5 simple tips to go ‘green’ in your home

As much as we take care of our insides, we also need to take care of the inside of our home. If nothing else, that’s where we live, and if we want to stay healthy, we need to live in a clean and healthy environment. When the indoor environment we live in becomes toxic, it is only a matter of time before these sick buildings impact our well-being.

Purifying the air you breathe, the water you drink, and cleaning up your environment are three important components to keeping your home healthy.

The best ways to ‘go green’ in your home

The tips below focus on quick, easy and cheap things you can do to save money on your electric bill and help the environment at the same time.

1. Start recycling

I’d like to believe that everyone is recycling by now, but I know that’s not true. Recycling is simple and helps reduce the use of unsustainable fossil fuels and other limited resources. Save your plastic, aluminum and steel and place it in a separate container at the curb (if you have a curb) once a week or drop it off at the nearest recycling facility. Each city has different rules regarding what they must collect for recycling. Make sure you call and find out exactly what you can recycle to avoid confusion.

Don’t just limit your recycling to your home, extend it to your workplace too. Buy recycled products. Look for the labels that indicate a box is made from recycled materials. Buy recycled paper notebooks for your children for their schoolwork. Find out what the recycling symbols on plastic mean and only buy recyclable products.

2. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products

The detergent you use is essential. More than 95 percent of all detergents contain toxic chemicals or byproducts. While the variety of toxic detergents (for dishes, clothes, etc.) has always been great, the green craze now has companies developing environmentally safe, organic laundry detergents and organic dishwashing liquids.

When using organic products, the water that leaks will cause as little damage as possible to the environment. And speaking of washing clothes, consider using cold water for your wash cycle. More often than not, your clothes will come out nice and clean even if you haven’t heated the water. By using cold water you save electricity (or gas, if you use a gas heating element for your hot water) and money.

3. Turn off the electricity when not in use

Some of these tips are redundant, but here are some energy saving tips for the sake of completeness.

• Turn off your computer when you are not using it. The fans that ensure that the device does not overheat consume a lot of energy.
• Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Do you need lighting in your bedroom when you are in the kitchen or living room?
• Do you want to stay warm during the winter? Put on socks or a sweater instead of turning up the heat.
• If possible, avoid using the dryer. Hang clothes, both outside and inside. Either way, you don’t use electricity to dry your clothes.
• If you are looking for new appliances, make sure you buy one with the Energy star sticker on it. They are more efficient and last longer. That’s why they stay out of the landfills and you avoid having to buy a new one in a few years.

4. Start saving water

One of the biggest concerns in certain dry climates is the need to conserve water. As temperatures rise around the world, droughts occur in various locations, dams and reservoirs fall in the summer, and other impacts. They are now saving water in every possible way. But wherever you are, saving water is an excellent way to do your bit for the environment.

Saving water can also be feasible. One of the easiest and cheapest ways is to use many buckets. Place buckets in the shower, near the sink and outside to catch rain. These buckets can then be used to water the garden or to fill your toilet tank.

5. Use energy-efficient lighting

Many homes and offices have now switched to energy-efficient CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps). Although CFLs are more efficient and “greener” than a traditional incandescent bulb, I am still cautious about using fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lighting is linked to a wide range of symptoms and diseases.

Researchers have found that exposure to fluorescent lighting at night can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm.^[1] Another study found that fluorescent lighting can increase the risk of developing certain skin cancers.^[2] This research is particularly disturbing for anyone who has to work under this type of lighting for long periods of time every day. Exposure to fluorescent lighting is also linked to an increase in stress hormones.^[3] Instead of CFLs, I recommend full spectrum or LEDs (Light-Emitting Diode) as a safe and energy efficient alternative.

†Results may vary. The information and explanations provided are for educational purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. If you have a serious medical condition or health problem, consult your doctor.

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