Faced with the urgency of accelerating the green transition, embracing environmentally conscious practices at home is essential.
But where to start? Follow our guide!
Expertly Manage Your Water Consumption
Many place a high priority on water conservation, and with good reason. There are lots of measures you can implement at home to combat waste:
- Install a flow restrictor on faucets and shower heads.
- Take short showers instead of baths.
- Don’t leave the faucet running while you brush your teeth.
- Collect rainwater to water plants and wash the car.
- Replace toilets with dual flush models (or place an empty bottle in the toilet tank to diminish the amount of potable water used for every flush).
Improve the Landscaping with Sustainability in Mind
Carefully thought-out landscaping can help decrease carbon emissions and foster biodiversity.
For example, plant trees to create shade and reduce heat islands in summer. Choose native plants (that originate here) which require less water and maintenance to thrive. Spread mulch to limit evaporation and cut back on watering.
And to support our precious pollinating bees, provide a flower buffet! Lavender, asters and even dandelions are guaranteed winners. In fact, some municipalities encourage their citizens to leave the dandelions in their lawns by not mowing for the entire month of May.
Green Your Cleaning Routine
First, the Laundry
Did you know that many detergents contain phosphates (which cause harmful algal blooms in our lakes and rivers) or microplastics (a major source of ocean plastic pollution)?
To combat this issue, it’s important that you switch to biodegradable and environmentally certified laundry detergents, and wash in cold water as much as possible. Likewise, avoid chemical fabric softeners.
Next, Your Cleaning Products
Make your own: you’ll be saving money and the environment! Plus, they’re just as effective when it comes to regular household cleaning tasks.
As long as you always have three key ingredients on hand—white vinegar, baking soda and lemon—you can make your house sparkle. You can easily find recipes on the Internet that you can mix up in no time at all.
Finally, the Dishes
Many people believe that washing the dishes by hand is more eco-friendly than running the dishwasher. But often the opposite is true! Whichever method you prefer, it’s best to proceed in the following manner:
Hand washing: Fill the sink with water rather than leave the faucet running, use warm water instead of hot, and opt for a biodegradable soap.
The dishwasher: Choose a water and energy-efficient model, only turn it on when full, avoid prerinsing under the tap (just scrape food residue off), and always run it on a quick wash cycle.
Take Steps to Reduce Your Energy Consumption
Aim to acquire energy-saving habits! There are lots of ways you can lower your electricity consumption:
- Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
- Use LED lightbulbs, which need less electricity.
- Unplug devices in standby mode to avoid phantom energy loss.
- Increase insulation around windows and patio doors by covering them with a plastic insulation film during the winter.
- Caulk around electrical outlets to block cold drafts.
- Reapply sealant around doors and windows to stop outside air from getting in.
- Hang thermal curtains to limit heat transfers.
- Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature according to your needs.
- Lower the thermostat a few degrees at night or when out of the house.
- Opt for ENERGY STAR certified appliances.
Consume Smarter
The kitchen is not only the heart of the home, it also offers the most opportunities for a positive change.
- Eat less red meat as it has the largest carbon footprint.
- Cook at home and buy fewer pre-made meals which generate more waste.
- Purchase in bulk to cut down on plastic packaging and overpackaging in food.
- Shop local (food transportation is very polluting).
- Bring your own reusable bags to the store instead of relying on plastic ones (many municipalities have actually banned single-use plastic bags).
- Compost organic waste to reduce household garbage (if your municipality doesn’t collect compost, do it yourself in your backyard or on your balcony!).
By making the effort to develop these habits, you’ll be taking a step towards a more sustainable and ecologically responsible lifestyle.