World Wisdom: Green Solutions to Protect Your Family

Credit: Photo by ready made

A mother will do anything to protect her child and a vital part of that is protecting the world that they will inherit. Everyone is responsible for acting environmentally friendly and ensuring that the planet will be safe for the next generation. Climate change is threatening to cause serious damage to the world. Damage that our children will be burdened with facing. Here are some ways that you can begin living a more sustainable lifestyle and do your part in guaranteeing our children can enjoy the outdoors just like we did. 

Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water

Washing your clothes in cold water is a simple way to reduce your home’s impact on the environment. Nearly ninety percent of the energy a washing machine consumes is used to heat the water needed to clean your clothes. By washing your clothes in cold water you can not only reduce the amount of energy your household consumes but you will also save money that would otherwise be spent on an electricity bill. Another benefit of washing your clothes in cold water is that your clothes will last longer. Warm water can deteriorate the fabric of your clothes more quickly, leaving them easy to tear. Cold water is also better for preserving the color of your clothes as hot water can make the dye bleed out of your clothing. Warm water is really only necessary if you are dealing with a stubborn stain such as an oil stain. 

Shop Online and Choose Green Shipping Options

Online shopping has become incredibly popular because of its convenience and simplicity, but there is another hidden advantage as well. Online shopping can actually be kinder to the environment because there isn’t a physical storefront that needs to be lit, restocked, and manned. This means that a great deal of the pollution that results from running a store is mitigated. For instance, the energy consumed to keep a store lit for ten hours a day is unnecessary for online shopping. Furthermore, online shopping gives you some control over the environmental impact of shipping. It is both more monetarily and environmentally efficient to have a single delivery truck reach multiple consumers than it is to continuously stock a store with products that a consumer may or may not want. A USPS shipping calculator can even track the money you save by choosing the best shipping options. 

Swap Regular Light Bulbs for Greener Alternatives

A great deal of the energy consumed by traditional incandescent lightbulbs is wasted lost through heat, making them rather inefficient. Fortunately, there are alternative lighting sources that are much kinder to the planet. The most environmentally friendly option for lighting is to install new windows or skylights. The major benefit of installing new windows or skylights is that the light you receive from them is entirely natural and has little-to-no impact on the environment. Additionally, they tend to raise the overall value of your home, meaning you can ask for more money if you ever decide to sell your home. However, installing new windows or skylights can be expensive. 

If you want a greener way of lighting your home without breaking the bank you should consider switching to LED bulbs. They cost a little bit more initially, but they run much, much more efficiently. In fact, they run so much more efficiently than traditional bulbs that they usually pay for themselves within a few months just by how much they will save you on your power bill. You could also consider adding timers to lights in rooms that do not need to stay lit for long periods of time such as closet or bathroom lights. This will ensure that a lightbulb is never consuming more energy than is necessary. 

Credit: Photo by Anete Lusina

Pick Water-based Paints

Most paints that are used to paint walls in houses are oil-based paints which contain chemicals that can be harsh on the environment. Consider purchasing water-based paints the next time you want to change the way a room in your home looks. Water-based paints contain natural pigments that are easier on the environment than the pigments used in oil-based paints. Additionally, water-based paints contain fewer irritants, making them the better choice for people with sensitive skin or eyes. 

Purchase Energy-efficient Appliances

The majority of the energy our homes consume is used by appliances. The largest consumers of energy in the home are washers and dryers, air conditioning, and dishwashers. Replacing an old washer and dryer can be expensive, but it is definitely worth it if you have the budget for it. Newer models of these appliances are much more efficient and use less energy than older models. However, if you can’t invest in new large appliances at the moment, there are still other appliances that can be improved. For example, you could consider replacing the showerheads in your home with low-flow showerheads that reduce the amount of water used by your shower. Low-flow showerheads can be found for under $100 and can save you money on your monthly water bill. 

A smart thermometer can also help your household reduce its carbon footprint. Smart thermometers help homes run more efficiently by ensuring that no energy is wasted when heating or cooling a home. Traditionally thermostats require a person to manually change an air conditioning unit’s settings, but a smart thermometer can be changed from anywhere. You can even program your smart thermometer to turn your air conditioning off entirely when you leave for work and turn it back on an hour before you’re home. This will reduce your home’s overall energy consumption and keep your home at a comfortable temperature whenever it needs to be. 

Think Green When Cleaning

Many of the cleaning products we keep in the house contain chemicals that damage the environment when thrown out. These chemicals can also hang around the air of our homes and are harsh on our bodies. Additionally, the plastic bottles that these products come in are major contributors to physical waste that can sit for years in landfills. Greener alternatives to harsh chemicals such as bleach can clean our homes just the same and reduce the amount of water pollution we contribute to. You can even make cleaning solutions at home with ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen. Baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and all-purpose soap work well as alternatives to stronger cleaning products that contain dangerous chemicals.