5 Things Homeowners Can Do for the Environment
Sunday, October 15th was Blog Action Day. The goal was for bloggers worldwide to post about the environment.
Just because Blog Action Day is over, however, doesn’t mean we should stop talking about the environment. Here are five simple but effective things homeowners can do to make their lives more earth-friendly.
#1: Recycle. It used to be that recycling was a luxury only the wealthiest homeowners can afford. Not so anymore. Recycling has become much more affordable, and there are a number of different services (and levels of service) to choose from. Alternatively, many communities provide recycling dumpsters where you can drop off your recyclables, usually at no charge.
#2: Convert to electronic billing. Many credit card companies, lenders, phone providers, and other businesses now offer electronic billing. Instead of getting paper statements, you will get an email statement or an email reminder to check your current statement online. You can usually pay online too, which saves paper on not only statements, but also on unnecessary checks and envelopes.
#3: Landscape to use less water. You may have already seen the Denver Water signs around town: the “Use Only What You Need” campaign. Frequently these signs are displayed on residential properties, where homeowners have landscaped with water conservation in mind, choosing rock beds, mulch, and low-maintenance shrubs over thirsty gardens.
Whether or not you want that square, orange sign displayed in your yard, the goal behind the campaign is noteworthy: Use less water on superfluous things such as landscaping, so that we have more (and longer-lasting) water for the things that really matter.
#4: Use less water inside the house, too. Conserving water doesn’t have to be limited to the Great Outdoors. Inside the house, you can use less water in a number of ways: Wait to do laundry or run the dishwasher until you have a full load, turn the water off while you are brushing your teeth or handwashing the dishes, and put a time limit on your showers. Conserving water will benefit not only Mother Earth, but your bank account, too!
#5: Buy energy-conserving appliances. I’m not saying you should run right out and spend thousands of dollars on new appliances. However, appliances do need replaced periodically. Most appliances can be found in energy-friendly varieties for about the same price. Front-loading washing machines have also become popular, as they use considerably less water than the traditional top-loading kind.
As homeowners, we are in a unique position: We have control over things such as the kinds of landscaping we do and the types of appliances we buy. We also have greater access to opportunities such as recycling, which can be difficult to get service for renters – particularly those living in apartments.
Doing things for the environment doesn’t have to be time-consuming or costly. Simply making a few lifestyle changes, such as those listed above, can go a long ways toward preserving the environment for future generations.
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