Dealing with environmental issues can be difficult, especially when progress seems very slow. Many people would like to do something large and spectacular, but those kinds of actions can be too challenging for individuals to accomplish. If you want to make a difference for the environment, you can start with small steps to make your home or dorm room more environmentally friendly.

You might not have thought of it, but your home likely has many features that could help preserve the environment. The first one is under your feet. Carpets and rugs can help keep a floor warm. If possible, you should remove any rugs on the floor in the summer so that the bare floor can help to keep the room cooler. Add rugs to the floor in the winter to help insulate the room from the cold. Even if the carpets are not removable, you can possibly choose a different style of floor covering when the carpet wears out.

A second idea is to unplug your computer, television, and other devices whenever you are not using them. Electronic devices can waste large amounts of power, even when they are not in use. Turning them off and unplugging them whenever possible can help save energy and preserve the environment.

Furniture can also make a difference. Buying used furniture can help to reduce the number of trees that get cut down and factories that are built. Habitat for Humanity ReStores are good places to look, and thrift stores can also have furniture at times. Getting used furniture from friends and family is another good way of making your home or dorm room more environmentally friendly.

Cleaning your place is important, but it can also use a lot of resources. Use rags instead of paper towels for cleaning to reduce waste, since rags are reusable. Combining the rags with an environmentally-friendly cleaning solution can also help. While cleaning, as in the rest of life, preserving water is important. Droughts that occurred in Canada during the summer of 2021 and the previous water crisis in Cape Town, South Africa, show how important it is to preserve the world’s water supply.

Repair dripping taps as quickly as possible. Plumbing can be difficult, and many people may be unable to fix a dripping tap. However, calling an expert to do the repairs is always a good option. If the plumber cannot come for several days, you can put a pail or other container under the dripping tap to catch the water instead of allowing it to go down the drain. Then you can use the water for washing or even making tea.

Food is another area that can have a large effect on the environment. Growing and producing food uses large amounts of energy, from running tractors and other farm machinery to transporting the food to stores. Buy as much local food as possible to help reduce the environmental costs of transporting goods from one part of the country or one area of the world to another. Also, buy only what is necessary and reduce food waste to help keep your home more environmentally friendly.

Use energy-efficient lightbulbs to help save power and money. LED lightbulbs use far less energy than traditional ones.  Even though they cost more to buy initially, they last years longer and cost less overall.

Each house, apartment, or dorm room is slightly different, and you might find other ways of making your home energy efficient.  However, these ideas can help you get started.

Bibliography:

Biofriendly Planet. “12 Small Changes to Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly.” https://biofriendlyplanet.com/eco-friendly-tips/12-small-changes-to-make-your-home-more-eco-friendly/.

College Basics. “How to Make Your Dorm Room More Eco-Friendly.” https://www.collegebasics.com/blog/make-dorm-room-eco-friendly/.

Just Energy. “Going Green 101: Living the Eco-Friendly Dorm Life.” https://justenergy.com/blog/going-green-101-living-the-eco-friendly-dorm-life/.

Sims, Amanda. “29 Tiny Changes That Will Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly Today.” https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/energy-saving-tips-to-make-your-home-more-eco-friendly.