You don’t have to take to the streets, hold banners and raise slogans to be an environmental crusader. You can stay at home and make a favourable difference, to the environment, by adopting eco-friendly practices, in your immediate surrounding. Eco-friendly living is the need of the hour and as a first step, all it requires, is a conscious effort, on everybody’s part, to reduce their adverse impact on the environment. That cannot be too difficult a challenge to accept – right?
Global warming, climate change, natural calamities, melting glaciers, deforestation and pollution –we are already in the midst of a crisis. And it won’t be long before we are unable to set things right. We need to act now; the onus of preserving the environment is on us.
Eco-friendly homes have a big market
There has been a sudden spurt of new houses in Palakkad, thanks to the new IIT and urbanisation that is taking place. In tune with the growing demand, property builders and realtors are constructing eco-friendly villas in Palakkad. In fact, that entire region is seeing a lot of development, with a number of projects available for real estate investment. Eco-friendly villas in Ottapalam and eco-friendly villas in Angamaly offered by OMG Properties are a good investment option.
There is no denying that eco-friendly homes are better for the environment, and that is just one of the aspects to consider. These homes are also aesthetically designed, comfortable to live in and a lot cheaper to maintain.
Create an eco-friendly home
Have you given a thought to living in an environmentally friendly home? Are you willing to initiate a change, to reduce the carbon footprint, in your own home?
There is a lot that you can change in your immediate environment to affect a desirable change:
- Switch to eco-friendly detergents, dish soap/liquid etc.
- Chuck plastic scrubbers and sponges for scrubbing dishes, use coconut husk instead
- Do away with the synthetic kitchen cloths and paper kitchen towels, switch to good old cloth pieces
- Avoid chemical fertilizers and pesticides in your garden, choose organic solutions instead
- Ditch plastic products, opt for bio-degradable alternatives
- Reduce, recycle and reuse
- Conserve water; save electricity – turn off taps and switch off lights and fans
- Buy organic, naturally grown products
- Plant trees, start a terrace/balcony garden, invest in potted plants
Banish all chemical based products from your home and replace synthetic products with natural ones. A coir foot mat is a better choice than a rubber one.
Allow natural light and improve ventilation
Minimise artificial lighting in your home by making use of natural light. Pull the screens to allow natural light to filter in, and diminish your dependence on artificial light. Opening doors and windows enable good air circulation. Fresh, cool air can bring down the ambient temperature inside the home and provide respite from the heat.
Indoor plants make great décor pieces and add to the appeal of a room. They also improve the air quality and lower the temperature within the home.
These practices will reduce energy consumption and lower electricity bills.
Tap solar energy
An investment in a solar power plant of 2-3 kWs will make you almost self-sufficient, where your power needs are concerned. You will be able to run all your fans and lights, washing machine, television, computer, food-processor etc. on solar energy. You will only need to pay to run the air conditioner, during peak summer months. That is fantastic for eco-living.
Insulate your home
Proper insulation can also drop your energy consumption. Plug gaps in the windows and doorways to keep the cold and heat out, especially if you are using the air-conditioner and heater.
Use thick curtains in summer, as it can act as an insulator and keep the heat out. Windows facing the west and south require have extra insulation, in the summer months, to prevent direct sunlight from entering the house and causing the temperature to rise.
Install double-glass windows, use tinted glass or have sun-film fixed on an ordinary glass and watch the eco-friendly quotient of your home go up.
Painting hacks
Paint the exterior walls and terrace of your home with heat reflecting paint. This simple trick will ensure that your home does not become overly heated in summer. Use toxic free paints, that have LOW-VOC mentioned on them.
Appliances and gadgets
Always buy energy efficient gadgets and appliances with a high Energy Star Rating label, as they are eco-friendly. Use LED bulbs for lighting, since they are energy efficient and release less heat.
Switch off electrical devices when they are not in use. For example, don’t leave the television set or the microwave plugged in, on standby mode, if you aim to build an eco-friendly environment at home.
These are a few methods that you can use to kick start your going green initiative at home.
