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It doesn’t matter where you’re at on the class ladder, how big of a house you have, or how much money you can spend on doing the right thing, there are ways that we can all live more efficiently and sustainably. Whether you are conscious about the environment or want to save money, there are plenty of ways you can change your habits. When you live more sustainably, you can have peace of mind that you are doing the right thing and saving as much money as you can doing it. Becoming more eco-conscious doesn’t have to be that expensive. Below are five areas of the house you can make more sustainable.
The Kitchen
Let’s start with the kitchen. There is no shortage of ways to make this area of the house more sustainable. First, you should buy less food. Only buy what you consume. Have a plan for ingredients. For example, if you know you are going to use four carrots during the preparation of another meal, shop with the others in mind. You can curate dishes that utilize all your week’s groceries. A smart refrigerator could help with that. Not only does this appliance save money on energy, but it can also help you save food and create a shopping list for you.
Another smart appliance you could use in the kitchen is the dishwasher. Smart dishwashers save power and recycle water, lowering your bills and waste. Water could also be saved by installing a reverse osmosis water filter. With a filtration system, you can have water that is cleaner than the bottled stuff coming out of your sink. You can lower the number of plastic bottles you pay and drink the clean water from your faucet.
Finally, it’s always a good idea to do away with plastic. You can bring reusable bags to the grocery store and avoid plastic garbage bags. Store your ingredients and snacks in glass jars instead of plastic containers. The kitchen is a part of the house where a lot of improvements can be made.
The Bathroom
You probably use the most water taking showers. One option to lower your bills and impact on the environment is to install a tankless water heater. Water heaters that have tanks heat the entire tank full of water. The tankless option will cut down on your energy bill. Of course, we should all do our best to use less water when we shower and bathe. Water is a precious finite resource.
Beyond water, you can also switch to bamboo toilet paper. Toilet paper is made from cutting down trees that take in carbon and produce oxygen. Bamboo is a lot more plentiful and less damaging to cut down. These products are even stronger and more durable than traditional paper. You can even buy bulk toilet paper in bamboo alternatives.
The HVAC
We spend so much money on energy that powers our air conditioning and heating. It is the source of a lot of environmental damage. Not only should you make sure that the insulation in your house is working and that the doors and windows are sealed, but you can also shop around for a smart thermostat.
Smart thermostats allow you to control the temperature of your home from your phone. No longer will you have to leave it on to be comfortable when you return. You can turn it on and off from work or when you’re running errands. Of course, the best way to cut down on the HVAC is to use it less, but with proper insulation and a smart thermostat, you can cut down on the amount of money you are spending and the impact you are having on the environment.
Whether you are rich or poor, successful, or not, we can all make changes that are better for ourselves and the world at large. There’s no reason to waste water, use too much power, and throw away food. Even if you aren’t paying for your utilities, you might end up paying for them in higher rent. Whatever your situation, these three areas of the home can be greatly improved if you put in a little effort. We all need to live more sustainably. Let’s give it a shot!
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