Mother Earth is recovering from the devastation that carved a hole in its protective layer against the sultry sun. According to the United Nations, the Earth’s atmosphere is recovering at 1% to 3% per decade since 2000. This figure may be small but this healing process has diminished the hole from 29.6 million square kilometers in 2006 to 24.8 million square kilometers this year. This is a sizable good effect of everyone around the world who made massive contributions to protect our planet.
In your own little way, you can help the world heal itself, and you can start it at home. If you’re planning to upgrade or conduct maintenance works for your house, you may use sustainable materials and/or incorporate processes that are considered eco-friendly. Here are some ways you can do to ornate and strengthen your abode while committing to sustainable solutions.
Countertops Made of Recycled Materials
What green light should you use for a refurbished countertop? You may try one that is made from recycled paper. Sounds weird, right? Paper for a kitchen counter? Odd but it is truly possible and beautiful. Some brands are even FSC certified, petroleum-free, and aesthetically manufactured. There are also other materials like recycled glass, wood, plastic, stainless steel, and bamboo.
Solar Water Heating
Solar panels have been widely used as an eco-friendly alternative to energy. But, solar water heating may not be yet on your radar. As the term suggests, solar water heating uses the sun as the energy source for water heating. While people prefer electric and gas heaters, it’s just too detrimental. These heaters account for 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in a household. By implementing solar water heating, you can maximize sunlight while reducing your electric charges.
Smart Planting
Planting does more harm than good if you do it for certain vegetation that does not fit to a specific land type or climate. Doing so would mean requiring more water and maintenance which is not a sustainable action. While you may fancy growing certain plants for aesthetics or would want to achieve organic food for consumption, it is best to use species that are native to your area so you wouldn’t waste resources.
Double-Glazed Windows
Double glazing is a combination of multiple windows panes into a singular window system. The panes are separated by a spacer and a layer of air or gas. This system offers twice the benefits you can gain. During winter, double-glazed windows maintain the heat inside a structure to avoid using too many heating systems that skyrocket energy costs. During summer, it keeps the heat out to cool down a structure during the hot season.
Prefab Homes
If you’re not upgrading but want to buy a new one, then you may try picking a prefab home as your next haven. Prefab homes are manufactured modules created inside a climate-controlled facility. Once the structures are made, the fabricated components are installed on-site. But, what makes it sustainable? For one, it reduces waste materials to the minimum. Another boon is it does areas for natural ventilation and lighting, thereby reducing associated electric costs. Also, the fixtures installed are environment-friendly. Water fixtures, like toilets and sinks, are low flow and appliances are energy-efficient.
Open your doors to environment-friendly solutions that do good things to our planet. By simply patronizing energy-efficient products and materials, your small steps offer a big leap in our planet’s healing.
