Health for Body Mind and Soul

What is an eco friendly home? An eco-friendly home is a home that is designed to reduce energy consumption, reduce environmental waste, reduce negative health effects for the occupants, and minimize pollution produced within the house.

There are a variety of different levels of eco friendly homes. On the biggest scale, a home may be designed from the ground up to be completely eco conscious in every aspect. This is the most dramatic way to reduce consumption and reduce environmental strain, but it may not be the most practical for the average person.

Anyone can, however, incorporate small to medium sized changes aimed at helping everyday environmental impact.  Perhaps the easiest, quickest, and a cost-effective way to make a home more eco friendly is conserving energy. Conserving energy can be done through the following ways:

• Turn off lights when not in use
• Turn up the thermostat temperature up in summer (or down in winter)
• Install energy efficient light bulbs
• Run appliances only at capacity
• Consider replacing existing windows with energy efficient windows

Eco friendly cleaning products are another easy and inexpensive way to make a home more eco friendly. When harsh cleaners are used, they are flush into water systems or fall on the ground. Many of these standard chemicals are not biodegradable, and cause significant damage when introduced into the environment. Environmentally friendly chemicals maybe purchased in many large stores or ordered online. Home cleaners can also be mixed that are very effective and naturally safe. For example, stove tops can be cleaned with a solution of baking soda and vinegar in hot water.

For those looking to invest more in an eco friendly home, there are a variety of options available. Many companies supply home solar electrical systems, home hot water heaters, or wind power generators if the home is located in a more rural area. Other sustainable resources may also be incorporated into home remodels including cork products, bamboo products, and various other products.

It is important that every home can be made more eco friendly through either small or more drastic modifications. The healthy and best choice is to start today to make you home more eco friendly for both yourself and the world.