You care about the environment, and you want to lessen your negative environmental impact by making your home as eco-friendly as possible … but you don’t want to sacrifice style and comfort to do that.
No problem. There are many ways to go green at home while keeping your castle comfortable and chic! Here are some ideas to get you started on the path of reducing your carbon footprint and doing good things for our planet:
Repurpose “pre-loved” goods
Reduce your carbon footprint by buying furnishings and home decorations that are second-hand, or “pre-loved,” as us environmental-minded consumers like to say. Secondhand stores and online outlets often have vintage items that can be easily repurposed or revamped to fit into your style. There is bound to be something out there that fits into the décor style you have in mind.
And, if you are getting rid of furniture and décor, consider donating them or selling them if those items are still usable. Donating to someone you know if they need these items, or to a charity, is terrific!
Use thermal curtains
Make your home more energy efficient – and thus, more eco-friendly – by using thermal curtain panels. Thermal curtains keep air from coming into or escaping from the room. This is especially beneficial in the winter, when the curtain will keep heat inside. That reduces the amount of heat needed to maintain warmth. During the summer, thermal curtains prevent cooler air from leaving the room.
Thermal curtains can reduce consumer energy demands which can be a drag on the world’s energy resources. And oh, by the way … you’ll save a sizable amount of money on your home energy and utility bills by using these curtains!
You can find thermal curtains in various fabrics, styles, patterns, and solid colors. They can go a long way to help create the look and atmosphere you want for your room. Thermal curtains can be functional and fashionable.
Thermal curtains should not be confused with blackout curtains, which are usually installed in rooms with the most exposure to sunlight. If you decide to use blackout curtains in your bathroom, be sure to get curtains with fabric that has water resistance to address humidity issues and to reduce the chances of developing mold.
Find energy-efficient heating and cooling units
This is not to make people feel guilty about using heating and air-conditioning units in their residences. But there is something to keep in mind when searching units for purchase. Look for units that are energy-efficient and that don’t put out greenhouse-effect gasses which can be hazardous to the environment. Pick Energy Star certified units, particularly ones with high SEER ratings (Seasonal Energy Efficient Ratio). Units with higher ratings tend to have the best energy efficiency.
There isn’t a fashion component to this earth-friendly tip. But it is somewhat related to our tip about thermal curtains.
Buy sustainable bedsheets
Sustainable bedsheets is not something with which most people are familiar. For that reason, we will spend a little more time discussing this eco-friendly tip for your home.
What makes bedsheets sustainable? It’s all about the material used to make them. Find an option other than cotton bedsheets, which are not eco-friendly because of the huge amount of water required for cotton crops to grow. That is not sustainable agriculture.
Seek out sheets made of materials that don’t tax the environment and natural resources, such as water. Bedsheets made from eucalyptus trees are a great option because eucalyptus trees require about 95 percent less water to produce enough product to make one sheet. There are eucalyptus trees which grow on non-arable land. On top of that, eucalyptus-fiber sheets also require about 30 percent less energy to produce one bedsheet.
Also, eucalyptus trees require zero pesticides or insecticides. Compare that to cotton crops, which can require anywhere between 16 and 25 percent of the world’s insecticides, according to the Environmental Justice Foundation. We all know the ecological damage that can be done by the use of pesticides and insecticides. Less is definitely better.
Now, let’s talk comfort and quality.
Eucalyptus-fiber bedsheets are softer, more breathable, and smoother, and are less prone to fade (even after repeated washings) as compared to cotton sheets. Also, eucalyptus sheets evaporate moisture – such as body sweat – better than cotton sheets do.
It may not be easy to find sustainable bedsheets. And, if you do find them at places where you typically shop, chances are the price for them will be sky high. That’s because most retailers, who think environmental-minded consumers may pay a bit more for eco-friendly products, will probably raise the price.
But you can get sustainable bedsheets at a great price at a new startup called Sheets & Giggles. The company sells affordable and sustainable bedsheets made of eucalyptus fibers, which will be available for pre-order starting May 1st. These sheets are comfortable, and are actually naturally softer and more breathable than cotton sheets. Eucalyptus sheets are nothing new, but in the past have tended to be extremely expensive, which has limited mass market adoption. This new brand is a lot more affordable, and discounted prices will be available through May.
Cool Side note: Sheets & Giggles customers get a package so they can return to the company their old sheets they no longer need – and Sheets & Giggles donate those turned-in sheets to homeless shelters through the company’s “Give 2 Sheets” program. That’s a great way to keep bedsheets from getting tossed in the trash and piling up in landfills. But even if these sheets end up in a landfill, it’s important to note that Sheets & Giggles’ bedsheets biodegrade about 40 percent faster than cotton sheets.
Watch your paint choice
Pick whatever paint color you like. But pick paint that is better for the environment and your health. Avoid paints with VOCs (Volatile organic compounds). VOCs are used in many wall paints because VOCs help paint spread evenly. But as the paint dries, the VOCs combine with air molecules and the result is a substance that can give people headaches … and cause numerous other health and environmental problems. There are non-toxic options out there.
Pick sustainable wood products
If you really want wood furniture and décor, be sure to find products made from FSC (Forest Steward Council) certified wood – and you will help with the fight against deforestation. Look for the FSC tick-tree logo to know you have items made from FSC certified wood. You’ll know this wood has been harvested in a way that’s better for the planet than standard wood furniture.
Decorating your home with products made from reclaimed wood is an earth-friendly option because it involves reusing wood from previous construction.
There are tons of ideas out there. Do some research, using credible and reliable sources to find what you can do to make your home more eco-friendly. Make those changes at home and make a difference in the world at the same time. The best part is that you can do it in style!