Earth Day is a time to reflect on our impact on the planet and make positive changes. Did you know that the average household generates over 9 kilograms of food waste per week? Or that traditional laundry detergents contain harmful chemicals that can pollute waterways and harm aquatic life? By implementing a few small and simple changes, you can reduce your carbon footprint, save money, and help protect the planet. In this post, we’ll share 5 easy environmentally friendly home hacks backed by research and statistics that you can implement today and make a start.
Create a Kitchen Compost with a Bio-Waste Bin
Creating a compost bin in your kitchen is an easy and effective way to reduce food waste and create nutrient-rich soil for your garden. Simply purchase a bio-waste bin and fill it with your food scraps, like fruit and vegetable peels, eggshells, and coffee grounds. When the bin is full, transfer the contents to your outdoor compost pile, pop it in your green bin, or drop it off at your local composting facility.
Switch to Biodegradable Laundry Liquids
Conventional laundry detergents contain harmful chemicals that can damage the environment and, concerningly, your health. Switching to biodegradable laundry liquids is a simple way to reduce your environmental impact. Biodegradable laundry liquids are made from natural ingredients that break down quickly in the environment and don’t contribute to water pollution.
Buy Refill Packs for Hand Soaps and Dish Detergents
Instead of buying new plastic containers and bottles of hand soap and dish detergents, opt for refill packs instead. Refill packs use less packaging than traditional containers and help reduce plastic waste. Bulk packs are also more affordable, so you’ll save money in the long run.
Install Low-Flow Showerheads
Water conservation is an essential aspect of sustainability, and installing a low-flow showerhead is an effective way to reduce your water usage. A typical showerhead can use up to 20 liters of water per minute, whereas a low-flow showerhead uses only 7.6 liters of water per minute, on average. This means that you can save up to 12.4 liters of water per minute, which can add up to significant water and energy savings over time. Additionally, low-flow showerheads can also reduce the amount of energy used to heat the water, further decreasing your environmental impact. By making the simple switch to a low-flow showerhead, you can conserve water, save money on your water and energy bills, and help protect the planet.
RGM 46 by DC.AD | Photography by DC.AD
Use Reusable Cloth Towels instead of Paper Towels
Paper towels are convenient, but they contribute to deforestation and waste. Switching to reusable cloth towels is a simple way to reduce your environmental impact. You can purchase cloth towels in bulk and use them for cleaning, wiping up spills, and other household tasks. Another option to consider is sponges made of wood pulp. Unlike traditional sponges made of plastic, which can take hundreds of years to break down in a landfill, sponges made of wood pulp are biodegradable and compostable. They’re also more sustainable to produce, as they’re made from a renewable resource. By making the switch to cloth towels and wood pulp sponges, you can reduce your environmental impact and help protect the planet.
Making your home more environmentally friendly can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, research shows that even small changes can make a big impact. By implementing these 5 easy home hacks, you can reduce your carbon footprint, save money on your energy bills, and help protect the planet for future generations. So, let’s all do our part to create a more sustainable future this Earth Day and beyond.