I would love to live in a zero-net energy home complete with solar panels, an enormous aquaponics garden, and water conserving showers but let’s be honest here. How many of us can actually afford such an extravagant home? I mean, eco-living is not cheap!
Thankfully, there are ways you can turn your household into an environmentally friendly one without draining your personal savings account. I’ve uncovered some of the most cost effective home improvements anyone who wants to reduce their carbon footprint can easily afford.
Heating Bills
Don’t have the money for a smart thermostat? Neither do I! Instead, conserve energy by setting your regular thermostat to 68 degrees in the wintertime.
Sure, you’ll have to bundle up to stay warm. Having reduced your energy consumption will have been worth it though!
Unplug it All
Even when things like your laptop go into sleep mode or are turned off, they still suck in power from your wall outlets. Unplug any form of charger or cord possible anytime you are not using that electronic device. This one is on me! (Because it’s free, get it?)
Compost It
Starting a compost pile is a cheap and efficient way to reduce waste in your home. All you need to buy is the composting bin, and the rest takes care of itself. Now you can feel good about recycling that banana peel instead of letting it rot in a landfill. Composting at home has never been easier.
Switch to Cloth
Do you find yourself using paper towels and napkins a lot? Take reducing your waste one step farther by using cloth napkins and cleaning rags instead. Yeah, you’ll have a little bit more laundry to do but it will cut back on your home’s waste more than you think.
Speaking of saving on paper-esque items, filing your taxes online saves a binder’s worth of paper! Choosing to use cloth or canvas grocery bags also helps to cut down on plastic waste.
Get a Houseplant
For around 10 to 15 dollars, you can purchase a new houseplant from nearly any hardware store. It will help keep the air quality in your home cleaner, and I personally love tending to my plants.
Repair Leaks
We can’t all be Tim the Tool Man from Home Improvement, but fixing a leak is usually as simple as tightening a cap or bolt. Leaky pipes under your sink can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water a year! All you have to do is give a few twists of a wrench to help conserve water and save on your utility bill.
These are some of my favorite examples, but there are hundreds of cheap ways to make your home more eco-friendly. What are some ways you’ve found succesful without breaking the bank?