It's not a secret that environmental problems are rampant. From massive pollution to deforestation to bad air quality, the reality is that the human population hasn’t tended to Mother Earth as well as it could.
Why should we care about being green and/or sustainable?
The most obvious reason is so humans can continue to survive for many years.
Future generations are at stake here, and it’s a moral issue as to what kind of world we want them to live in. It’s our responsibility.
With Earth Day upon us April 22nd, we thought we'd do a gut check on our green-ness. How green (environmentally friendly) ARE you?
Take a few minutes to gauge just how green you are.
Many people admit they could be doing better in terms of living an eco-friendly life. Maybe they do well for a while, but kind of get off track over time. It takes a conscious effort, for sure.
Do you want to do better in terms of your “green” efforts?
Maybe you simply need some tips on how you can be more eco-friendly. The following are some helpful tips to help you learn more about how you can “green” your home. At the same time, you can decrease your carbon footprint and help future generations enjoy a safe, healthy planet.
Making your home more environmentally friendly is a wonderful gesture to Mother Nature.
You not only save yourself some money when it comes to energy and water usage, but you also get to be an active agent in environmental change.
From recycling to using eco-friendly house cleaners, each person can do their part in creating a green, healthy home environment.
Here are the top eight ways you can “green” your home:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that if you replace your old refrigerator with an energy efficient one, you could save upwards of $150 per year. Appliances typically use about 18% of your power bill, and your refrigerator is the biggest user.
What should you look for when you’re replacing them?
Look for appliances that have the “Energy Star” logo, as they use between 10 and 50% less energy than the older models.
Your thermostat setting is more important than you might think when it comes to energy consumption.
In fact, your HVAC system uses almost 50% of the energy consumption in your home.
How can you be more “green” using the thermostat?
Turn your thermostat to 68 degrees for the winter and 78 degrees for the summer. This could save you between 5 and 10% in energy costs. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can set it to change automatically. Also, don’t forget to change your furnace air filter every few months.
There are plenty of eco-friendly house cleaning solutions that are not full of toxins.
In today’s market, there are dozens of well-known, trustable companies dedicated to providing safe, environmentally friendly cleaning products for homes and businesses. You can even try your hand at making your own green solutions using common safe ingredients like lemon juice, baking soda, and vinegar.
You might want to try Bon Ami, Humble Suds or BioKleen products for alternatives if you are interested in switching.
Hot water accounts for about 10% of your energy consumption bill. The bigger your family, the more hot water you’re likely using, so that percentage could even be greater.
Consider installing a solar hot water tank (Especially if you live somewhere that gets a lot of sun.). This will help you decrease your energy consumption because the sun heats up the water for your home usage.
Solar water tanks are more expensive than regular tanks, but over the years the savings will outweigh the initial cost. There may be tax incentives and advantages too, so be sure you check that out.
There’s a lot of water on the planet, but that doesn’t mean there couldn’t ever be a shortage.
To become more green, consider using the least amount of water as you possibly can. Install low-flow faucets and shower heads, install low-volume toilets, energy efficient washing and dishwashing machines, and take shorter showers.
It’s easy to green your home using energy-efficient lights.
You may not realize it, but Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) use about 70% less power than the old incandescent bulbs. And, they last about 10 times longer. This means you use less power to light up your home and do not have to purchase light bulbs as often.
Consider using eco-friendly paint when it’s time to paint your home.
Traditional paints include VOCs, which are volatile organic compounds that contribute to pollution. The fumes are not good for you or the environment!
When you purchase paint, look for a kind that has little or no VOCs so that your indoor air quality will be healthier, and, you’re giving business to eco-friendly companies who care about sustainability.
Greening your home means living in an environmentally friendly atmosphere and giving Mother Nature some tender loving care.
Another way you can green your home is to grow a garden full of fruits and vegetables. To fertilize the garden, use compost from your very own compost pile. This means you’ll actually have to start a compost pile, which can be a wonderful learning experience for the entire family.
Planting a garden is a project that the whole family can enjoy. And, you can enjoy delicious and healthy fruits and vegetables whenever you want!
Creating a home environment that is eco-friendly is both rewarding and responsible.
Committing to a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle can give you immense peace and joy, knowing that you are doing your part in the world to nurture and care for it.
So, the question may not be so much about how green you are, but how committed you are to becoming as green as you can be over time.
One step at a time, you can implement better, green choices in your life. Do what resonates with you. I think you’ll enjoy the duty and process of being a sustainable steward of planet Earth.
Editor's note: This article was originally published May 17, 2021 and has been updated to improve reader experience.
LATEST
July 6, 2025
CATEGORIES
Wake up to dailymotivation!
Get Motivational Quotes, Affirmations, and insightful content delivered to your inbox every morning!
Session expired
Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.
Actually CFLs are not a good choice. They emit harmful EMFs and they are a disaster to dispose of. LED lighting is better. But to tell you the truth, incandescent lighting is better for the human body.