By Jesse Crow

Moving Homes in the Green Direction

Going green is a trend that continues to gain traction.  More and more families are incorporating green practices into their daily lives.  To contribute to this movement that not only protects our environment, but also our health, you don’t have to know it all.  Even just making a couple of these suggested changes can make a big impact.

Simple Changes for Going Green at Home

Try adding one or two of these simple changes to your household routine.

Focus on Laundry –There is a few ways you can reduce the consumption of our natural resources in the laundry room.  First of all, make sure when you run the washing machine to wash a load of laundry it is a full load.  This saves on both water and energy usage.  Using Energy Star rated machines is another way to control energy consumption.  If you are up to the challenge, you can hand wash clothing instead.  This drastically reduces the use of water and will save you money in the process. Additionally, you can prevent harsh chemicals from entering our environment when you opt for organic or natural laundry soap.

Free and Clear Dish Soap –Hand washing dishes also lessens the amount of water used in a household.  Regardless of whether you machine or hand wash, the soap you use will go down the drain and seep into the ground at some point. Choose a dish soap alternative that is free of harmful chemicals.

Make Natural Cleaning Products for Home Use –There are many recipes online for natural cleaning alternatives.  These replace chemical heavy glass cleaners, toilet cleaners, and kitchen cleaners.  By using vinegar, lemon, and baking soda instead, you can improve indoor air quality. If you’d rather, there is an increasing number of botanical products available in the marketplace.

Raise Plants for Better Air Quality –Household plants can help filter the air in your home and make it safer to breathe. Gerbera daisies, for example, remove toxins like formaldehyde from the air.  NASA even released a study of more than ten specific plants stating that plants can indeed remove “organic chemicals from indoor air.”

Decorate in an Eco-Friendly Manner –Painting your living room?  Look for paints with zero VOCs.  Volatile Organic Compounds release into the air, reducing its quality.

Choose Organic Every Time–Organic isn’t just for food anymore.  For example, organic bedding products touch your skin directly.  It makes sense to want these items to be free from chemicals throughout production.  You can even get an organic latex mattress, free from chemical off gassing.  Often times, products like these come with additional benefits, too.

Reuse and Recycle –Replacing disposable water bottles with a reusable container is a good idea any way you look at it.  Over 24 billion water bottles end up in landfills each year.  On top of that, when you consume water from these bottles you can be exposed to hormone disrupting chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA).

Eliminate Disposables –Disposable diapers, plates, paper towels and more produce garbage and add expenses to your household budget.  Whenever possible, avoid disposable products.

Plant Trees –A shade tree that covers your home may reduce the amount of energy required to cool your home in the hot season.

Some ways to go green at home are more expensive than others.  For example, solar panels can provide a free energy source for the home, but not without the upfront costs.  Yet, replacing classic light bulbs with Energy Star bulbs can save you as much as you spend rather quickly.  Interestingly, green upgrades can increase the value of a house when it comes time to resell.

Making the move towards a cleaner or greener lifestyle doesn’t have to be difficult.  It’s not about doing it all at once.  Just take a few steps in the right direction.

 

 

Jesse Crow is the President of Rest Right Mattress, an online retailer specializing in sleep care. His extensive expertise includes organic sleep products, sleep health and shipping logistics