Top Sustainable Home Tips To Live Better By Reducing and Reusing
We know so many people are interested in living more sustainably, but aren't sure where to start. We compiled a short list of simple, but effective tips to either help to get started or keep you going on with your sustainability journey. We know it's impractical to live a life with no footprint and we hope you don't make yourself crazy trying to attain it, but we know how much small actions add up and that every bit counts!
Opt for reusable whenever possible whether it's bottles or bags, napkins or forks, every bit counts! Single use, or very cheaply made items like these may seem convenient, but they have a huge cost when looked at long term. Not only do they cost more money than reusable over time to replace, they don't just disappear when thrown away. At best they end up in a landfill, but they often end up as litter, or contain harmful 'forever' chemicals that wind up in our soil and water supply. It can seem challenging to change our habits when using single use items on the regular, but once we make the shift, it will seem strange to not use them.
Quality over quantity and less is more! Similar to what was shared in the section above about reusable options, this sustainability tip highlights the benefits of being intentional on selecting fewer items of high quality that will last as opposed to a higher quantity of items that will wear and break quickly. This saves a lot of money in the long run as you don't have to keep making small purchases. For context, $30 per day for 365 days is a whopping $10,090. Buying less will also give you more peace of mind as it's a lot of work to keep all kinds of "stuff" organized. Then, it ends up collecting dust which either ends up costing you more time to clean it or more money to have it cleaned. Another bonus is this practice significantly reduces waste, because you're not purchasing items to be quickly trashed and less purchases tell manufacturers that consumers want different products.
Close blinds or curtains during the heat of the day to save on A/C and energy. When the sun shines in through your window, it may light up the place, but it brings a lot of heat and is unforgiving on items like your floor or furniture. Closing window treatments helps to keep the heat out and the cool in. If you have a lot of plants and are worried about them getting enough sunlight (we understand), try closing the shades only when the sun is shining directly in the window. If you're in need of new, energy efficient shades, reach out to our friends at Vertical Vic's in Mount Clemens. They're a local, family business that can help you get a quality window treatment with great service! (586) 465-363 https://www.verticalvics.com/
Avoid using electricity during peak hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Running the dishwasher or washing machine, or charging batteries during peak electricity hours creates a strain on the utility company, so they've asked us to avoid using electricity as much as possible during this time, and even offer a savings on using energy during off hours. According to DTE, the best time to schedule heavy usage if possible, is between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. and this is where the biggest cost savings can be found.
Wear your clothes a few times before laundering. Just because you wore the shirt once doesn't mean it needs to be washed right away, unless it's become soiled by sweat, smoke, or stain. Overwashing actually wears your clothes out much faster which means you not only spend more time and money on laundry, but then more money on replacing your clothes. That's money you could be spending on hiring a green cleaning service to help you maintain your home so you can be out enjoying your time with a hobby or friends.
Don't buy your trash! We love refillieries like Walking Lightly in Ferndale, 86 Plastic in Troy, Refill Emporium in St. Clair Shores that exist to offer eco-friendly home and personal care options for purchase as refills rather than pre-packaged products. You can bring your own, use containers that others have brought in, or purchase a quality container to refill again and again. These businesses are also active in their communities, offering various workshops or gatherings aimed at helping us live better and more sustainably.
Walking Lightly - 1030 Hilton Rd Ferndale, MI 48220
https://www.walkinglightly.net/
86 Plastic - 5075 Livernois Road Troy, MI 48098
https://www.86plasticco.com/
Refill Emporium - 21524 Harper Ave. St Clair Shores, MI 48080
https://www.refillemporium.com/
