Sure, you thought you knew all about global warming, but the recent typhoons and massive floods brought the harsh reality home like no science lesson ever could. There’s no better time than now, then, to start shifting to a greener lifestyle, and the best place to start is right at home.
Most homeowners—and renters—may not give much thought to making their homes eco-friendly. The usual perception concerning green homes is that they have to be designed from scratch and fitted with smart materials and a veritable showcase of energy-efficient appliances. Because re-planning and renovating an existing home may be beyond your budget—or may not even be allowed, in the case of condo-dwellers—you may be tempted to take an all-or-nothing attitude and postpone your new green lifestyle until you’ve saved up enough to build your own home.
No matter what state your current home is in, you can make it more eco-friendly by starting some environment-helping habits. These small changes still add up, and in the long run they will help you develop a more responsible outlook, and soon you may be raring to retrofit your home with smart windows. In the meantime, start with these five simple steps:
Clean and green. Eco-friendly household products are available for everything from cleaning your car, to disinfecting your toilet, to keeping bugs at bay. Using organic, natural, non-toxic, and biodegradable products limits the amount of chemicals released into the atmosphere and flushed through our water systems—plus, they’re safer for you, too. Try Messy Bessy’s extensive line of green products, which include a patchouli-based Anti-roach Spray and a naturally antifungal Tea Tree Mold and Mildew Spray. You can even try to influence your friends with do-gooder gift packs like Messy Bessy’s Cleaner’s Silver Gift Basket (P780) or EchoStore’s Green Home Cleaning Basket (P1,500).
Curtain call. Give your windows some flexible finery: depending on where they’re located, you can use heavy dark shades to block sunlight and reduce the need for air-conditioning, or fine wispy curtains to brighten a room without switching on electric lights. Eastern- and western-facing windows are exposed to hot morning and afternoon sun respectively and should be shaded at appropriate times in the day. When the sunlight stops streaming through, draw the covers and let in some wind to help cool the room. These are simple applications of the principles of sunshading and passive lighting—that you can practice without having to consult a single architect or engineer!
Bin there, done that. Even if your village or building doesn’t practice garbage segregation, sort your trash anyway! Have designated recycling bins for recyclable materials like paper, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic containers. Keep your bins in an accessible place (you may want to color-code them to liven up the room)—the more convenient it is to toss things in them, the more likely you are to stick to your segregation habit. Each month, take your trash to recycling fairs like the ones held at SM and Ayala malls. You’ll be practicing responsible waste management—and you’ll get paid, too!
Lighten up. Energy-efficient fixtures and appliances are now freely available on the market. The most obvious candidates for replacement are your light bulbs: lighting can account for 20% of your total electricity costs so savings here can make a significant impact. Compact fluorescent lamps consume only 25% of the energy needed by incandescent bulbs, and come in such a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors that you can use them virtually anywhere.
Pull the plug. This is a remarkably simple solution that most of us neglect to do. Unplugging your unused appliances can shave 10% to 40% off your electricity consumption. That’s because appliances still use energy—called “standby power”—even when they’re turned off. To encourage this habit, use sturdy power strips for clusters of appliances, so you just have to pull one plug for each group of gadgets. For more tips covering the gamut of home appliances, check out Meralco’s website; remember, reducing your energy consumption isn’t just good for the environment—it’s good for your pocket, too.
What are your personal tips for greening your home? Leave a comment below or talk it up with other GIRLTalkers on our forum!
