Jan 12, 2022
Go green by reading some of these tips to help you achieve a zero-waste home…
Living a zero-waste lifestyle involves producing less waste and using more natural resources that can be recycled and composted. This kind of lifestyle aims to reduce the carbon footprint that you produce in order to help mitigate global warming and climate change. If you’re reading this article right now, it probably means that you’ve already decided that our current wasteful lifestyle isn’t sustainable and being mindful of the carbon footprint we leave is an important lifestyle we need to develop.
It may seem impossible to eliminate waste in today’s society especially in the Philippines where disposable wastes are the trend, but it isn’t. There are a number of clever ways to reduce your carbon footprint in your home, from plastic bags to food scraps and even clothing. We will tell you everything you need to know to live a zero-waste lifestyle here at AllHome.
The majority of disposable waste or single-use items are not recyclable or biodegradable. They usually end up as litter at random places. That is why they have a harmful impact on the environment. Animals, for example, might become tangled or stuck in packaging, and may inadvertently consume plastics.
Here are some items you’d want to avoid using at your home so you can develop and maintain a zero-waste lifestyle:
The concept behind reusing and recycling is that the used materials that move through our lives and our home might be a resource rather than trash. Instead of throwing stuff right away, first think if an item can be reused or turned into something more. This step challenges you to be resourceful and creative with the items you have at home. After all, another person’s garbage is another person’s gold. Don’t forget the goal of practicing a sustainable lifestyle–it’s having a zero-waste living and a zero-waste home.
Energy-saving appliances might be quite expensive than your average appliance, but it is a great long-term investment. Not only does it reduce your electric bill consumption, but it also helps the environment by reducing your carbon footprint.
Here are some appliances that AllHome suggests to help you achieve a zero-waste home:
Traditional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights is 80% less efficient than LED lights. For LED lights, only 5% of the energy in LEDs is consumed as heat, and the remaining 95% is generated into the light. While fluorescent lights are the opposite, they consume 95% energy while only 5% is generated by light. Why is this such an important factor? Reducing energy use in your home lowers the demand for power plants and lowers greenhouse gas emissions.
Lower carbon emissions are associated with a longer life span. LED lights such as ECOLUM Led Bulb 7 Watts Warmwhite – CBI207WW can last up to six times longer than traditional lights, decreasing the need for regular replacement. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a good eco-friendly street light, AllHome recommends EUROLUX Integrated Led Solarlight Solaire for your home.
Eco-friendly furniture is better for the environment and safer for you and your family. You’ll avoid many harmful pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause allergies, migraines, and asthma in your home when you select sustainable furniture made with minimal amounts of chemicals.
Bamboo and rattan are both natural materials that make excellent furniture and décor. From bamboo furniture like GRAB & GO Xan 4 Tier Bamboo Shoe Rack to Natural Rattan Floor Accent, AllHome has everything you’ll need to make a zero-waste home.
Instead of using a bathtub for taking a bath, take a shower instead. It is more practical to have a shower than to have a bath for your zero-waste home. Why? A showerhead like HCG Everglades Concealed Shower BF3214PX uses an average of 2.5 gallons of water per minute compared to a bathtub which can use as much as 50 gallons of water.
Natural or organic products like products from Human Nature are mostly free of chemicals. A lot of commercial products available in the market have detrimental effects on the environment and our lives as well. Traditional product manufacturing processes place a significant strain on the environment because factories and mining generate a significant amount of pollution, ultimately leaving a negative carbon footprint on the environment as a whole.
Also with regards to health, some products can cause illnesses in the long run such as talc, which can be found in powders, has been discovered to have carcinogenic effects.
Natural products also are cruelty-free because they are made with organic products. Natural products are the best option if you condemn animal testing and prefer to treat animals humanely.
To take your zero-waste home up a notch, you should also consider installing solar panels in your home. Not only do they lower your carbon footprint, but they also help you save electric consumption in the long run. When you apply your solar system to net metering, according to Meralco, net metering allows you to export the excess energy that you have not used back to the power grid and earn credits toward your energy bill. In other words, you will benefit tremendously when your utility distributor credits you for the excess energy you generated more than what your home consumed.
While the initial cost of installation and maintenance is certainly high, it is a great investment for the future.
A zero-waste home isn’t that hard to accomplish, and we hope this article has given you some ideas on how to get started. These are only a few of the possible changes you may do to cut down on your carbon footprint around the house. A lot of people have been in this kind of lifestyle for so long and we’re sure that you can do it too!
To shop for eco-friendly products, visit an AllHome store near you or shop at the AllHome online shopping site. You may also follow us on our official Facebook page, Instagram account, and YouTube channel to get updates on the latest news.
