GotProperty

Do you want to create an eco-friendly home? Going green isn’t just about recycling, it also requires making changes around your property.

From choosing the right paint to growing indoor plants, there are plenty of ways you can reduce your impact on the environment.

We’ve compiled 16 tips to help you get started. Today we’re sharing 8 helpful suggestions, come back next week for 8 more in part 2. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly home, start your search on GotProperty.

1. Choose the right paint for your eco-friendly home

The volatile organic compounds in regular paint are bad for the environment. When you’re painting your home, make sure that you select paint that has low levels of VOCs.

2. Go solar

While using solar energy requires an initial investment, it can save you money in the long run. Light up your home with solar power and you’ll save money on electricity. Not only will you cut your electricity bills, you’ll also be one step closer to living in an eco-friendly home.

3. Repurpose and recycle

Recycling is key for anyone who is going green. Set up bins in your house that make it easy to separate your recycling and you can use kitchen waste as compost for your garden.

While recycling is important, it’s also essential to reduce your plastic consumption. Look for stores who sell products with less packaging to decrease the amount of rubbish that your household generates.

When you’re building or renovating your home, you can repurpose materials to create unique features that are also eco-friendly. Repurposing wood is a great option if you plan to build kitchen countertops.

4. Change your showerhead

An affordable and easy way to reduce your water usage is to change your showerhead to a low flow variation. You’ll help to conserve a precious resource as well as save on your water bill. Taking shorter showers and switching off the taps while you’re washing are other strategies that help conserve water. Another strategy is to place a bucket in your shower and use the water that it collects in your garden.

5. Upgrade your toilet cistern

Switch to a new toilet cistern that uses less water than its older counterparts. Cisterns that have two flush buttons enable you to choose between a long or short flush, helping to conserve water.

6. Install a geyser timer

Geysers are one of the major culprits when it comes to high-energy usage. Investing in a digital timer allows you to program your geyser so that it heats water only when it’s needed. This is a convenient option that gives you access to hot water while saving you electricity.

7. Use energy-saving lighting

Don’t forget to switch to energy-efficient lighting when you’re changing the bulbs in your home. LED bulbs are more expensive but they last for longer and save on electricity bills.

Start by replacing the bulbs in the rooms that you use the most if you don’t want the expense of changing all the bulbs in your home at the same time.

8. Recycle grey water

Collect water that has already been used and use it to water your garden. It’s important to use greywater straight away as storing it is unhygienic. Your bath water or water from the sink are both sources of greywater.

These are all great ways to make your home eco-friendly and our suggested methods are easy to implement. You can find an eco-friendly home on GotProperty today. Be sure to come back next week for our next set of tips!