As we move swiftly into the past it is more than just time that we are leaving behind us. Often, industries and all kinds of commercial operations get the blame for harming the environment and ruining everything from the land to the water to the air to even the outermost layers of our planet. There is some truth to this considering the size of these operations but we also have to consider that as individuals, we also have an impact on the condition of the planet. While there might be a few hundred or even a few thousand industries in every city, there are hundreds of thousands if not millions of homes in the same vicinity.
The net impact of the way we live our lives in our homes has just as much of an impact, if not more, than the operations of the industries that we often blame. If everyone can start making a change of some kind, within their capacity, to help the environment, a major overhaul of the entire planet is possible. If you want to contribute to this effort, here are a few things you can do in your home to make it more sustainable.
1. Water Management
The most valuable resource is water, and we are constantly running out of it. Even though nearly 70 percent of the planet is covered in water bodies, the amount of usable water is very low, only a small fraction of all available water. In most areas, the water accessible by sea or ocean is not even fit for animal consumption and cannot be used for agriculture. There is only so much that can be done to treat water. If we all work together and use smarter water management systems in our homes, we can reduce waste and help maintain enough water for future generations to use.
2. Improve Lighting
One of the appliances that we use the most in our homes is the bulbs and tube lights. Traditional bulbs and tube lights consume a lot of electricity, whereas modern LED alternatives only consume a fraction. If a traditional fluorescent tube light uses 100W of power, the same sized LED versions that output more lumens will use 40W of power.
3. Insulation
A lot of energy is spent creating heat in the winter and cooling in the summer for all kinds of homes. Moreover, a lot of the actual heat or cool air is lost to the environment due to poor insulation. According to the roofing team at San Diego County roofing company simply adding a layer of insulation in the roof can help trap a lot of that wasted energy and can result in major energy savings. More importantly, it also saves heaters and ACs from running so often and creates all kinds of harmful gasses and toxins released into the air.
4. Solar
One of the most used resources within the home is electricity. While there are things that you can do to reduce your dependence on the power grid, through solar you can become completely independent. Installing solar in your home really helps out the environment and also gives you a lot of benefits. The greatest benefit is that you no longer have electricity bills, in fact, you might even make a profit from the excess production. Secondly, you are immune to power shortages and interruptions in the electricity supply as you are making your own power.
5. Better Appliances
Even with solar, you can optimize your use by installing appliances that have a higher energy rating. This means that they will use less power to do the same tasks. This way you are using less electricity and providing more naturally made power to the large power supply grid.
6. Waste Disposal
One of the biggest hygiene challenges is disposing of waste properly. If you can package your waste properly and even treat it before it is thrown out, it makes the job of garbage disposal companies a lot easier and also really helps the environment. Simply sorting your trash can improve the chance of it being recycled and necessary items being disposed of properly.
While you can’t go out and change how industries work or how garbage is disposed of in your community, you can do what is in your power to play your part. Certain things like getting your house insulated or installing a solar solution can be slightly pricey, but they will quickly payback in a matter of years. With energy costs rising, this could even be sooner. More importantly, these are the small changes that can collectively have a huge impact on the health of the planet and influence the kind of life that future generations will be able to enjoy.
