Are you looking for more ways to be eco-friendly in your everyday life? Many of us want to be responsible and do what’s best for the environment, but it’s hard to know where to start. The good news is, many of the changes you can make start right in your own home through using green energy and sustainable products. There’s lots of ways to incorporate green energy into your life without getting too overwhelmed or spending a ton of money. We’ve made a small list of ways you can get started with some realistic actions you can take. Have a look and see if any of these options sound appealing to you.
Get a home assessment
There are professional advisors who can perform an assessment of your home if you think you’d like to incorporate more green energy. The advisor will look at your current appliances and energy consumption, and tell you how you might be able to improve your use of green resources. They may recommend a variety of changes, which you can decide if you’d like to proceed with. The benefit here is that you won’t be left to guess what the best upgrades are for your home. You can look into getting an inspection from a certified advisor here. You may also qualify for the Canadian government’s Greener Homes Grant. This program provides a range of funding for homeowners who choose to take on approved green energy upgrades. Homeowners may qualify for up to $5,000 as a result of having their home assessed!
Use renewable energy sources
Renewable energy sources can replace several sources of energy in your home. Think about the ways in which you use energy on a regular basis: running water, using electricity, heating and air conditioning, doing laundry, washing dishes, and so on. While necessary, there are ways to make these tasks greener. For example, you can likely upgrade appliances like your dishwasher and washer and dryer to be more efficient and eco-friendly. New models often prioritize being eco-conscious, meaning they use less energy to operate. If you’re ready to take a big jump towards introducing more green energy into your home, you can also look into installing solar panels. Solar panels use the sun for energy production instead of non-renewable gas or oil, powering your appliances sustainably. Be sure to discuss with your mortgage broker before installing solar panels to confirm your current mortgage lender approves of this!
Grow your own veggies
If you’ve got a bit of a green thumb, planting your own vegetable garden can allow you to grow pretty much any piece of produce you can think of. Gardening is a fairly inexpensive hobby that can save you money from purchasing fresh produce at the grocery store. In addition, it cuts back on your plastic and packaging consumption. Gardening isn’t for everyone, however. If this project doesn’t speak to you, you can also try checking out some local farmers’ markets. Doing so supports small businesses, gives you access to locally-grown food, and is most likely cheaper than a big box store. It’s a win for everyone!
Switch up your household items
You don’t need to do a complete overhaul of your life and home in order to live greener right away. You can work on swapping out your daily household products that are harmful to the environment with more eco-conscious ones. While this isn’t necessarily a “green energy” solution, it’s certainly eco-friendly. These are simple solutions too. For example, you can purchase reusable produce and snack bags, and swap your disposable straws for metal ones. Shampoo and conditioner bars are becoming quite popular too. Finally, many cleaning products have harmful chemicals that seep into the earth when they wash down your drain. If you’re looking for gentler alternatives, Method and Ecos are both popular brands that work well, are kind to the environment, and are cruelty-free!
Take it one step at a time
Green energy, and green solutions in general, can be expensive and time-consuming to implement in your life. You don’t need to do every possible thing to eliminate your carbon footprint today – take it one step at a time! Can you place a small kitchen compost bin on your counter to collect food scraps? Are you able to replace some disposable products with reusable ones? If the timing works, can you replace your air conditioning unit with an eco-friendly and efficient model? All of these are great places to start. As we’re constantly trying to find new ways to help the earth and environment, doing what you can no matter how big or small is what matters!
However you choose to incorporate green energy into your home, you can make a big difference to the environment and in your everyday life. We hope you can benefit from any changes you make and enjoy the results of your new greener lifestyle!
If you have questions about your mortgage, get in touch with me!