixing whatever you find!) preserves your belongings from mold and water damage and is good for the planet too.

Solar Ovens

And don’t worry about authenticity – these certifications are strictly regulated to ensure they’re not just greenwashing their products. Being eco-conscious doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort and style. In fact, there are eight simple ways to make your home more eco-friendly.

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Support local restaurants that use food derived less than 100 miles away, and learn more about the benefits of eating locally. Before buying anything new, first check your local Craigslist, Freecycle, or Buy Nothing groups. Put a stop to unsolicited mail—sign up to opt out of pre-screened credit card offers. While you’re at it, if you’re in the U.S., go ahead and make sure you’re on the “do not call” list, just to make life better.

Use Stoves Efficiently

Investigating your pension supplier and making a switch should you discover their investments in fossil fuels puts increased pressure on suppliers to diversify and decarbonise their investments. However, if flying is the only option, then travellers can try to pack light to minimise pollution. The more luggage a plane carries on its travels, the more fuel the aeroplane needs to fly.

Look for cracks in the facade and gaps around windows and exterior penetrations (like pipes). Inside your home, use rubber gaskets behind switch plates and outlet covers. The IRA provides help for homeowners upgrading to energy-efficient windows and doors. This should be your first step in understanding where your energy costs and emissions come from.

• Changing settings for when you’re away from home, adjusting the temperature based on the weather outside and using smart settings to regulate temperature has never been easier.
• The fashion industry is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, pollution, water contamination and mass extinction, along with many other elements that hinder a healthy planet.
• A lot of old food scraps lying about can be composted to create nutrient-rich soil.
• Consider replacing older toilets with certified eco-friendly versions to make a substantial difference.
• These tips can be used when building a house from scratch, and some can be incorporated into an existing home to make it more eco-friendly, helping you to reduce your energy bills while being kinder to the planet.

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I was living in a small apartment with minimal windows, constantly relying on artificial lights. The electricity bills were high and my rooms felt, well, artificial. The tiny home trend has surged in popularity in recent years, and it’s not hard to see why.

Instead, ditch the double wash and scrape any leftover food into the compost, then pop your dishes straight into the machine. To make it as easy as possible for you to transform your house into a clean energy haven, we’ve rounded up a list of the easiest eco-friendly changes right here. So read on, and soak in the satisfaction that comes with being a do-gooder! And for more ways to start living a more responsible lifestyle, check out the 40 Ways to Make Your 40s Your Healthiest Decade. Currently, 22% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from our homes, with three quarters of this coming from our heating.

“Poor insulation can account for 35% to 40% of a home’s heat loss,” Fasullo says. “Bidet toilet seats and bidet attachments are actually designed for an easy at-home installation,” Weidner says. “They connect to your existing plumbing using the provided adapter and hose in a matter of minutes.” Electric models require a nearby outlet. A few good ones are Food Inc., Our Planet, Before the Flood, and The True Cost.