Your neighbour is planting a garden. Another is installing solar panels on his or her house, and you saw a segment about rain barrels on your favourite morning talk show the other day. What is going on? Has everyone gone green or just gone nuts?
The fact is that sustainability is the newest trend, and it’s here to stay. Sustainability simply means surviving without creating problems for future generations. It seems like everyone is trying to do their part to make the planet a little healthier for generations to come, and they’re doing it on a variety of different budgets and spaces.
You might not know it, but you probably have several unused spaces that can be transformed into sustainable spaces, ones where you and your family can do your part to be more eco-friendly and help the environment. Check out these cool ways to use your currently vacant spaces.
The Kitchen
There are so many great ways to be sustainable in the kitchen. If you have an extra cabinet or countertop space, then you have plenty of room to implement some of these good sustainable practices that will help save the planet and your wallet.
You should be using your own fabric tote bags when you shop at the grocery store, but if you use paper or plastic bags, you should have a spot for them in your kitchen. Store extra paper bags along with envelops and small zipper bags in the same cabinet, drawer, or basket. Envelops are so easy to reuse, and a plastic baggie just needs to be washed before it’s used again, assuming it hasn’t had anything like raw chicken in it.
Now take a look at your cleaning area under the sink. You probably have some cleaning solutions and maybe a few paper towels and rags under there. If the label on your cleaning solutions don’t specifically say they’re friendly to the environment, consider getting rid of them and replacing them with getting environmentally-friendly products.
You can also make your own cleaning products using common household items like vinegar, lemon, and baking soda. These products are safe to use on your countertops and windows and they do just as good a job as the cleaners you buy at the store. You can also use mason and jelly jars to store your DIY cleaning solutions. Another save for the environment!
You probably have a little bit of space near your trash can or out in the garage so set up some baskets or bins and start sorting your recyclables. Don’t forget to sort non-kitchen items as well, such as plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles.
The Bathroom
Everyone spends some portion of their day in the bathroom , so it should be a little more sustainable. As bathrooms aren’t really known for their size, you have to work with the space you have. You’d be surprised at what you could do with spaces reserved for other purposes.
Consider installing low-flow toilets and showerheads. Most toilets use about six gallons of water with one flush. Use the bathroom even three times a day, and you’ve used 18 gallons of water. A low-flow toilet only uses one and a half gallons each flush. Think of the money you’ll save on your water bill and, if you have one, the wear and tear on your septic tank.
A low-flow showerhead doesn’t mean it’s low pressure. They function like regular shower heads, but rather than using five to eight gallons of water per minute, they use at least two gallons less. Combine that with the water you’re saving on a low-flush toilet, and you’ve got a home that knows how to be sustainable.
If you want to go for the gold, install faucet aerators. They work just like low-flow showerheads and can save you more money on your water bill.
Living Room and Bedroom
Do you have a hard time keeping these two rooms warm in the winter? Do you avoid going near the windows because you know they’re always so cold? They’re hard to avoid, especially if you have beautiful picture windows that provide plenty of natural light.
Don’t let the draft spoil these windows. Be sure you have sturdy weather stripping around your big windows, all windows for that matter. If you have any cracks along the windows, fill them in with caulk. Then set up a loveseat or a window seat where you can watch the snow fall without being so cold.
Now that your living room and bedroom are a little warmer in the evening, you can spend time in there, reading a book or playing a family game. Did you know those lamps that will help you see the words on the page can be made a little more sustainable? By using fluorescent light bulbs, you’ll use far less electricity and save on your electric bill.
Some homes are even installing motion-sensing switches in their homes. You’ll never leave a light on again because all of the lights turn off when motion is no longer detected.
Your living room or bedroom might also have some old furniture you’re sick of looking at. Rather than getting rid of it, fix it up. If there’s a broken leg, mend it. If you’re tired of the couch pattern or colour, reupholster it, and give the whole room a fresh new look.
The Yard
Though you may have beautiful flower beds and a healthy garden, chances are there is still some unused space around your yard. Rather than plant another tree, why not create sustainable spaces?
A new tree would make a great home for a family of birds or squirrels, but a compost pile helps the environment in a more unique way. For one thing, it keeps paper and scraps out of landfills so you’re throwing away a little less each time garbage day rolls around. You also get the nutrient-rich soil that comes from a carefully cultivated compost pile.
Make use of that empty space behind the shed or on the side of your home and create a compost pile using vegetable scraps (stems, peels, rinds, whatever), yard scraps (leaves, twigs, small branches) and cardboard or paper shreds. After six or nine months, you’ll have soil teeming with awesome nutrients that will help your plants grow stronger in the spring.
Check out these great space saving tips.