Many people would like to have a more environmentally friendly or “green” home but feel they would have to make drastic changes in their lives to do it. Luckily, this isn’t the case. There are little changes you can make around your home or in your lifestyle which won’t have a huge impact on your everyday life but will have an impact on the environment.

Let’s start with changing from harsh chemical cleaners, to plant-based cleaners. Not only will this be better for the environment but it will also help with the quality of the air inside your home. Making sure your home is properly insulated is also very important. If properly insulated, it can improve your home’s energy draw by up to 30%. Thermal shades can also help with insulation, by blocking the sun during hot summer days, and keeping in heat during the winter.

You can also help others while helping the environment by donating your old clothes instead of throwing them out. This cuts down on carbon emissions by not having to produce another item while one is being tossed in a landfill. Even just keeping your kitchen clean will help. By keeping your kitchen crumb-free, it will keep it bug-free and therefore you won’t have to use harsh bug sprays or pesticides.

And of course there are just the basics which we’ve all heard for years; recycle, turn off the lights when you leave a room, don’t just stand there with the refrigerator door open, etc… These are just a few simple ways to help improve the environment, and if we all make these little changes, the positive impact can be huge.