Environmentally Friendly Products for your Home
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The green home movement has been spreading throughout Canada, but many homeowners still believe that it is a lifestyle only available to the super wealthy. This mentality is not just untrue, but it is also hurting an otherwise world-changing industry. What most homeowners don’t know is that there are hundreds of affordable ways to improve your home’s environmental impact. From simple lighting to reusable plastic products, every homeowner has access to green home solutions.
Solar Powered Candles
Installing solar panels that will power your entire home can be expensive and out of reach for many families, but that does not mean that you should avoid all solar powered devices. Hanging solar powered candles are a hot new trend. They can be seen hanging from porches across the country. These candles require such a small amount of solar power that it makes traditional non-solar porch lighting products seem primitive and wasteful. A hanging solar candle will usually cost no more than $30 to $40, but they require no electrical power and will last for many years to come.
Low-Flow Showerheads
Low flow showerheads not only save water, but they save energy as well. Using a low flow showerhead will provide you with the same quality showering experience while using only half the water of a traditional showerhead. This adds up over time, cutting out a huge percentage of your yearly water consumption. Now figure in the amount of energy that it takes to heat that water, and your savings will skyrocket. Water heating usually makes up for a large percentage of a home’s energy consumption, but it does not have to be that way. Low flow showerheads are inexpensive and pay for themselves in no time.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Cleaning products have been a major burden on the environment since their conception. However, there are plenty of innovative new companies developing natural products that work well and have little or no negative impact on the environment. Natural laundry detergents have advanced a lot since the idea first came about. New formulas are being developed every year, using all-natural ingredients that manage to clean as well as their chemical filled counterparts. The same goes for wood and counter cleaner sprays and stain removers. Some of these products may cost a little more than their dangerous competitors, but you will be doing the world a favor by making the switch.
Various Kitchen Items
There are tons of little items we use every day that often go unnoticed. From coffee filters to plastic wrap, everything that goes into the trash can will end up in a landfill. Luckily, most of these products can be reusable. Instead of using plastic wrap to store uneaten food, get a reusable container. Rather than throwing out a coffee filter every morning, there are durable filters designed to be reused for years after purchase. These are the little things that many homeowners forget about, but they add up over time. Pay attention to what you use on a daily basis and decide for yourself what you should change to have a green home.
Tim Smith writes for Modernize.
Some really simple but effective tips here….
Some really simple, but effective tips on saving money and the environment.