Going Green? Start at Home.

On the one hand global warming is melting polar ice caps, raising sea levels and causing extreme weather events. On the other, deforestation, rising demand for energy, continued burning of fossil fuels, industrial and vehicular emissions and the unrelenting appetite for consumption are fuelling global warming deeper into a vicious cycle. If mankind was ever in danger of self-harm, this appears to be it.

The global challenge facing our race is to find sustainable alternatives that ensure a cleaner and world. While efforts are underway by governments, industry and organisations, a smaller yet impactful effort is being undertaken collectively by individuals devoted to the cause of a better world. Just like every drop counts every individual effort can contribute toward a larger footprint of sustainable initiatives. Each one can be a contributor. And what better place to begin than your home? Here are simple, doable tips to make your home sustainable and eco-friendly.

Clean with green

Did you know that household detergents cause untold damage to the planet? Hazardous and non-biodegradable chemicals present in detergents take more effort to purify at treatment plants. Those that flow directly into the ground or water bodies pollutes lakes, rivers and the sea cause grievous harm to the water itself and all aquatic life – fish, insects and plants contained in it. Non-biodegradable chemicals in detergents can take generations to degrade and continue to pollute the water. 

Switch to bio-degradable detergents made from natural ingredients that clean laundry and kill harmful germs, not aquatic life. Admittedly, eco-friendly detergents are more expensive than regular ones but worth the cost of saving the only planet we have. Eco-friendly detergents are widely available online and in stores.

Garbage to food

Compost your food waste and with one aim hit four targets – recycle kitchen waste, reduce landfill waste, make the environment a little cleaner with organic fertiliser, and reduce the need for inorganic chemical fertiliser.

Household compost kits are affordable and freely available. Use homemade compost for indoor potted plants and balcony or rooftop vegetable gardens. Even if you don’t have plants or a veggie garden, give away the compost to neighbours who do or donate it to your building’s gardens and groves.

More power to you

Turn off appliances and switch off electrical switches when not in use. Leaving household appliances and gadgets like TV, AC, laptop/computer/tablet, mobile charger music systems and so on standby consumes a small amount of electricity by each appliance that can otherwise be saved because appliances continue to consume power until the plug point is switched off. Standby power can increase your monthly electricity bill by 7-10 %. Turn off appliances using the remote and then turn the plug point switch off. Do the same for idle gadgets and mobile chargers when not in use.

You can also save power by choosing to buy appliances with higher energy efficiency rating. Higher the energy rating, lower your electricity bill and higher your savings. ACs, washing machines and refrigerators are all high power-consuming appliances and using their energy efficient models can help save power and money. Don’t forget to keep ACs and other appliances well-serviced to increase their efficiency and life, and save power.

Little eco miracles at home

‘The devil is in the details’, goes the old expression, which is so true when counting the minor details which make eco-friendly contributions that go well beyond your home and impact the global environment.

Use recycled paper/paper products, furnish your home with recycled upholstery and eco-friendly furniture, ban single-use plastic bags and plastic products from your home and use fabric bags instead, apply non-toxic and aqua-based wall paints, replace plastic containers with glass or steel, replace plastic baskets with woven or bamboo alternatives, use the pressure cooker to cook food faster and consume less LPG or piped CNG gas fossil fuels, never keep the tap running when brushing or shaving, take the stairs instead of the elevator if you live on a lower floor… the list is never ending. Keep looking closer to discover devilish details and transform them into little miracles that make your home eco-friendly, sustainable and a truly guilt-free place to live.

While you’re here, you might want to read up on home improvement. If you truly care about the environment, consider a new home in an eco-friendly residential project like Satellite Elegance or the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified Kalpataru Radiance.