Upcycling and Sustainable Living: 11 Creative Solutions For A Greener Home

Climate change has become a serious problem in our environment. From rising temperatures to natural disasters, its impacts are being noticed far and wide. This is an alarm that we need to adopt environment-friendly measures at all levels, including our homes and lifestyle, to address this problem. In this article, we will share some easy tips and tricks on incorporating creative solutions for a greener home.

Given the increased use of plastic and other elements in our homes, you may think that this is difficult or expensive. However, by using a few simple tips, you can decorate your home affordably with eco-friendly items. At the same time, you can decrease the carbon footprint in your home while expressing your style.

11 Creative Solutions For A Greener Home:

1. Discover Upcycling

The most timeless eco-friendly tip is upcycling at your home. You can make use of discarded materials at home by converting them into something useful and beautiful. When you buy any new item, like a decorative piece at your home, you are likely to discard the old one that goes into the landfill. But, you make new items from that waste that can help you reduce your discarded items and make new purchases benefiting the environment.

Otherwise, higher demands always harm the environment. You just need a little effort and creativity to upcycle worn sweaters, broken artefacts, and old bottles into amazing home decor items. Apart from benefiting the environment, it gives you a chance to add your personal touch of creativity to your home.

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2. Buy Sustainable Furnishings

Whenever you set up your home or add any new furniture item, your first thought is that it should look beautiful. Now, along with that, aim to buy sustainable ones, too. Always decide to purchase new decor items made from sustainable materials and ethical production.

For instance, items made from certified wood, organic cotton, hemp or more. Apart from being sustainable, they reduce plastic use at home, which is not good for your health. Moreover, they are affordable and made by local artists and woodworkers, which is reflected in their beauty.

3. Replace Fluorescent Light Bulbs With LEDs

LED light bulbs use up to 90% less energy, minimise power usage, and last longer. They can produce up to 10,000 hours of light, two to four times longer than most ordinary bulbs. So, installing LEDs can be a great change for the environment and you.

4. Use Natural Elements For Home Decor

When you connect with nature, like walking on grass barefoot or listening to birds chirping in the morning, it positively impacts your mind. Although they may not be possible in your busy life, you can bring elements of nature into your home. You can keep plants at your home, use real beeswax or soy wax candles, or use pure essential oils instead of freshers.

Also, get beautiful rocks, shells, or wooden artefacts to decorate your home rather than buy plastic decor items. Apart from making your home look more elegant and personal, this will help you purify your indoor air at home, which is a win-win situation.

5. Make Conscious Eco-Friendly Changes in life 

After upcycling and getting nature in your home, make small swaps in daily choices as well. You can install water-saving faucets, LED light bulbs, and cloth bags, and erect big windows rather than using AC.

These changes may seem small, but they make a collective difference. Also, you can choose to use public transport or carpooling and switch off electricity when not in use. Start doing this by redecorating your room to create sustainable habits one by one.

6. Buy Used and Vintage Decor

After making the conscious shifts, you can also focus on buying used products. Instead of shopping from malls or big shops, you can make purchases from antique stores, estate sales, secondhand shops, thrift stores, or online marketplaces for buying used goods.

It will not only help you get proven quality vintage products but also benefit your budget. They will help you make greener choices, and imbibe true craftsmanship in your home decor. Don’t worry about options because you can get various big and small items, from carved antique bed frames to glass furniture. It will help you fill your home with charm while being kind to the planet.

7. Rethink Your Floor Plan

Getting in contact with nature has several health advantages but also other life benefits. Adjusting your layout to maximise natural light is a simple way to reduce energy use and save money. Consider which rooms receive the most sunlight and use less manmade energy there, saving that for the rooms which receive less sunlight. Try to work on sunlight for the day and use bulbs, etc. for the night.

8. Install Sustainable Flooring

Reclaimed wood rescued from old structures such as barns or older buildings may be recycled and prevented from decaying in landfills, an excellent method to conserve trees. It also improves air quality because it is not produced and has no dangerous VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Bamboo, cork, recycled glass, recycled plastic bottles, and tire-made carpets are other potential options for sustainable flooring.

9. Install Energy-efficient Air Conditioners

An energy-efficient air conditioner reduces energy usage, carbon footprint, and monthly cost as well. Two sorts of units can be considered: split systems and packaged central air systems with ductwork. With a minor change like opting for energy-efficient air conditioners can help you contribute massively to the environmental change.

10. Invest in Solar Panels

Solar power is one of the most effective ways to reduce home energy use. Solar panels installed on your roof can generate clean, pure energy from the sun, decreasing the need for fossil fuels. However, it may take some time to see savings after the initial installation investment (it takes roughly eight years to break even).

Ideally, you’ll need a bright, south-facing roof in good condition to support the panels. (You do not need to replace your roof, but make sure it will last a long time) While solar panels might be expensive, several states in India provide incentives and subsidies to homes considering the transition, which you can avail to help you implement this change.

11. Go For High-performance Windows

Double-pane windows can help keep cold air out in the winter and hot air out in the summer. High-performance windows can cut heat loss by up to 50%. For an ecologically friendly touch, add hemp or bamboo blinds or cotton curtains to create a pleasant and peaceful ambience.

Final Words

Imagine living in a house where all the electronics are run entirely by solar energy. Where, even on dry days, every drop of rain that strikes your roof is used to irrigate your yard. Making small attempts and using a problem-solving approach can help you easily design your beautiful and eco-friendly home.

These days, when many people are becoming interested in sustainable living, many still struggle to modify their habits and are unsure where to begin their sustainability journey. Adapting this greener lifestyle will help you improve your mental health and the planet’s health both at once.

Also Checkout – How To Start a Home Vegetable Garden? 6 Amazing Tips

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