Instead of leaving a broken planet for the next generation, the world is slowly waking up to all the things that have been done wrongly to the environment. Although the damage is still an ongoing process, every individual needs to do their best towards safeguarding the environment and cutting back on their contribution towards global warming, pollution, deforestation and ultimately, climate change.
To reduce your negative impact on the environment, here are a few things you can do to make your home more environment-friendly:
Traditional bulbs give off 90% of their energy as heat and don’t represent a sustainable use of energy. Though LED and CFL bulbs are more expensive, they make greener options as they won’t heat up your home’s internal temperatures. And since they last longer, they make a better and more eco-friendly lighting option for your home.
Along with climate change, water is becoming scarce in many parts of the world. Install a rainwater harvesting system on your rooftop or terrace and save the rainwater for further use in the garden or washing the car. You can also use the runoff rainwater for recharging the water table.
In tropical countries blessed with abundant sunshine, solar panels make an excellent source of clean and green energy. Though there is an initial cost included, solar panels make an excellent long-term investment and require very little maintenance. This eco-friendly option helps cut down on your electricity bill and is a completely clean source of energy for your home.
Most electrical appliances come with an energy star rating, denoting their efficiency in the use of electricity. The more the number of stars, the better the rating. So when you are upgrading your appliances, embrace an environment-friendly lifestyle by opting for energy-efficient appliances with higher star ratings. Appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, microwave ovens, etc., account for 30% of your electricity bills and by using low-energy appliances, you save on your electricity bills!
Plastics have literally taken over homes with everything ranging from tools, pots, containers, straws, bags, bottles now being made of this substance. Items that were earlier made of steel, cast iron, aluminium, jute, cloth and clay have now slowly given way to synthetic plastics that take hundreds of years to decompose. Make a conscious decision to depend less on single-use plastic bags, plastic straws, plastic cutlery, etc., and make your home more eco-friendly.
Another major way to help lower dependence on nature and forests is by reducing the use of paper. Go with digital news instead of traditional newspapers so there would be less tree felling and destruction of forests. You could also reduce dependence on paper napkins and paper kitchen towels. Though it might be less convenient and take a little extra time to use kitchen towels instead for wiping, look at it as your contribution towards saving trees and living in a more eco-friendly manner.
Some of the developing and under-developed parts of the world are struggling to access potable water. For those blessed with piped drinking water, do ensure that you don’t waste it. Climate change is leading to a lot of changes and scarcity of drinking water is one of them. Remember to close the tap while you are brushing or washing utensils; opt for a shower instead of a bath as this too helps in saving water and helps you lead a more sustainable, eco-friendly way of life. Moreover, you will need to check and fix all those leaky taps and pipes that are slowly, but surely wasting precious water.
If you are on the lookout for sustainable homes that are built responsibly and include eco-friendly features, then have a look at the luxurious ‘Anthem’ project by the Prime Property Developers.
Located in the posh Kowdiar area, these apartments in Trivandrum come with sustainable features that include rainwater harvesting, rooftop solar panels and an aerobic microbial composting system for waste disposal. Aside from this, the Anthem project offers 52 elegant flats in Kowdiar that come fully loaded with amenities that amp up your lifestyle including air conditioned unisex gym, swimming pool, an audio/visual room, and a spacious banquet hall, yoga deck and a terrace garden offering stunning views. Come, have a look at them today!
