Today's guest blogger is Miami based professional home organizer Alice Robertson. She's happy to share her ideas on how we can combat climate change by making small adjustments in our own everyday lives.
You can reach Alice at alice@tidyhome.info
Going Green: Eco-Friendly Changes You Can Make at Home
Climate change is a term we hear a lot on the news and read about on social media, but many people don’t fully understand what causes it or how to stop it. While there are many contributing factors to the environmental changes taking place in our world, one of the most devastating is the continued destruction of the ozone layer. The cars we drive, the energy we use, and even the foods we eat all contribute to the buildup of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, which, in turn, cause massive disruptions in climates around the world. It’s important to learn how you can make changes at home and within your community to prevent climate change.
One of the best ways to start is to do an energy audit on your home. Ask your utility companies for a detailed report on how much gas, electricity, and water you use per month; many companies already give variations on these reports on your monthly bill. Once you know how much you and your family are using, you can make an effort to turn things around. Not only will this help you conserve energy, but it will also save you money at the same time. Keep reading for some great tips on how to make eco-friendly changes at home.
Change Your Light Bulbs
The light bulbs you use can have a major impact on your utility bills and on the amount of energy your household uses. Fortunately, there are many different types of bulbs on the market that are energy-efficient, meaning they’ll bring down your bill and conserve at the same time. Look for LED lights, which will last for up to 10 years, and also consider using more natural light. Open up those blinds during the day, especially in the wintertime, when solar energy can warm up a room and prevent you from having to turn on the heat.
Save Water
Conserving water is important, so look for ways you can keep your entire family from using too much every day. This means installing an energy-efficient shower head, low-flow toilet, and watering your flowers and lawn by hand rather than using a sprinkler system that stays on for several minutes at a time. You can also use a rain barrel -- assuming your county doesn’t have rules against their use -- to catch rainwater for plants, birds, and pets.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Landfills are a major problem in the US when it comes to climate change, so it’s imperative to start looking for ways we can reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible. Plastic water bottles and baggies contribute to a staggering amount of daily trash in our country, so by using refillable glass bottles and paper lunch bags, you can do your part without breaking the bank.
Urge Your Community to Change
It’s important not only to make these kinds of changes in your own home but also to look for ways your community can do better. If your county doesn’t provide recycling pickup, write to your representatives and ask for their help in securing bins for each neighborhood. Talk to your neighbors about conserving energy; often, you can get an idea of how much they’re using from your utility companies (which compare similar homes in the area).
Going green may sound like a big job, and in many ways, it is. However, it doesn’t have to be a stressful undertaking. Look for small ways you can begin, and start a conversation with your family members, neighbors, and government about how everyone can do better.
Photo: courtesy of Pixabay.com.
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