How to Start the Year in a Sustainable Home: Practical Tips

Tips

How to Start the Year in a Sustainable Home: Practical Tips

logo Be Casa Essentinal
1/31/2025
Be Casa Essential
5 minutes of reading

As a new year begins, many people set goals to improve their quality of life, and a great way to achieve this is by adopting more sustainable habits at home. Living in a more environmentally friendly way benefits the planet and can help you save money and create a healthier space for you and your family. Here are some practical ideas to start the year with a more sustainable home.

1. Review and Reduce Energy Consumption

Reducing your energy consumption is one of the most effective ways to make your home more sustainable. Some simple strategies include:

  • Replace traditional light bulbs with LED lights, which require up to 75% less energy.
  • Switch off electronic devices you are not using, as they still consume electricity in “standby” mode.
  • Adjust the thermostat: maintaining a moderate temperature in winter (around 20 °C) can considerably reduce heating requirements.

2. Choose Reusable Products

Eliminate or reduce the use of disposable products at home. Some key changes include:

  • Replace plastic bags with reusable bags.
  • Use cloth tea towels instead of paper towels.
  • Use reusable bottles and thermoflasks to avoid single-use plastic bottles.

3. Improve the Thermal Insulation of Your Home

Good insulation not only makes your home more comfortable but also reduces energy costs:

  • Install thick or insulating curtains on windows to prevent heat loss.
  • Use weather stripping on doors and windows to seal drafts.
  • Consider investing in carpets, which also help retain heat.

4. Embrace a Mindful Approach to Shopping

When choosing the products you take home, consider their environmental impact:

  • Buy local and seasonal food to reduce the carbon footprint of transport.
  • Choose products with recyclable packaging or no packaging at all.
  • Invest in furniture and decoration made from recycled or sustainable materials.

5. Creating a Recycling Space

Dedicate an area of your home to waste sorting. Ensure you have separate bins for paper, plastic, glass, and organics. This will facilitate recycling and help reduce the amount of waste you generate.

6. Bring Plants into Your Home

Plants not only decorate, but they also purify the air and contribute to a more relaxing atmosphere. Choose low-maintenance species such as pothos or succulents if you don’t have much gardening experience.

Starting the year with sustainable habits at home doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Small changes can make a big difference to your home’s environmental impact. In addition, these measures will help create a more comfortable, efficient, and healthy space for you and your loved ones. Make 2025 a year dedicated to living a better life and caring for the planet!