Going Green Inside Your Home
“Going Green” offers an array of benefits and it’s the best thing that you can do for your family and for the world. By living green, you don’t only save money - you also help save our environment.
The choice of going green inside our home always starts within ourselves. The fact that our environment is dying really calls for all to start saving today and help tomorrow.
Good news is that, when adapting to the Green Living lifestyle, you are taking an initiative to help promote a cleaner and greener environment and as well saves you money.
Going green is not a very hard thing to do actually. You all need is to embrace that what we are doing is for the greater good of everybody.
What's important is, going green inside our home won’t stop only on our thoughts, but it needs actions to be able to live a healthy and greener life.
Changes will not happen overnight but as long as we do it every day and on the right way, these changes we longed to have will sure be ours.
It is a lifelong process but it’s all worth it at the end. Think of the future generations to come.
Read more about the views of different people on Going Green: Let's Paint the World Green
Here are some tips and ideas on how we can go green inside our home:
SAVE ENERGY
- Replace your incandescent light bulbs with CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs.
CFLs only uses about 75% less electricity and even lasts 10x longer that the standard incandescent light bulbs. More savings, right. - Turn off your lights when not in use. Using less energy is very essential to green living. The easiest way to save energy comes from the energy you never used.
When entering a room, think first before you switched on the light; you might opt to opening the blinds or windows instead to let light comes in. Not only you save energy, you also save money for electrical bills. - If you're not in a hurry and the sun is shining outside, choose to dry your newly washed clothes in an open clothesline or rack instead of using your washing machine's dryer.
- Always turn off air conditioners when not needed. Did you know that air conditioners use 150x more power than lights?
- Turn off your electrical appliances when not in use or at night. Computers in sleep mode also draw a lot of electricity.
Unplug your appliances after using and much better at night before going to sleep.
For example: television, cable boxes, video/audio input, computers/laptops, stereos, etc.
Other than it saves electricity, it can bring a peace of mind to you for the whole night since you won’t be worried that it might catch fire or burn. These appliances are vampires of the night - they sucked electricity and leaves you frown-faced when you received your bill. - Walk instead of riding your motorcycles or cars if your destination isn’t far away. In that way, you reduce the emissions of harmful chemicals and gasses that contribute to the depletion of our ozone layer.
Read more about the DEPLETION OF OZONE LAYER
SAVE WATER
- Turn off your faucets/taps when you're not done scrubbing the utensils or anything that you're washing. Easiest way! Also when brushing your teeth, washing vegetables or shaving.
- Make sure that you only have the right amount of water when washing your clothes. Too much water will only go to waste.
- Repair your leaky faucets, pipes and toilets. When everything is okay, try to check it from time to time for possible damage. You never know that this could lead to a substantial loss of water.
- Choose toilets with small amount of water per flush thereby saving 70% of water. For example, a toilet with an 18 liter/flush can be substituted by 6 liter/flush. An amazing save!
- Use the shower on a fixed amount of time and just use only a fair amount that you need. Make it a habit to close the shower while you're shampooing your hair and scrubbing your body.
VEGETABLE GARDENING
Who doesn’t love to eat fresh vegetables straight from your own garden?
If you love gardening, then use this hobby to save environment.
By making your own vegetable garden, you are not only enjoying your hobby but also you are teaching your kids about nature.
Besides, fresh vegetables with no pesticides are a good choice to go green.
For some who lives in an apartment or loft with no backyard to create a garden, try using your empty cans for small vegetables like tomatoes, chilies, onions, bell peppers, gingers or other spices.
REMEMBER THE 3Rs: REUSE-REDUCE-RECYCLE
Always remember that it’s better to reuse old things first before buying new ones:
- Old Newspapers: Simple and Creative Ways How to Reuse Old Newspapers
- Unwanted CDs and DVDs: 20 Artsy Tips on How to Reuse Unwanted CDs AND DVDs
- Styrofoams: Creative Ideas on How to Reuse Styrofoams
- Cans: For planting seedlings, storing any applicable things
- Old worn-out clothes: Can be used as Rags
Recycling and reusing old things before properly disposing it has many important benefits like it saves more money, energy and decreases the demands for production for such things thus lessening our carbon footprints.
ALWAYS SAY NO TO BOTTLED WATER
Plastic bottles with water inside, when gone stagnant for a long time may leach a carcinogenic chemical which can harm our health.
Not only that, plastics are non-biodegradable and may fill our landfills rapidly. Most plastics are petroleum-derived and it cost energy to produce them.
However, almost 80% are not recycled. Instead of opting for bottled waters, always bring your reusable water bottle, preferably made of aluminum.
Use water filter or install home purification system to purify your tap water instead.
Read the dangers of plastics: Guide To Plastic Coding System - What's Behind the Number?
EAT SMARTLY
Eat a healthy and balanced diet, by going meatless at least twice a week.
Meat is very expensive to buy and the production of it greatly contributes to environmental and health problems.
Go for organic food instead, eggs, dairy products whenever possible. Also don’t forget sea foods!
CHOOSE TO BUY IN BULK
Buying in bulk can save a lot of money.
Large quantity of kitchen and other products may be bought in bulk - but make sure that these things would not spoil and everything will go to waste.
For example: soaps, shampoos, cooking oil, canned goods, breakfast cereals, toothbrushes, dishwashing liquids etc.
Mother Nature is crying in pain and begging us to do our fair share on what she has offered us.
Yet, people just ignored it and continue to carry the everyday habits that they love to do never knowing that these 'simple' things to them would really have a great impact on our environment and would lead to destroying the future.
Let's adopt a sustainable healthy lifestyle of going green inside our home.
It will help us stall the threat of environmental problems such as pollution, climate change and other issues that may occur.
It may not stop all the problems completely but then at least in substantial extent we can minimize these issues. Anyway, it can benefit a lot of people living in this planet.
There's no better time to start than today.
Let us live a healthy green lifestyle inside our home and help save tomorrow and our future generations. We owe this to them.
This might also add to the list: Simple Ways How to Save Our Environment
Help Save Planet Earth!
- The Greener, the Better: Why We Should Plant More Trees
It only takes minutes to cut down trees but it will take years to grow one. Planting more trees will benefit the next generation just like we have benefited on the trees of yesterday. - Smoke Belching and the Environment
Let us dig deeper on how smoke belching can affect the environment as well as human’s health and how can we give our fair share in reducing air pollution. - 5 Major Contributors to Forest and Wildlife Extinction
Extinction means they're gone forever. Save our forest and the vanishing wildlife before it's too late. - How to Protect and Save Marine Life
Everyone is responsible in saving our marine environment. What can you do as one person to help protect our natural resources? I’m calling for all to let us do our part and be the agent of change. There’s no better time to start than today.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2012 Life Under Construction
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Comments
Im a fan of reuse,reduce,recycle thing. It helps me save money especially Im a fulltime mom and need to budget everything.
Myz. I'm so glad you're going green. Our environment is so important. Thanks so much for sharing this! Great to read this and I hope to see you around the hubs!
-Aubrey
Go Green and save Green with a hand held bidet sprayer. The easiest and best thing you can do. The Bidet Sprayer will pay for itself many times over in toilet paper savings which makes this a very smart and green thing to do. Available at www.bathroomsprayers.com .
- AUTHOR
Sha! you are sooo great!! i knew it! i knew since you posted green tips, i was inspired to go green like you do. i also use baking soda and calamansi to clean tiles and use it as bleach and fabric conditioner.
PS: thank you so much :)) Go Green!!
Great hub, Spy! I am so green at home I have to tell people who are entering for the first time that I live in a cave! I have replaced all my light bulbs with the curleycue ones that last for years. I prefer dim lighting, so I only turn them on for newcomers who aren't familiar with my habits. I walk thru my house like a blind person, should I awaken in the middle of the night. I know the layout and walk with my hands on the walls, so there's no need to turn on the lights. And I'm really anal about turning off the lights when you leave a room!
I do laundry only when I have a full load, using environmentally friendly soap. I use baking soda instead of bleach and white vinegar instead of commercial fabric softener.
I use no chemical cleaners in my home. White vinegar, baking soda and olive oil are all you need for just about everything.
I cook from scratch and throw all compostable waste into my homemade composter. Everything that can be recycled is recycled in my home!
About the only thing I don't do is to turn the water off when I brush my teeth. I seem to need the rush of the water to set the pace!
P.S. You did a really nice job on this one!
- AUTHOR
@Mary, Fiddleman, Mike, Michelle, YourCousins, DrMark, Casimiro, Billy, Meldz, Janine, Barbara, Rebecca, Kris, Tom, Shasta, Deb, Jen, Sue, Vellur, Mhatter, Rich, Mary, Eddy, Beckie, Nancy:
Guys, thanks for the time reading this hub..I also love your messages, your comments and your suggestions too. Thanks for the support. Appreciate it much.
I can honestly say that I do these. Thanks for reminding me that I am saving money. Voted Up and Shared.
You are on an important and needed roll my friend! Keep it up as the world can use more green practices.
A brilliant hub and thank you f0r sharing.
Eddy.
So many great ideas packed into one little hub! My three year old grandson often reminds us, "REUSE-REDUCE-RECYCLE" so I know we're doing our job ;)
Voted up, useful, and interesting.
Myz - Extremely useful information. There are many that could care less about the concept. But, when you start talking to them about saving money attitudes immediately change! I use many that you've listed as I'm somewhat conservation minded (especially with animals). It would hypocritical to look at one area and ignore the others. Great Job!
Wow... what an information packed Hub! All excellent. Thank you for raising our awareness.
Very useful tips to go green in our homes. Following your pointers will make a big difference to the environment. Great hub.
Hi Myz
Great suggestions on going green. The only one that I don't agree with is using CFL bulbs.
Voted up and awesome
Take care :)
Great information!
Well said, Mycee. Green is the word!
Great ideas here - we have implemented some of these suggestions, and are trying to do more, one habit at a time.
Hi my friend M. great hub, and all good information and advice to go green within your home. Well done !
Vote up and more !!! SHARING !
Lots of great tips here. Just think if everyone did just a few of these the amount of energy we would save!
Great ideas and very attractively presented I might add! Every little bit helps in going green. Shared!
Oh great hub. This reminds me of my Mom who wanted to decorate our house with everything green on Christmas. One X'mas, our Christmas tree was a fresh banana tree just uprooted from the ground and decorated with green sparkling light. What an idea!
Myz, so many great tips and suggestions here on going green. I love it and seriously you are the Queen of Green!! Have of course voted and shared too!!
Hi Mycee! Have a great day to you. :-) Thanks for the reminders. Almost all our electronics are in standby mode and it is really easier to just click the remote and it goes on. I appreciate your ideas in saving everything.
Voted up and useful. :-)
Well done Myz! We are a green household and follow most of these ideas. I hope many people read this and adopt these great suggestions.
Great hub! A little ironic that a CFC bulb is the first picture, though, since these are probably the least green of your suggestions. CFC efficiency drops dramatically over time and they are not suitable for all locations, which leads to early replacement. Furthermore, they contain mercury, which ends up in the environment when they are disposed of. A much better option is to use LEDs. More efficient than CFCs and last far, far longer.
Voted up!
Many of your suggestions are very good but I do need to make a comment about the CFL overusage. If you replace your incadescent light bulbs in your bathrooms and closets with CFL you will be using more energy and burning out bulbs more quickly. CFLs are appropriate in the kitchen and office where lights are left on all evening, not in rooms where the lights are flipped on and off. There are several other things that are a lot better for the environment (like riding a bicycle instead of using a car, growing a garden, raising your own chickens--if you do not have a phobia!) and those things should be done before CFLs are put into inappropriate places.
I just got my recycling bin last week and my family is surprised by the amount of recyclable items that we have. We haven't been able to break the habit of bottled water yet, but we have started to use leftover water for our plants. Thanks for all the good tips. Voted up and useful.
We need these reminders, Myz. Often, appliances on standby mode draw electricity, so shutting them down cuts down on electricity too. You're a true environmentalist! Sharing!
Quite Interesting subject.. I have have come to realize that getting off the grid is a big part of it. By just having the basics (food, water, energy) makes all the difference. If you are producing your own food, water and energy you are completely free. You are dependent on no one.. I think we all have to do our bit. Even just the small things will help :)
Thanks spy for your useful & informative hub , shared!
Great read packed full of great ideas. Our energy provider gave us free lights, they take some getting used to but in the long run will save energy and hopefully savings on our utility bills.
This is a subject that I am truly interested in. If everyone just did their little part, it would make a difference in our world. I'd like to see more use of solar energy, too. I wrote a Hub about this company who is working on a way to make edible food containers thereby reducing the amount of plastics, etc. in our landfills. I invite you to read my Hub when you have some time.
I voted this UP, etc. and will share.
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