The 4 Basic Steps in Creating an Eco Friendly Home

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It seems like the mother of all asks – to take a step back from your current lifestyle and make the necessary changes to switch to eco-living. After all, everything we do has an effect on the environment, which can make it rather difficult to know where to even get started.  However, as with many things in life it isn’t about trying to kick-start a revolution overnight, but rather one of getting into good habits which can for the most part be started today. So if really looking to create an eco-friendly home for you and your family to be proud of, here’s a look at four simple steps to set you off in the right direction for life.



Reduce

First and foremost, the key to cutting down on waste both harmful and otherwise is to put the brakes on consumption in the first place. Over-consumption breeds unnecessary waste which if the Antichrist of eco-living. And this doesn’t mean putting the family on a diet and living in a cold home – it’s all about the simple things that really add up over time. For example, try to switch anything you have under the ‘disposable’ header to something reusable, which means you buy less over time and throw less away. From reusable razors to refillable pens and so on and so forth, it all adds up quicker than you think. And at the same time, try making the effort to buy products in bulk as to do so means taking home infinitely less packaging than buying several smaller items.

Reap

We’ve reached a  point in time now where almost every home out there could be making use of at least one goodie nature has to offer. Whether this means something as simple as capturing rainwater to use for plants or reaping the sun’s rays with a few solar panels, there’s so much good stuff being thrown at us every day that not using at least some of it is a bit of a tragedy. It costs next to nothing to set these kinds of thing up and once they’re in place, the good vibes and cash savings just keep coming in!

Reuse/Repair

Get into the habit of actually looking at and questioning everything you throw in the bin before you do so. This of course doesn’t include things like broken light bulbs and the like, but try pondering whether what you’re getting rid of could have a new life as something else. Or even better still, could you repair it yourself with a little time and effort for the sake of the bigger picture? We’re a wasteful society and this is something that really deserves more attention.

Recycle

And finally, don’t forget that recycling doesn’t just begin and end with the little blue box outside the back door. The list of goods and ‘waste’ products you can actually recycle is simple enormous, so don’t just assume there’s nothing of value in your trash other than glass bottles. And don’t forget that no matter what state your old clothes and fabrics are in, they’re always welcome as donations to be reused in a thousand and one ways by charities and shelters.

By Lisa Morton

Lisa Morton is a freelance writer who recently joined forces with Realistic to go about a large conservatory installation in her own home. She also regularly blogs on industry matters and general home improvement topics.