It’s almost every day that we’re bombarded with news about climate change and its massive effects to nature and humankind. The situation is dire and it feels as if there’s no solution in sight, but there are actually a lot of things that you can do to help. While lawmakers all over the world argue about policies, you can start making small changes and transform your home into an eco-friendly place. Here are a few ideas.

Conserve Water

This is a no-brainer. Water is a precious resource and we should do everything we can to conserve it. There are many simple ways to do this, like turning off the tap while brushing your teeth and only turning on the dishwasher when it has a full load. You should also perform regular checks on your home’s plumbing system and see if there are any leaks and other damage. If you have a lawn, invest in a smart sprinkler system. You may also want to plant more flora that don’t need a lot of water.

Harness the Power of the Sun

For those who live in sunny locations, take advantage of the sun and install solar panels. They don’t produce any emissions, which mean they have close to zero environmental impact. It’s a little pricey at the beginning, but you can easily recoup your investment within a few years depending on the size of the panels. While you’re at it, you should also replace your lights with LEDs that can last 10 years or more.

Line-Dry Whenever Possible

Speaking of the power of the sun, you should definitely line-dry your clothes more. Not only will this reduce your energy consumption, but it will also make a lot of your clothes last longer.

Declutter and Remove the Rubbish

Decluttering your home helps the environment because you develop better shopping habits and thus produce less waste. But what happens to the trash left behind when you declutter? It’s best to call a professional rubbish removal service to take care of things. They’ll make sure that every bit of trash is disposed of properly and sent to proper recycling facilities. Thus, hiring a rubbish removal company helps minimise the negative environmental impact that could be otherwise caused by your trash.

Dial Down on the Paper Towels

It feels impossible to completely eliminate the use of paper towels, especially if you love to cook. Instead, simply cut back on your paper towel usage. Use some rags and launder them when they get dirty. For an even more eco-friendly move, don’t buy new rags. Find old clothes like T-shirts and cut them up to convert them to rags. It’s best if these old clothes are made from natural materials like cotton.

Don’t Waste Food

When you waste food, you’re not just wasting food—you’re also wasting the resources used to grow and make it. This means you waste water, fertiliser, soil, and even the fuel used to transport your food. Moreover, when you throw away food and it begins to rot, it produces methane. This greenhouse gas is significantly more harmful than carbon dioxide. So plan your meals, buy only the ingredients you need, and don’t over-indulge. It’s not only good for the environment, but it’s also good for your health!

Keep Your Appliances Clean

Keeping your appliances clean helps them function better. They also consume less energy. Some of the appliances that you need to pay extra attention to include the fridge (clean the coils), the dryer (inspect the lint filter regularly), and the air-conditioner (perform regular clean-ups).

Choose Eco-Friendly Alternatives

If there are eco-friendly alternatives of the things you’re currently using, make the switch. These include soaps and shampoos, various personal care products, and cleaning aids. Some of these products might require an adjustment period, like using menstrual cups instead of tampons or pads, while some can be done immediately.

Compost

No, composting doesn’t require a lot of space. It’s also not as messy or smelly as you think it will be. Simply dedicate a container where you’ll deposit compostable materials, ideally with a good cover. Composting helps reduce the amount of trash that goes into landfills, and also gives you a source of eco-friendly fertiliser.

Shop Less

There are necessities that you need to buy, obviously, like food, medicine, and hygiene products. For others, you better think twice. Do you really need a new TV or sofa? Perhaps not, so hold off on that purchase. Everything you buy in excess has negative consequences, especially in terms of resource usage. Obviously, there will come a time when you really need to replace things. When that happens, consider eco-friendly and energy-efficient products.

Don’t think that you’re just one person and that your efforts won’t matter. They will! Every little bit counts when it comes to saving the environment.