Making your home more eco-friendly can feel like an overwhelming task.
With so much information out there on how to make your home more “green,” finding a starting place can be a lot of work in itself.
To sift through the ongoing conversation about greener living, we asked author and green-living expert Alexandra Zissu for some simple, eco-friendly tips.
1. Take your shoes off
One of the easiest ways to make your home more eco-friendly is to implement a take-your-shoes-off-at-the-front-door policy, according to Zissu. “Leaving your shoes at the door drastically reduces the environmental hazards you may be tracking inside,” she says, “including lead, automotive exhaust and pesticide residues.” As Zissu puts it, it’s the public health equivalent of washing your hands.
2. Open your windows
Another simple tip for a greener home: Open your windows! “By opening the windows of your home, you reduce indoor air pollution,” Zissu says. Products you use every day like scented candles and even shampoo can actually put pollutants into the air in your home. “The Environmental Protection Agency found that the air inside our homes – even in cities – is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air,” Zissu says. Make sure to open your windows and let some fresh air into your home even during winter. Zissu recommends leaving your windows open for at least five minutes each day to allow fresh air to circulate.
3. Clean green
Be mindful of the cleaning products you purchase. “Unfortunately, cleaning product formulas are currently government protected as trade secrets,” Zissu says. “Frustratingly, sometimes companies do disclose one or two chemicals on their ingredient list so that consumers think that it’s a full list of ingredients, but usually it is not.”
You can’t just read labels to avoid the harmful ingredients you don’t want in your home. To make the safest choice possible when it comes to cleaning products, Zissu recommends using natural, biodegradable cleaners that don’t have hazard warnings like “toxic,” “danger,” “hazardous” or “flammable.”
4. Test for the bad stuff
Whether you’re starting a new home improvement project or want to assess the current state of lead in your painted walls, Zissu stresses the peace of mind that can come from having an expert do a lead inspection. “Lead is a potent neurotoxin,” says Zissu, meaning that it has the potential to destroy your body’s nervous system and damage the brain. Neurotoxins are harmful to everyone, but especially young, growing kids. Zissu also recommends similar precautions with tests for asbestos and radon, which are both carcinogens and have been linked to lung disease.
5. Use certified eco-friendly materials
If you’re embarking on a home improvement project, the choices for materials seem endless, and it’s hard to know whether you’re buying the most eco-friendly options. Zissu recommends studying up on eco-friendly paints, sealants, glues, wallboard and more before you head to the store. “The most trustworthy certifications are third party,” she explains, meaning that an outside company has signed off on the product as being environmentally safe. For resources to find products that meet these standards, visit greenguard.org or greenerchoices.org.
6. Detect water leaks
Undiscovered mold causes a range of problems, from breathing issues to more serious problems. “Toxic mold is known to produce dangerous mycotoxins,” Zissu says, “which can end up in your lungs and cause breathing problems.” According to Zissu, water leaks can cause mold to grow in consistently moist material that contains cellulose such as paper, wood, ceiling and tile.
It’s important to know when there’s a leak, and to be able stop the source of water. One way to keep tabs on water leaks is to install smart home water sensors. You can use this technology to detect moisture, and even have an alert sent to your mobile device when a leak is detected.
Going green doesn’t have to be a hassle. Use these six tips to get started on going green in your home.
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