You don’t have to live in a mansion or be a millionaire to create a green and natural home. It’s easy to do when you know how, and there are plenty of resources available to help make it happen.
In this article, we’ll cover some simple ways you can begin making your home more sustainable (and save money), starting with the basics like assessing your current energy use so you know what needs improvement.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Creating a green and natural home involves making small changes that can have a big impact on the environment and your health. |
| Incorporating sustainable and eco-friendly elements into your home doesn’t have to be expensive. |
| Sustainable home design can involve using renewable energy sources, eco-friendly materials, and minimizing waste through efficient use of resources. |
| Biophilic design is an approach to interior design that seeks to incorporate natural elements and patterns into living spaces. |
| Eco-friendly living can have numerous benefits, including reducing your carbon footprint, improving indoor air quality, and saving money on energy bills over time. |
Do Your Research
To get started on your green living journey, it’s important to do some research. Researching the topic of green living can help you make better decisions and avoid common mistakes people make when trying to go green.
What are the most common mistakes people make when trying to go green? What are the most important things to know about green living? And what are some of the best resources for learning more about this lifestyle?
Incorporating green decor into your home doesn’t have to break the bank. Check out our guide on 15 affordable ways to add sustainable elements to your living space without hurting your wallet.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
If you want to ditch the chemicals and create a green home, then it’s time to learn how to clean. We’ll start with some basic tips that anyone can use.
First, choose natural cleaning products like vinegar or lemon juice instead of detergents or cleaners that contain soap. In fact, using soap on your hands can actually make them more greasy than they were before you washed them!
If you’re not sure what ingredients are in your cleaning supplies, call the manufacturer and ask them about their products’ contents.
That way you can be sure that what’s on your counter isn’t going straight into your body when you touch it!
Second, try washing dishes by hand in hot water rather than running them through a dishwasher (which uses lots of energy).
You may think this will take longer but it actually doesn’t—and besides that it reduces waste because fewer disposable plastics are needed! To help get stubborn dirt off pots and pans (or any other dish), try sprinkling baking soda onto each item before scrubbing with hot water; let sit for 5 minutes before rinsing well with another sinkful of fresh hot water.”
Switch to Energy-Efficient Appliances
Switching to energy-efficient appliances can be more expensive than you’d expect, but it’s well worth the investment. The good news is that many local governments and utility companies offer rebates and incentives to help cover some of the cost.
These rebates often encourage homeowners to purchase higher-end items, so they’re not limited to just the cheapest models on the market.
The result? You’ll get a better product that lasts longer, saving you money down the road. In addition, investing in energy-efficient appliances can save you money by reducing your electricity bill!
Looking to make your home more eco-friendly? Our guide on eco-friendly decorating can help you get started with sustainable interior design tips and ideas
Check Those Water Sinks
In addition to the toilet, many homes have a sink that’s used for washing dishes and hands. If you’re not sure how efficient your faucet is, check it out by running the water at full blast for one minute.
You can also use a stopwatch to determine how long it takes for the flow to stop automatically (typically 3 seconds).
The longer your water runs without stopping itself, the less efficient your faucet is! If you find that this happens often in your home, consider investing in low-flow shower heads or toilets. As an added bonus: these products are often more aesthetically pleasing than traditional ones!
Add Some Landscaping
Landscaping is a great way to improve your home’s energy efficiency and help with utility bills, as well as reducing the cost of food. It’s also visually appealing, which can make you feel more relaxed when you’re at home – and that’s good for your health!
When landscaping your yard or garden, try to keep it natural by using plants that are native to the area. This will help save water because native plants only need enough water for them to survive in their current environment.
You should also plant trees! Trees provide shade from the sun (great for hot summer days), which makes them perfect air conditioners during hot spells when there isn’t any other place for heat to escape from inside.
| Landscaping Feature | Best Plants | Soil Requirements | Sunlight Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower Bed | Petunias, Marigolds, Geraniums | Rich, well-drained soil | Full sun to partial shade |
| Hedge | Boxwood, Privet, Arborvitae | Well-drained soil | Full sun to partial shade |
| Rock Garden | Succulents, Sedums, Hens-and-Chicks | Well-drained soil | Full sun to partial shade |
| Water Feature | Water Lilies, Lotus, Papyrus | Aquatic soil | Full sun to partial shade |
| Edible Garden | Tomatoes, Basil, Peppers | Loose, well-drained soil | Full sun |
| Tree | Maple, Oak, Birch | Rich, well-drained soil | Full sun to partial shade |
| Vegetable Planter | Lettuce, Carrots, Radishes | Loose, well-drained soil | Full sun to partial shade |
| Pathway | Creeping Thyme, Irish Moss, Sedum | Well-drained soil | Full sun to partial shade |
Schedule a Home Energy Audit
A Home Energy Audit is a great way to determine the energy efficiency of your home and can help you save money on your utility bills.
It will also show you ways to make your home more comfortable, while also giving advice on how to purchase products that are environmentally friendly. The audit can even get you rebates on energy-efficient products (which I’ll talk about below).
Creating a sustainable home doesn’t have to be complicated. Our guide on 10 simple tips can help you make small changes that will have a big impact on your carbon footprint.”
Recycle, Repurpose, and Donate Items in Your Home
In order to create a truly green home, you should do everything in your power to recycle and reuse items. There are many things that can be recycled or reused in your home that you may not even think about. For example, if you have some old clothing, consider donating them to charity.
Many charities accept clothing donations; the Salvation Army is one example. If you have something like old furniture that is no longer being used or needed in your home, consider giving these items away as well.
Giving away these items instead of throwing them away means that they will be put back into use again rather than filling up landfills with waste products that ultimately can’t be recycled.
Grow a Vegetable Garden
Growing your own vegetables and herbs is a great way to save money on food costs and connect with nature.
Vegetable gardens can be grown in both small spaces and large ones, so you don’t need a lot of space to start one. If you have the room for it, consider growing things like squash, tomatoes, peppers and more all of which are easy to grow.
Herbs like basil will help add flavor to whatever dish you’re preparing while also adding nutrients that are good for your body.
| Vegetable | Best Time to Plant | Spacing | Soil Requirements | Sunlight Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | After last frost | 18-36 inches | Loose, well-drained soil | Full sun |
| Carrots | Early spring or late summer | 2-4 inches | Loose, well-drained soil | Full sun to partial shade |
| Lettuce | Early spring or fall | 8-12 inches | Rich, moist soil | Partial shade |
| Green Beans | After last frost | 4-6 inches | Well-drained soil | Full sun |
| Cucumbers | After last frost | 36-60 inches | Rich, well-drained soil | Full sun |
| Bell Peppers | After last frost | 18-24 inches | Rich, well-drained soil | Full sun |
| Zucchini | After last frost | 24-36 inches | Rich, well-drained soil | Full sun |
| Radishes | Early spring or fall | 2-3 inches | Loose, well-drained soil | Full sun to partial shade |
Go Solar
Going solar is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your electricity bill at the same time.
In some states, such as California and Hawaii (where I live), solar panels are already cheaper than buying electricity from the grid.
In 2016, the cost of installing solar panels dropped by 30% due to high demand in China and improved technology. The price will continue dropping until 2022 when it’s expected that home-based solar power will be cheaper than commercial options like coal or nuclear energy facilities!
Making the switch to green home decor has numerous benefits beyond environmental impact. Check out our guide on the benefits of green home decor to learn more about how sustainable interior design can improve your health and well-being
Eliminate Toxins in the Air and Home
When you think of toxins, your mind probably makes a beeline for the air pollution outside. But air pollution is also found in homes, and it can have a serious impact on your health.
Toxins from furniture, cleaning products, paint and more can build up over time and lead to serious health problems if you’re not careful about how often you clean your home or what kinds of materials are used to make its furnishings.
To make sure that everything inside your house is as green as possible (and help keep those nasty chemicals out), try these tips:
- Use natural cleaning products whenever possible
- Buy organic furniture made from sustainable wood sources like bamboo or cork instead of polyurethane foam or particleboard made from toxic glues
- Use nontoxic paints like soy-based latex paints when repainting
Retrofitting Windows and Doors
Windows and doors are the biggest source of heat loss in the home. If you’re looking to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable, retrofitting windows and doors is a great place to start.
Retrofitting your existing windows will help cut down on energy bills while improving comfort levels by lowering indoor noise levels and making your home more pleasant to be in. It also improves insulation so that you won’t have to rely as much on heating or cooling your home—which can help with climate change too!
Walk or Bicycle Instead of Driving When Possible
One of the best ways to create a green and natural home is to walk or bicycle to places instead of driving.
Walking and biking are good for your health. Regular exercise can help you sleep better, reduce stress and anxiety, control weight gain and improve cardiovascular health.
Walking or cycling frequently is also a great way to increase your physical activity level if you’re not already exercising regularly.
Walking and biking are good for the environment (and other people). When you drive in your car, it takes more than 30 times more gas than when traveling by foot! So walking or riding bikes instead of driving can actually help save money on fuel costs.
And because cars produce carbon dioxide as they move around town, switching from driving to walking/biking also helps reduce air pollution caused by vehicle emissions a win-win situation! If possible, try being creative about how often you use public transportation; this will allow more room on the roadways for bicycles!
Choosing eco-friendly furniture and decor is an important part of creating a green home. Our guide on how to choose eco-friendly furniture and decor provides tips on finding sustainable and stylish pieces for your living space.
Conclusion
There are many ways to create a green and natural home, but the most important thing is to start small.
Start by using green cleaning products in your home, switching to energy-efficient appliances or retrofitting windows and doors. You can also look into adding some landscaping or a garden.
Further Reading
For more information on creating a sustainable home, check out this beginner’s guide by Microcontrollers Lab: Beginner’s Guide in Creating a Sustainable Home.
Interested in incorporating biophilic design into your home? Check out this guide by Constro Facilitator: The Beginner’s Guide to Biophilic Home Design.
For a comprehensive guide to eco-friendly living, read this post by Good Energy: The Ultimate 20-Step Guide to Eco-Friendly Living.
FAQs
What is sustainable home design?
Sustainable home design is a way of creating living spaces that have minimal negative impact on the environment. This can involve using renewable energy sources, choosing eco-friendly materials, and minimizing waste through efficient use of resources.
What is biophilic design?
Biophilic design is an approach to interior design that seeks to incorporate natural elements and patterns into living spaces. This can include using plants, natural light, and organic materials to create a connection between the indoors and outdoors.
What are some benefits of eco-friendly living?
Eco-friendly living can have numerous benefits, including reducing your carbon footprint, improving indoor air quality, and saving money on energy bills over time. It can also have a positive impact on your health and well-being.
How can I make my home more sustainable?
There are many ways to make your home more sustainable, including using energy-efficient appliances, installing insulation to reduce heating and cooling costs, and incorporating sustainable materials into your decor. Making small changes to reduce waste and conserve resources can also have a big impact over time.
What are some simple steps I can take towards eco-friendly living?
Some simple steps towards eco-friendly living include using reusable bags and containers, conserving water by taking shorter showers and fixing leaks, and choosing energy-efficient light bulbs. You can also reduce your carbon footprint by using public transportation, biking, or walking instead of driving when possible.
I am Hellen, I’ve been passionate about sustainability for as long as I can remember. It’s something that my mom taught me from a young age, and it’s something that has shaped my life in so many ways.