We all need to do our bit to protect the environment, and by visiting our website, you will pick up a lot of ideas on how you can go green. This includes going eco-friendly at home. From practical everyday habits to home renovations, you can save money while saving the world.

In this room-by-room guide, we will give you some ideas that you may find useful in your journey towards an eco-friendly home.

1. Bathroom

The bathroom is the one place in the house where a lot of waste occurs since everyone uses this area. We aren’t talking about your toilet, though we do have some advice in that direction in a moment. Rather, we are talking about water and the way we waste this precious commodity through baths and showers.

Here are some tips for an eco-friendly bathroom:

• As mentioned above, use less water when you’re getting a bath or a shower. This includes cutting down the time you spend in the shower and only filling your bathtub up to halfway. We realise that a deep bath and a long shower is relaxing, but the amount of water wasted is phenomenal. Can you imagine the amount of water you’ll use every time you fill up your bathtub? Do you think it’s actually necessary to use this amount of water whenever you’re trying to relax in your bathroom? There are many ways on how you can relax inside your bathroom, or in your home—and most of these will not require you to use tons of water.
• Use best caulk for shower in your bathroom so that mold build-up is prevented. When you use cheap caulk, you will have to use caulk often, which can eventually be harmful to our environment. More caulk means more chemical production. Aside from keeping your bathroom clean, and your family safe, investing in the best caulk for your shower is another great way of minimizing chemicals that can eventually damage or destroy natural resources.
• Pick up a low-flow showerhead, and replace it with your standard one. These water-efficient showerheads only use around 2 gallons per minute, compared to the regular version, which uses around 6 gallons per minute. They can be picked up at most hardware stores, and are easy to install.
• When getting a bath, don’t waste water by running your faucet without putting the plug in first. Yes, we know this is obvious, but many of us leave the water running until it reaches the desired temperature before putting the plug in. It’s a waste, so stop it!
• If you’re living in an older house, you probably don’t have a water-efficient toilet. If this is the case, consider replacing your old loo with a dual flush toilet. If you are feeling adventurous you could even consider going off-grid and using a composting toilet, the modern designs look great and don’t smell! They are designed to conserve water, with the option of a big or a small flush depending on what you have used the loo for.
• Oral hygiene is important, but it shouldn’t be to the detriment of water wastage. So, when brushing your teeth, turn the taps off until you need to rinse your brush. It’s common for people to let water run from their faucets even when they’re not using it. If you’re guilty of doing the same, change your ways as soon as possible, and let other members of your household follow your lead, too. This is especially important if you have kids living with you at home. We also recommend biodegradable toothbrushes, which are more eco-friendly than the plastic alternative. Biodegradable toothbrushes can be purchased almost anywhere, so make sure to buy one for every member of the family.
• When buying your hair and cosmetic products, use natural alternatives to those brands that contain harmful chemicals which could cause pollution when washed down your drain. Be sure to check for the triangular recycling symbol on the packaging, rather than buying yet another plastic product that will fill up your local landfill.
• Installing a dehumidifier in your bathroom will prevent the growth of mold and mildew. While dehumidifying your small bathroom, select the most efficient one.

2. Kitchen

With the number of appliances running in the kitchen, we use a lot of energy. Thankfully, there are ways to save money and cut down on electricity. Read on.

• Look for the Energy Star sticker when buying a new appliance. This is your guarantee that your purchase will use a lot less energy than the rickety old appliance you may currently have sitting in the corner of your kitchen.
• Check the seals on your refrigerator door. It they don’t shut properly, you are going to waste a lot of energy. Likewise, don’t stand for ages gazing into your refrigerator when thinking about what to eat. That chocolate cake isn’t only going to pile on the calories, it’s going to hike up your electricity bill as well if you spend time deliberating over it!
• Don’t waste water in your dishwasher and washing machine with half-loads. When possible, fill them up before turning them on. Aside from helping you save water, this technique can also help lower your electricity bills in the long run. Read this article for useful tips to purchase environmentally-friendly household appliances.
• If you hand wash your dishes, don’t leave the water running endlessly. Use a separate tub with rinsing water after scrubbing the excess food off your plates. Then, rather than tipping the water back down the sink, reuse the water on your garden perennials.
• Buying wholesale & bulk bags made from Calico and using them whenever you buy groceries can also help take care of the environment. Instead of buying plastic bags whenever you go out to shop, bags made from Calico are better options as these are natural and environmentally-friendly. These bags are also very durable and can accommodate the weight of your groceries.
• Don’t throw away all your food waste. For starters, you should only cook the amount of food you are actually going to eat. However, if you do have food left over, use it on your compost rather than dumping the excess into the bin. Food wastes contain essential nutrients that can keep your plants healthy. In fact, food wastes are actually better options for fertilizers as these don’t contain chemicals that can harm your plants, or pose serious dangers to the people who will consume these plants in the future.

3. Bedroom

The one room where it’s okay to lose energy, but only when it’s giving your body rest. In other areas, it’s time to cut down.

• None of us like to be cold in bed, but that doesn’t mean you need to have your thermostat running all night. Pile on extra blankets instead, or add an extra layer to your night clothes. A hot water bottle (or two) will cut down on the energy used by an electric blanket.
• Consider organic bedding. It’s can be more expensive than regular bed sheets, but it contains fewer chemicals, and you will be supporting your local agribusiness when you make the transition.
• Less is more when it comes to your closet. In short, don’t buy outfits you are rarely going to wear. A lot of water and energy is used in the manufacturing process, and you are adding to the demand when you can’t curb your shopping impulses.
• Consider having a no-electronic rule in your bedroom. Watching TV in bed is a good way to relax, but not when you fall asleep and leave it running all night while you snooze.

4. Living room

A place to relax and unwind after a hard day at work. However, your chill out time will be ruined by your latest energy bill if you don’t make an effort to change your habits.

• Smartphones, tablets, games consoles, laptops—great gadgets to own, but not at the expense of your electric bill. When you’re not using them, unplug them from the mains, and when charging them, disconnect them upon completion.
• On a sunny day, ensure the curtains are open wide to let the warmth of the sun fill your home. This way, you won’t need to turn the heating on until later on in the evening, if at all!
• A wood-burning stove is an efficient and affordable source of heating. You will need to pay for the fuel, but it is way cheaper than using an electric or gas alternative. Say goodbye to those expensive utility bills forever!
• When buying furniture, look for brands that use sustainable resources. By doing so, you will be doing your bit to combat manufacturers who cut down thousands of forests a year to provide us with something comfortable to sit on.
• Fish are great pets for the home because they also provide a good visual stimulus.  Depending on how much space you have in your home,  you could set up a nice reef aquarium with a beautiful “under the sea” look. A great assortment of fish will add to the scene. This is a great choice for houses with kids that may be allergic to cats or dogs. For those with cats, switch from clay cat litter to a natural material with less of a footprint like wood or walnut shell litter.
• If you’re a fish keeper, you probably know that an aquarium needs quite a lot of water to be filled in. Instead of regularly changing it with fresh new water, consider placing proper live plants inside or setting up a UV filter for maintaining the water clear for a longer period of time.

Finally

We have only given you a few ideas, but take a look around our website for further advice. If we all work together and make a difference in the way we live, we will make an impact in the world. Make those positive choices today.

Expert Tip: If you want to make your home both eco-friendly and smart, check out this guide.

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Leslie Wyman

Leslie Wyman is a freelance writer and contributor for various websites and magazines who specializes in health and lifestyle. She is also an active triathlon enthusiast and joins races on a regular basis. On her downtime, she likes to stay at home and cook for her family.

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