There are plenty of little steps that people can take at home to help save the environment. While the eco-footprint of each step is small, thousands of people doing the same thing can make a difference. In making some small changes to the way that you do things at home, you are gradually making a difference, even as an individual.[1] We’ve put together a few tips, tricks, and ideas to help you get started!

Things You Should Know

  • Turn off lights and electronics when they’re not being used, and switch to compound fluorescent light bulbs.
  • Lower your thermostat in the winter, and use windows to regulate the temperature of your home.
  • Take showers instead of baths, wash laundry with cold water, and air dry both clothes and dishes when possible.
  • Start recycling and composting, get rid of disposable products, and use your bike more than you use your car.
1

Turn off the lights.

  1. Always switch off the lights when you are not using them. Rooms that are lit with nobody in them are wasteful.
    • In the era of solar, wind, and hydroelectric, nonrenewable options like fossil fuels are only used to offset demand for electricity. Since there are very few feasible ways for storing power for later use, electricity has to be generated, transmitted, and consumed all at the same time.
  2. Advertisement
10

Replace gas stoves with induction.

  1. The burning of gas like propane or natural gas releases its own greenhouse emissions and can be potentially dangerous. However, even when switched off and properly sealed, gas stoves still leak small amounts through the cooktop and pipes. While this amount is too small to start a fire, it does contribute to greenhouse emissions.[5] [6]
    • Induction stoves are different from traditional electric stoves in the sense that the heating element is not located in the stove itself. In a traditional electric stove, the heating element switches on with varying amounts of power or switches on and off at various intervals to keep the pot warm. However, in an induction stove, the changing magnetic fields generated by the stove are used to induce eddy currents in the cookware, the result being that the cookware getting hot. They are considerably safer and greener than traditional gas and electric stoves.
17

Update your refrigerator.

  1. Fridges are the most energy intensive appliance in a house. This means that a poorly maintained and energy inefficient fridge is costing you money, let alone adding its burden to the atmosphere. Recent fridges use 40% less energy than fridges of 10 years ago. If you do decide to upgrade the fridge, make sure that you buy for its excellent energy rating, longevity and durability and that you have the old fridge recycled.[9]
  2. Advertisement
20

Start composting.

  1. Compost the kitchen scraps and create garden matter to encourage better plant growth. Make sure the heap is warm and well-turned. If you need to, read a few books about composting—it's rare to find someone highly skilled in the area! Remember, soil is a living thing, it should not be powdery and dead. Life comes from the soil, and therefore the soil should be kept alive. Avoid highly invasive tilling if at all possible, but be sure to keep the soil aerated.[12]
24

Reduce your lawn.

  1. Either reduce your lawn size or remove it altogether. Lawns are costly to maintain, the chemicals used on lawns are dangerous to our health and to that of the surrounding wildlife and lawnmowers emit high levels of pollution. Replace lawns with shrubs, ornamental garden structures, pavers for entertainment areas, native grasses and ground creepers etc. In addition, what's better than being able to step outside and pick a few strawberries or an ear of corn? Increase your own resilience by converting wasted lawn space into a vegetable garden.
    • Consider using drip-irrigation systems or constructing or purchasing a rain barrel (it saves you having to pay to pump water back into the ground).
27

Switch to an electric car.

  1. Choose an electric car over a gasoline car. While electric cars still have greenhouse emissions associated with their manufacture, some car manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz are offsetting the greenhouse gases caused by the production of electric cars. Electric cars are considerably greener than gasoline cars with similar range; just note it takes tens of thousands of miles driving before electric cars start becoming greener than gasoline cars.
    • If you cannot find suitable electric or hybrid vehicles for your need, then switching to a compact sedan over an SUV may be another alternative. These use considerably less gasoline for the same range.
    • If you're really serious about going all-out green, consider living without a car -- not only it's green, but could also save you a lot of money!
  2. Advertisement

Community Q&A

  • Question
    Is gardening good for the environment?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It can be, depending on whether you have an organic garden or use a lot of pesticides. In general, gardening is good for the environment as it contributes to conserving nature.
  • Question
    Is eating too much meat OK?
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Doing anything "too much" is by implication not OK. Eating one or two helpings of meat a day is plenty. Some people manage quite well without meat at all. The point is: indulge liberally in moderation. As Oscar Wilde famously said, "Everything in moderation, including moderation."
  • Question
    Which is better: a community garden or an adults-only garden?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Probably a community garden. That way everyone can be involved and your project will become a much bigger, more involved garden.
Advertisement

About This Article

April Jordan
Co-authored by:
Sustainability Specialist
This article was co-authored by April Jordan. April Jordan is a Sustainability Specialist and the Founder of The Ethical Edit, a blog dedicated to making ethical fashion and lifestyle changes accessible by sharing easy-to-digest sustainability information and ethical and sustainable brand reviews. With over five years of experience in sustainability and over five years in the marketing and communications field, April is passionate about using her skills to make the world a better place. This article has been viewed 477,888 times.
29 votes - 83%
Co-authors: 91
Updated: November 28, 2022
Views: 477,888
Article SummaryX

You can easily help save the environment at home by recycling your trash and reducing your utility bills. Turn off your electrical appliances, like computers, TVs, and sound systems, when you’re not using them, instead of just using their standby settings. During the colder seasons, consider turning your thermostat down a few degrees and wearing a warm sweater. This will help the environment and save you money too! If you have a little spare cash, consider getting your house fully insulated, which will reduce your heating bill. You can also wash your laundry on cold cycles to save a ton of energy. If you don’t already have separate baskets for your trash, consider getting one for recycling, which will prevent a lot of waste from going to landfill. For more tips, including how to change your travel routine to help save the environment, read on!

Did this summary help you?
If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Advertisement