Photo Credit: Vincent Rivaud, www.pexels.com
We all know about the ever-growing concern of climate change, so doing your bit for the environment is important. Thankfully, people across the world are increasingly taking notice and making small but subtle changes to how they live, helping to promote a greener lifestyle. If you want to make changes and become eco-friendly, not only will you be helping to contribute towards a sustained environment, it can help save you money too.
Known for its Mediterranean climate, entertainment industry, and dazzling lights, Los Angeles is one of the largest cities on the West Coast of North America. If LA is your base, no matter where you are situated across the city, there are huge improvements that you can make to your home to help do your bit for the environment. With that in mind, here are 12 ways to make your Los Angeles home more eco-friendly.
Get Serious About Water
When the word ‘sustainability’ springs to mind, we tend to only relate it to energy consumption. However, if you’re serious about becoming more eco-friendly, this means that you will need to take a holistic approach, so it’s important that you become more aware of how much water you are using. Firstly, make sure to go around your home to check for any leaks that you can fix.
Even if you cannot spot any leaks, there are tons of lifestyle changes that you should consider making to help save water. For instance, when you go to brush your teeth or have a shave, it can be all too easy to leave the tap running, so being aware and switching it off when you’re not using it is crucial. You may also want to purchase a low-flow shower head, which can save you up to 160,000 litres of water. The more people you live with, the more water you can save.
Install a Smart Meter
When temperatures drop, many of us don’t think twice about putting the heating on. While Los Angeles is known for its Mediterranean climate, that’s not to say the city doesn’t get cold from time to time. In fact, when it does get chilly, Californians feel the cold much more, because they are used to the sunny weather. In the winter months especially, it can be all too easy to leave the heating on for much longer than you actually need it. Not only can this waste money, but you will see a dramatic increase in your energy bill.
To combat this head on, you may want to consider installing a smart meter for your home. If you lead a hectic schedule, such as working long hours or always being on the go, you can program your smart meter to switch on at certain times throughout the day. For example, switching your smart meter on just before you arrive home will mean your abode has time to heat up. You should also turn it off an hour or so before you head out the door. If you’re looking to save money on your energy bill and want to reduce your carbon footprint, installing a smart meter can be a great place to start.
Change Your Lightbulbs
You may not realize it, but the lightbulbs that you use for your home can be doing serious damage to the environment. Investing in the right lightbulbs can help reduce your energy consumption, allowing you to lead a greener lifestyle. While LED bulbs are not a new invention, it has taken a large amount of time for people to be aware of and come around to the idea of using them for their home. When you think about the good you can be doing for the earth, it makes sense to make the switch. What’s more, energy efficient lightbulbs last longer and use less electricity, meaning you won’t have to fork out a ton of money to replace them.
Install Solar Panels
Another feature that’s essential for an eco-friendly home is solar panels, one of the most popular ways of going green in LA. It’s only natural that you will want to find the best solar company in Los Angeles, so you may want to consider checking out companies like Semper Solaris, who provide what is regarded as the best solar installation Los Angeles. The company offers a several different types and sizes of panels to ensure each customer is catered for. Semper Solaris also works in partnership with American panel manufacturers to provide the best quality available in green energy technology. When looking at solar providers Los Angeles, Semper Solaris may be the right option for you.
Engage with Sustainability Consultants
No matter how big your home is, each property is different, meaning there’s all sorts of things that you can do as a homeowner to improve the green credentials of your property. To get started, why not engage with a sustainability consultant? Not only can they provide you with a full analysis of your property, but they’ll provide you with the best ideas and tips to help transform your home for the better, making it more eco-friendly. It doesn’t hurt to get expert advice, especially when it comes to leading a greener lifestyle.
Embrace Natural Cleaning Products
We all like to keep our homes in excellent condition. Whether you have children causing chaos, like inviting friends over for a catchup, or are currently showing your property to potential homebuyers, it’s important to keep on top of the cleaning. What you may not know is the products you use could be having a damaging effect on the environment.
There are lots of harmful chemicals out there that could be having a negative effect. When you wash them down the drain, all you’re doing is passing them on into the water supply, meaning that the water needs more purification before it’s able to be safely used again. The good news, however, is that in most cases, you don’t need to use them at all! When it comes to day-to-day cleaning, why not opt for natural products instead? Whether it be citric acid, bicarbonate of soda, or even vinegar, these can all be used instead of caustic chemicals to keep your home sparkling clean and environmentally friendly.
Insulate Your Home
Lowering your energy consumption should be one of your main priorities, especially if you’re serious about being more environmentally friendly. Another great way to do this is by investing in insulation. Trapping the heat in your property is important, meaning you’re less likely to switch the heating on. The last thing you want to do is burn energy throughout the home on a constant basis.
There are lots of places in the home that should be insulated, such as in the roof or within the walls. If you haven’t already, you should invest in double glazing for your windows to not only keep the heat in but also block out the noise from outside. Also, you should make sure to cover any hardwood floors that are exposed with an area rug. Not only are they cost-effective, area rugs can add a stylish touch to your property, helping to keep your home insulated and stopping air from seeping out through the cracks in your flooring.
Create Your Own Compost
Many of us throw our leftover food and scraps into the trash. If this sounds like you, why not turn them into compost instead? You would be amazed at how much food that goes to waste can instead be recycled and transformed into compost. To get started, all you need to do is simply place a compost bin in your backyard, making sure to fill it with any leftover food.
Buy Recycled
Whether it be toilet paper or kitchen paper, switching to recycled products can make the world of difference, helping you to be more eco-friendly in the home. When you are next out grocery shopping, make sure to have a look at whether there’s a recycled option on the packaging, making it more enticing to purchase. You can also buy recycled paper too, as well as recycled technology such as smartphones and gaming consoles. We all know how important it is to recycle, so while you may not think too much about where your clutter and waste goes, you may not be aware that harmful chemicals and gases are released from the garbage in landfill sites. Being more environmentally aware can give you satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment too.
Cook Intelligently
The kitchen is one of the most social spaces in a home. If you enjoy cooking, there are all sorts of things that you can do to be more eco-friendly. For example, leaving the oven door open while cooking can lose a huge amount of heat, meaning that it will need to use a significant amount of energy to heat it back up. For those who love their cup of coffee in the morning, you may not realize that the coffee pods you use can also be having a harmful effect. With billions of plastic capsules and aluminum finding their way in landfill each year in America, it’s advised to enjoy your coffee from a conventional maker instead.
If you’re a meat eater, cutting down on your consumption of meat and dairy can be another great way to be more eco-friendly. The amount of red meat you eat can be having a huge impact on your carbon footprint, so reducing your intake is advised.
Choose Your Personal Care Wisely
We should all take notice of our personal hygiene. Whether it be having a shower each day, trimming your nails, or brushing your teeth, taking care of yourself is important. With so many products on the market that are said to be beneficial, you may be alarmed to find out that your body wash, face scrub, and toothpaste could contain microbeads, tiny bits of solid plastic that aren’t biodegradable, meaning they will ultimately end up destroying the environment once they’re in the food chain. When you next go shopping for personal hygiene products, make sure to have a look at the back of the packaging to make sure what you’re buying is good for the environment.
Cut Down on Plastic
Plastic pollution is a big problem. With our oceans, waterways, and land becoming filled with the stuff, doing your best to cut down on your plastic usage is important. We all know how important it is to stay hydrated, so if you’re prone to carrying a water bottle around with you, simply tossing it in the trash isn’t doing your bit for the environment. Instead, you may want to consider using a reusable water bottle. What you may find surprising is that out of the 80% of water bottles that get thrown in the trash, only 20% of them that have been recycled are able to be used for recycling. For the bottles that get thrown away, they will take more than 1,000 years to biodegrade, making it more important than ever to purchase a reusable water bottle instead, meaning that for every sip you take, you will be saving the environment.
Whether you live alone, with housemates, or as a family, doing your bit for the environment is crucial. While it may not seem like much, the more people who become aware of climate change and take action, the more chance we have of saving the planet.
If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to helping to save the planet, it’s best to have a sit down and analyse your day to day routine. Whether it be going for a shower, washing your face, or making food, you may be shocked at how much energy and water you’re wasting. Buying recycled products, cutting down on how much plastic you use, and installing solar panels are just a few changes that you can make for the better. As humans, we’re only here for a short time. However, making small differences can last much longer, helping the future generations to live in a world that cares for the environment. You should also let your family and friends know about what you’re doing. The more people you can get involved with being more eco-friendly, the better!