7 Starter Sustainable Products for an Eco-Friendly Home: Simple Steps for Green Living

There are a lot of products you can use to make your home more eco-friendly. While some of them can be rather complicated and expensive, some are quite easy to use and really easy on the budget. In this post, I will talk about the latter group. These simple, practical products will instantly start reducing your environmental impact. And not only they are not that expensive, they will actually help you start saving on those utility costs too! So if you are just starting your journey toward sustainable living -which is great news, congratulations!- here are five affordable and easy-to-set-up & use products that will help your create an eco-friendly home.

Here are 7 must-have simple and budget-friendly sustainable products you should have in your home…

1- LED Light Bulbs

One of the easiest and most effective ways to start your eco-friendly home journey is by switching to LED light bulbs. LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs use up to 75% less energy when compared to your traditional lightbulbs and can last up to 25 times longer. This means fewer replacements and lower energy bills, making these products both eco-friendly and cost-effective. And keep in mind that installing dimmer switches with LED bulbs can further reduce energy usage and create a cozy ambiance in your home.

2- Low-Flow Showerheads

Saving water is a crucial step on the road to a more sustainable home, and low-flow showerheads are affordable and easy-to-install products that can significantly reduce your water usage. While traditional showerheads can use up to 5 gallons of water per minute, low-flow models reduce that to around 2 gallons per minute without sacrificing water pressure, which means saving a lot of water in the long run when you think about it. By opting for a low-flow showerhead, you will be also reducing the energy that is needed to heat the water, which means you will be reducing your energy consumption while conserving water, making it a win-win situation for the environment and your budget.

3- Reusable Shopping Bags

We don’t like plastic, and if you are here on this website, I suppose you are not that crazy about it either! Plastic waste is a very serious environmental issue, and one of the simplest ways to cut down on it at home is by choosing reusable shopping bags. These bags are affordable, durable, and very easy to carry- and they look pretty cool too! So, think about the oceans, say goodbye to single-use plastic bags, and opt for reusables for your grocery trips, errands, shopping and more. By the way, keep in mind that some stores offer discounts for customers who bring their own bags, so this will be good for your wallet too!

4- Organic Cleaning Products

As you probably know, many conventional cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to both the environment and your health. Dumping these and switching to organic cleaning products made from natural ingredients -such as vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, etc.- is a simple but very effective way of reducing toxic exposure in your home and limit the environmental impact of chemical cleaners. It is also worth noting that many organic cleaning products are concentrated, which means that you will be using less product over time,  saving money and reducing packaging waste.

5- Smart Power Strips

Even when electronics devices are turned off, they usually continue to consume energy, a phonemenon known as “phantom load” or “vampire energy.” A smart power strip can help stop this energy waste by cutting off power to electronic devices when they’re not being actively used. Unlike traditional power strips, smart power strips detect when an appliance or device is in standby mode and automatically shut off the electricity supply. This way you won’t have to deal with manually unplugging every device, saving time and energy yourself. To add to that, many smart power strips have additional features, like surge protection and programmable timers, which means you will have even more control over your devices’ energy usage.

6- Reusable Water Bottles

Did we I mention that we don’t like plastic? Well, some things cannot be overstated, so, yes; we don’t like plastic, and neither does our planet! Using reusable water bottles is another easy -and very cost-effective- way to cut down on single-use plastics.

In addition to being more durable and environmentally friendly, these bottles are often healthier too, since many of them are made from BPA-free materials like stainless steel or glass. Plus, they will be helping you to save money, as you won’t be needing to buy bottles and bottles of water anymore. Also keep in mind that many reusable bottles come with insulation to keep drinks cold or hot for longer periods of time, making them even more convenient for everyday use.

7- Compost Bins

Last but not least, a compost bin would be a great addition to your eco-friendly home, helping you reduce food waste and create nutrient-rich compost for your garden. Instead of sending organic waste like vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells to the landfill, you can compost them to reduce methane emissions and promote sustainable gardening. Speaking of it, you can check out our sustainable gardening practices post for more information on how to make your garden even greener!

As you can see, creating an eco-friendly home doesn’t have to cost tons of money, or major lifestyle changes. You can start with baby steps, and slowly make additional improvements with time.  Try incorporating some of these 7 affordable, products into your daily life at home, and you will have taken a very big step towards reducing your environmental footprint and start living more sustainably. If you have additional recommendations, feel free to let me know in the comments down below!