How to Go Green at Home (and Everywhere Else!): 24 Eco-Friendly Ideas

Trying to figure out all the ways to go green can get overwhelming! It’s best to start with small steps that are easy to incorporate into your everyday life. To get you on the right track, we’ve put together some simple tips for going green.

Let’s start with ways you can be greener at home. Keep reading!

17 Easy Ways to Be More Environmentally Friendly at Home

1. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. This is an easy one, but you have to make it a habit. Before too long, you’ll be turning off lights without even thinking about it.
2. Swap all your incandescent bulbs for LED bulbs, which use significantly less energy. This step is getting easier and easier. Incandescent bulbs are increasingly harder to find. LED bulbs are now the standard.
3. Unplug appliances and chargers when you don’t need them. This prevents them from using energy unnecessarily. If that’s too much of a hassle, plug your most used electronics into power strips. This lets you turn off the power to them with the flip of a switch.
4. Cool your home naturally (weather permitting) by opening windows for a cross-breeze. This isn’t always an option, especially if anyone in your family has allergies. But on sunny, temperate days in the spring and fall, opening the windows is a nice way to get fresh air and give your HVAC system a break.
5. Put ceiling fans in as many rooms as possible. They circulate both cool and warm air, which reduces the need to crank up the A/C or the heat.
6. Install a programmable, Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat. Keep the thermostat seven to ten degrees warmer or cooler than normal overnight and when you’re away from home.
7. Cut back on the amount of time you spend in the shower. Don’t let water run when you’re not actively using it.
8. Replace your showerheads with low-flow versions. Low-flow fixtures save water without compromising on flow strength. You’ll still get a good shower and you’ll be conserving water at the same time. It’s a win-win.
9. Wash full loads of laundry. Use cold water for everything except bedding, towels, and items that are really dirty.
10. Dry clothes and linens on a clothesline when the weather is nice. Using the dryer as little as possible is a great way to keep electricity costs in check.
11. Run the dishwasher only when it’s full. This actually uses less water, energy, and soap than washing dishes by hand.
12. Get a rain barrel. Use the water it collects to water nonedible plants and to wash your cars, windows, and outdoor furniture.
13. Avoid introducing chemicals into the environment. This sounds a lot harder than it really is. An easy first step is to make your own cleaning solutions from products you probably already have around your home.
14. Opt for reusable washcloths instead of paper towels when possible. This may not work for every single situation. But every little bit counts.
15. Pay your bills online, get your statements via email, and unsubscribe from junk mail. This reduces your carbon footprint and creates less trash and recycling.
16. Recycle. To start, find out what materials the recycling centers near you will recycle. Set up bins for the items you plan to collect. If you live in an apartment or condo, check if your building already has recycling bins your family can use.
17. Eat local as much as you can. Making this a habit (when possible) reduces your overall carbon footprint.

Home is where you have the most control over your environmental impact. But if going green at home start to feel overwhelming, remember that you don’t have to go all in at one time. Choose a few items from the list, and then add more when the time is right.

And when you master the at-home list, start thinking about what you can do to stay green when you’re out and about. Check out our tips below!

7 Go Green Tips When You’re on the Go

1. Walk or ride a bike to work and when running errands. If that’s not possible, carpool or use public transportation, even if it’s just a couple days a week.
2. Keep your tires inflated to the recommended psi for your vehicle. Driving on underinflated tires reduces fuel economy because it increases resistance and makes your vehicle work harder to move.
3. Don’t speed. Speeding intensifies the wind’s resistance against your vehicle, meaning your car has to burn more fuel to maintain speed.
4. Avoid idling. It actually wastes more fuel than just turning your car off and back on, and it pollutes the air. Idling doesn’t do you any favors in the winter either. The best, quickest, and most efficient way to warm a vehicle up is by driving it, not letting it run in the driveway.
5. Use reusable shopping bags. If you tend to forget them at home, keep them in your car so they’ll always be close by when you’re out.
6. Toss (well, recycle!) the Styrofoam and plastic. Invest in mugs and reusable water bottles instead, and limit the use of paper plates and plastic utensils.
7. Shut down your work computer after signing off for the day, or at least set it to hibernate. It’s a small thing, but it counts in the long run!

There are countless ways to go green. As with all lifestyle changes, baby steps are the best way to get there. Add one or two of these tips to your routine each week, and you’ll be well on your way to helping protect the environment and saving money.

Also, don’t forget to consider eco-friendly contractors next time you need home services. Many Best Pick companies offer green options for products and services.

Need professional help? Find a local Best Pick® plumber in your area now.