Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 6: In the house
• Method 2 of 6: In the kitchen
• Method 3 of 6: In the bathroom and the laundry room
• Method 4 of 6: In the office at home
• Method 5 of 6: In the garage
• Method 6 of 6: In the garden
• Tips

There are many small things you can do to help save the environment. While the carbon footprint of each step is small, it can make a difference when thousands of people do the same. By making some small changes in the way you do certain things at home, even as an individual you are making a difference little by little. You will save money and improve your health at the same time. Therefore, trying to save the environment is not a completely altruistic experience!

To step

Method 1 of 6: In the house

1. Turn off devices when not in use. Up to 30% of the power consumed by a TV is used when the unit is off, so buy power strips and turn the switch off. Much less power will be consumed when they are turned off.
2. Lower the heating by a few degrees in winter. An extra layer of clothing or a blanket will not only provide cosiness, but it will also significantly reduce your energy bill.
3. Make sure the house is completely insulated. Insulation keeps the heat and cold on the right side of your living space. Consider insulating not only the roof, but also the walls and under the floors.
4. Use windows to regulate the temperature.
   • Keep windows and doors closed to prevent heat loss in winter.
   • Open the windows in the summer. The breeze will usually cool you down and will lead stale air out (the air inside is often more polluted than the outside air). Fresh air going through your home will also save you the cost of air conditioning.
5. Install ceiling fans instead of air conditioning to keep rooms pleasant during the summer months.
6. Fill in gaps. Holes reduce energy efficiency in the house. By sealing holes around windows and doors, your home will be better able to retain heat and coolness during the right time of year, reducing the use of your heating and cooling system.
7. Switch to fluorescent lights. These last longer and use only a quarter of the usual energy. Today, LED bulbs are in high demand - they are up to ten times more effective than fluorescent bulbs and make traditional incandescent bulbs completely ridiculous.
8. Turn off the lights. Always turn lights off when you don't need them. Illuminated rooms with no one in them is pure waste.
9. Buy rechargeable batteries for devices you use often.

Method 2 of 6: In the kitchen

1. Recycle, recycle, recycle. Some cities already require people to sort their waste into paper, metal, glass and organic waste. Even if this is not yet the case in your city, you can still lead by example. Have four separate bins and make sure the correct materials go into the correct bins.
2. Avoid rinsing before using a dishwasher. If you skip rinsing before putting the dishes in the dishwasher, you will save many tens of liters of water. You will also save time - the time it takes to heat the water, in addition to the energy it consumes.
3. Use cold water in the washing machine and only wash clothes when you have a full load. Use cold water instead of warm water. In fact, you should always try to use cold water. This saves an immense amount of energy.
4. Let your dishes air dry. Stop the dishwasher before the drying cycle starts. Open the door slightly (or more if you have the space) and let the dishes air dry. The drying cycle of a dishwasher uses a lot of energy.
5. Avoid creating waste. Avoid disposable items such as plates, cups, napkins and cutlery. Use reusable towels and cloths for dishes instead of paper towels and disposable sponges.
6. Modernize your fridge. Refrigerators are among the appliances that consume the most energy in the house. This means that a poorly maintained and energy-inefficient refrigerator costs you "money". In addition, it is harmful to the environment. Today's refrigerators use 40% less energy than the refrigerators of 10 years ago. If you decide to modernize your refrigerator, make sure you buy a sustainable one with an excellent energy rating, a long life and that you recycle the old refrigerator.

Method 3 of 6: In the bathroom and the laundry room

1. Instead of a bath, opt for a shower. Showering uses less water. Don't forget to install an efficient shower head.
2. Use soaps and cleaning products that do not contain phosphates. Use a mixture of water and vinegar to wash windows. Wash clothes in cold water to save the energy needed to heat water. On sunny days, you can hang the clothes to dry instead of putting them in the dryer. Your clothes will smell fresher and the sun's rays will keep germs from getting a chance.
3. Install toilets with a small flush. Instead of 14 liters, these only use 4 liters of water, reducing water consumption by more than half.
4. For people who menstruate, you can choose fabric tampons and pantyliners (reusable) or use a menstrual cup. This will limit the amount of pantiliners and tampons that people use that end up in the landfill.

Method 4 of 6: In the office at home

1. Use recycled paper for your printer and in your home office. Print on both sides and give old paper to the kids to use as notepads.
2. Turn off the computer every day. This may not seem like much, but it does make a real difference. It will reduce the risk of overheating and short circuits when you turn off the computers at night.

Method 5 of 6: In the garage

1. Leave the car at home. Not using the car contributes to better air quality. Stroll to local shops, take public transport and cycle to your friends. Opt to carpool and take others to work instead of driving alone. You will make new friends and everyone can share the costs.
2. Buy an economical car when you change cars. Choose a compact car instead of an SUV. SUVs consume almost twice the fuel compared to a station wagon and yet you can only carry the same number of passengers.
3. If you really want to live green you should consider not having a car at all - this is not only ecological, but it will also save you a lot of money!
4. Make sure you take good care of your bike. That way you have at least one less excuse not to take the bike because it is in bad condition. Keep the bike in shape, then use it to keep yourself in shape.
5. Be careful when removing work materials. Old paint, oil, pesticides, etc. must not end up in the waste water. Always take these items to the recycling center or recycle them properly.

Method 6 of 6: In the garden

1. Plant native species. These require less water, are stronger (meaning you will need fewer products to protect them) and they also attract local wildlife. In addition, they are resistant to local weather conditions.
2. Plant trees. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and provide shade. In addition, they lower the temperature in the air and in the soil. They provide shelter for animals and some trees will provide a significant harvest. Do you need even more motivation?
3. Shrink the lawn. Either shrink the lawn or remove it altogether. A lawn costs relatively some money to maintain, the chemicals used are harmful to our health and the environment and lawn mowers cause a lot of pollution. Replace a lawn with shrubs, decorative garden structures, tiles for places to relax, native grasses and ground covers, etc. What's more fun than going outside and picking some strawberries or a corn on the cob? Increase your own resilience by using the space of the lawn for a vegetable garden. Consider using drippers or a rain barrel (this will prevent you from having to pump the water back into the ground).
4. Compost. Compost the kitchen scraps and create the perfect compost to help your plants grow better. Make sure the heap is warm and turned often. It's hard to find people who are very adept at this! Remember, the soil is alive, so it shouldn't look powdery and dead. To create life, the soil must be kept alive. Avoid intensive plowing if possible and make sure that the soil is well ventilated.

Tips

• Instead of buying books, you can go to the library or purchase an ebook. Check out EcoBrain.com for ebooks on sustainable living and the environment.
• Do not burn waste, as this leads to air pollution.
• Do not run the water while cleaning your teeth. This simple act can save a lot of water.
• Reduce the amount of waste before recycling! Buy single products and limit packaging of products you buy in stores. Bring a reusable bag.
• If you or someone you know doesn't see the 'utility' of these measures, check out 'An Inconvenient Truth', 'Who Killed the Electric Car?' And 'The Day After Tomorrow' to see what will happen if we make no effort to save the environment.
• By growing your own food you will use less packaging, which means less pollution from transport and therefore more oxygen in the air, which is good for the environment.
• Determine your ecological footprint online. There are many websites for this. Once measured, you can see what the options are for limiting the impact of your home on the environment.