Most of us are aware of the fact that this is the high time to do something for our planet individually. Unfortunately, we human beings have exploited the Earth so much that it is in desperate need of help. Increasing population, life-threatening pollution and deforestation are the major problems of our planet. Besides that, wildfires and decrease in wildlife population due to poaching and human interference has made out planet very vulnerable.

With governments and NGOs doing their part, individually we should also take responsibility to save our planet. A small initiative by us can leave a prosperous future for our children and grand children. Therefore, we should try to do whatever little we can do to live an environmentally friendly life. The most basic thing we can do is make our home eco-friendly by making few small changes in our lifestyle. Not only it will be better for our fragile ecology but will help you save money as well in the long run.

Here are 6 ways to make your home eco-friendly

1. Switch to solar energy

People living in areas with enough sunlight can install solar panels on their roof top. With installation becoming cheaper, switching to renewable energy won’t hurt your pocket massively. Solar panels can cover up their price in 10-15 years and once installed produce zero emissions. Solar energy can be utilized in number of ways at home according to one’s requirements. Forget huge electricity bills and go green with the purest form of clean energy.

2. Manage water usage

Saving water is one of the most important things every human being should consider seriously. Water crisis in India is so bad that 21 Indian cities will run out of groundwater by 2020. A basic habit like turning the tap off while you brush your teeth is a good way to start. Switching to low-flow toilets from conventional toilets can save 25% to 50% water per flush. Rainwater harvesting is an excellent system to collect rain water and store it for further use. Also, you can save considerable amount of water by switching to bucket bathing which is lot faster as well than taking a shower.

3. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

In the United States, every second 1,500 plastic bottles are discarded. An average Indian consumes about 11kg plastic every year and an average American more than 109kg. If we look around our homes, we’ll find lot of stuff that we don’t need and things that can be replaced with something much less harmful. We can reduce our consumption of such things to cut down our waste production. Similarly, reusing and recycling discarded objects is vital to minimize waste generation and to save our planet.

4. Start Composting

Organic solid waste such as fruit and vegetable scraps, leftover food, egg shells and coffee grounds usually goes into the dustbin. Instead, it can be turned into compost, which is good for soil and also acts as fertilizer for plants. You can collect all the organic waste in a compost bin or can make a pit in your backyard. If you are not into gardening, donate it to your neighbors.

5. Minimize Your Chemical Usage

We are surrounded by chemical based objects that are harmful for our health and environment as well. Be aware to choose linoleum over vinyl while upgrading your flooring. Vinyl flooring can emit Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are toxic for nature and human health as well. Similarly, try to choose VOCs free paint while repainting your home. Also, try to switch to eco-friendly and natural chemicals for home usage.

6. Plant trees or at least add greenery to your home

Trees are the lifeline of our planet. It goes without saying that if we plant trees, our future generations will be thankful to us. However, for most people, planting trees is not as simple as it sounds. Well, we can at least keep houseplants at our homes. Not only, it will give a refresh look to your living space but will purify the environment as well. Houseplants can improve air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and other toxins from air. Rubber Plants and Spider plants are easy to maintain and can remove benzene and formaldehyde from the air.

Few other ways to make your home eco-friendly includes investing in Energy Star Appliances, buying LED bulbs, switching to Geothermal Heating and purchasing eco-friendly furniture.

Our beautiful planet needs each and every one of us to recover from this frightening situation. A little step from us can make a huge difference towards the betterment of earth and our future.

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Sunil Chandel

Sunil has been blogging about autos, consumer gadgets and home improvement ideas from a couple of years. When he is not writing, you can find him riding his royal enfield motorcycle, listening to music and showing off his football skills

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