Top 10 Ways To Be Environmentally Friendly

Climate change, global warming, pollution, deforestation, and a host of other environmental challenges is the reality of the world we live in. If all of us take a conscious step towards safeguarding the environment, we may be able to contain the spread of this crisis, and protect at least a few of the natural resources around us. To contribute to reducing your impact on the environment, look towards your habits at home. Bring on your inner Captain Planet with these 10 easy ways to make your home more eco-friendly.

Cut down paper towels

It’s one of the most commonly used items in our kitchen. Paper towels are the most used item to wipe off any stain from your kitchen cabinet. It comes in handy and it’s easy to dispose of too. But it must be noted that paper towels or tissues are not eco-friendly and we must try not to use them very often and if possible try to avoid them to the fullest. Instead, you can use cloth towels and it is eco-friendly too.

Try to use energy-efficient lighting

When it comes to the lighting of your house try to use LED or CFL bulbs as much as possible. Although these are slightly more expensive than traditional light bulbs, 90% of the energy is given off as heat, which means it wears off faster. In Dubai, where we have to battle high temperatures for a good part of the year, the fact that these bulbs heat the home, is another reason why we should invest in LED, CFL, and Halogen Incandescents, all of which are good ways to make your home more eco-friendly.

Look for low energy appliances

When you are planning to buy new appliances for your home you can think of buying low-energy appliances. It is the best way to go ease with the environment. Due to the low energy consumption mechanism, these appliances tend to be slower in consuming more watts of energy. So it might be a great option for those of you who are looking to go environmentally friendly.

Avoid plastics

Get rid of the many plastic containers at home and start using ceramics, glass, and steel to store and cook your food. While you are at it, stop cooking in non-stick ware and return to traditional vessels made of steel, aluminum, and cast iron. This is one of the ways to make your home eco-friendly which is also good for your overall health.

Reuse and recycle

Before you run to the stores and buy a whole bunch of glass containers, look around and see if there are things you can repurpose. Empty coffee jars make excellent containers for spices and powders. Biscuit tins made of steel can be used for baking cakes. Similarly, before buying new furniture think of whether you have any eco-friendly ways to spruce up the house. Wooden doors, for instance, can make great coffee tables.

Use water conservatively

Are you one of those people that keeps the water running while brushing your teeth? Do you keep the tap open while washing the dishes? One of the key things that go into how to make your home more sustainable and eco-friendly is reducing the wastage of water. So watch out for leaks and only use the necessary water. In this regard, it’s always better to opt for a shower instead of a bath as this can save a large amount of water.

Always switch off and unplug

Switching off the electronic appliances and unplugging all the plugged devices off is a great way to save energy thus being eco-friendly. Do not overuse the devices, or forget to switch off the lights and fans when not in use. Also, make sure that you remove all of your changeable gadgets once fully charged. All these tiny things will contribute a lot towards saving energy.

Make a compost bin

Using a bin, (or thanks to Pinterest, making a DIY compost bin has never been easier), toss in your biodegradable products, such as fruit or vegetable scraps instead of throwing them away in your garbage. This will help cut down the amount of garbage, as well as eventually produce healthy, nutrient-filled soil for your garden/landscape.

Take short showers

We all love the feeling of a nice, hot shower, but five minutes is really all we need. Shaving even one minute off of the daily shower will save nearly a thousand gallons of water every year. It’s not only better for the planet, but can reduce your water bill!

Use cloth napkins

Not only will you reduce your garbage, but using cloth napkins can also save you money. Apart from saving money and all stuff, they are the ones that are really good for your health. Switching to cloth napkins has so many proven health benefits too.

So these are my top 10 ways to be more eco-friendly and contribute more towards the wellness of our planet Earth.