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Save water with IKEA products Water is a precious resource and in many places water scarcity is a problem. Fortunately, our taps and showers can let you do all the rinsing and cleaning you need, while cutting down on your water usage. The sad truth is that every third bite of food produced is lost or wasted.
And that’s not necessarily a bad thing; manufacturing new cars takes a lot of resources too. But if you’re in the market for a new car, look for a fuel-efficient model — you’ll save thousands on gas money and reduce your carbon footprint over the years. If you’re buying a new refrigerator, washer or dryer, look for the Energy Star label to find the most efficient appliances. Learn more about fuel economy standards and then compare the gas mileage for new cars. With more than 7.5 billion people in the world, and more every day, our demands for food, water, land and fossil fuels are pushing other species to extinction. We can achieve an ecologically sustainable population in ways that promote human rights; decrease poverty and overcrowding; raise our standard of living; and allow plants, animals and ecosystems to thrive.
Ways to Make Your Home Sustainable
Here are eight simple sustainable home improvements that can be made to any property to lower its energy consumption and reduce expenses. When it’s time, replace appliances to energy efficient models (look for the “energy star” label). Unfortunately, millions of trees are consumed each year to create toilet paper. This not only worsens our climate crisis, but also endangers wildlife habitats and indigenous communities worldwide. Partaking in a regular energy audit can help you save money in the long run, reduce unnecessary energy use, and improve the quality of your existing energy output.
Salvage and junk yards can be goldmines for cheap and easy-to-reuse materials that can be incredibly cheap to buy. Before you head to a big brand store to buy wood for countertops or flooring, look for reclaimed wood you can repurpose. Not only does this save you money, but it also saves the planet too. You can often find classic, old-school fixtures and fittings there too, including sinks and bathtubs.
Make sure your big purchases have big environmental benefits.
We also want to enable people to make more sustainable choices and make it easy for them to reduce food waste, eat more plant-based food and to care for and pass on IKEA products. Bottled water companies try to give tap water a bad name, even though the water from your faucet is practically free and much city water has won quality tests and taste tests against name-brand water. And the extraction of water and production of all those plastic bottles is notoriously harmful to communities and wildlife.
While you’re at it, if you’re in the U.S., go ahead and make sure you’re on the “do not call” list, just to make life better. It’s good to remember where our food originates, and it doesn’t have to be huge or complicated. Sustainable materials, like Terrazzo or PaperStone, are not only visually appealing, but they also offer major benefits to our planet. One such option is the reusable trash bag from Zero Waste Market. This 13–16-gallon reusable bag is machine washable, leak-resistant, and mold-resistant, and eliminates the need for disposable, plastic trash bags. Unsurprisingly, the shower is a major source of water consumption at home.
SUPPORT RENEWABLE ENERGY
There are lots of little things we can do in our homes to play our small part in reducing landfill waste, cleaning the air, and preserving the natural landscape. But we double our efforts when we get our kids involved, helping them understand the why to our what. Being eco-wise is about celebrating creation, being good stewards with what we’re given, and passing on those values to the next generation. If you have the outdoor space, a clothesline dried by fresh sunshine is a zero-emission alternative to putting a load in the dryer. Choosing a more sustainable lifestyle at home doesn’t mean you have to tear down the walls and rebuild your home from scratch.
Just as keeping your car in shape improves your fuel efficiency, keeping your home in shape improves your energy efficiency. Many states now offer incentives to help you green your home or rental at low or no cost. Not everyone can run out and trade in their old gas-guzzling clunker for the latest planet-friendly hybrid car.
Simple habits to support your sustainability goals
This holiday season, we’re planting trees in areas around the world that have been severely affected by forest fires and aren't able to recover a healthy ecosystem on their own. The most common naturally-caused wildfires occur during droughts or dry weather, and under these circumstances, trees and other vegetation are converted to flammable fuel. Human-caused forest fires can be a result of various activities like unregulated slash and burn agriculture, equipment failure or engine sparks, and discarded cigarettes.
Every product we purchase has an environmental footprint, from the materials used to create it to the pollution emitted during manufacturing to the packaging that ends up in landfills. If you do, consider buying gently used instead of new, and look for minimal packaging and shipping. Watch The Story of Stuff and learn more about the zero waste movement. Just .4% of the Earth’s water is freshwater, and far too much of that gets wasted every day. Making your home more sustainable can be achieved in a variety of ways. Reducing your energy consumption is not only better for the planet, but it is also better for your bank balance too.
Making these simple upgrades can have a huge impact on your home’s carbon footprint, energy bills, and overall sustainability. Combining all of these home improvements can help any home save money and the planet. The key to sustainability is reducing your energy consumption, which reduces your home’s carbon footprint. The biggest users of electricity in the home are our appliances, especially home appliances that are never turned off.
The good news is that we have smart, affordable products that can help you make the most of what you buy and cook. A personalized tree certificate to say thanks for your donation. We'll also send you updates about this project, so you can track the impact your trees are having on the community and environment. When it comes to green cleaning, white vinegar is about to become your best friend.
It’s also important to keep your car in shape with regular tune-ups and tire inflations. When you are making any kind of home improvement, you should consider using reclaimed or recycled materials. Alternatively, your renovations could be completed using ecologically friendly products. Though this may require a little extra financial investment, the products often wear better and last for longer which makes them a more sensible option long-term. If you reuse found or free materials, you can save a huge amount of money on home renovations. And these eco-friendlier bulbs can also last up to 35 times longer than traditional bulbs, meaning you’ll end up with more money in your pocket while still reducing your home’s energy consumption.
Make sure your big purchases have big environmental benefits. Looking for ideas on how to live more sustainably at home? Watch documentaries about the food industry and environment. A few good ones are Food Inc., Our Planet, Before the Flood, and The True Cost. Before buying anything new, first check your local Craigslist, Freecycle, or Buy Nothing groups. Research whether you can sign up for local renewable energy from your utility company.
With a little elbow grease, you’ll be able to tackle everything from your stinky garbage disposal to your mildew-y shower and grease-splattered cook top — all without any exposure to toxic chemicals. Allow you to turn your heating on and off and adjust the temperature from your smartphone. If you leave your home and you have left your heating system running, you can turn it off without turning around. You can also turn your heating on when you are on your way back, so your home is warm when you arrive. Support local restaurants that use food derived less than 100 miles away, and learn more about the benefits of eating locally. Put a stop to unsolicited mail—sign up to opt out of pre-screened credit card offers.
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