Photo by Sasha Kim
Living an eco-friendly life has its merits for the soul: mindful purchases and considered decisions. It can be a grounding experience in this age of unrest and materialism, letting us live with a deeper connection to the planet.
According to the United States Sustainable Development Report, some US states are doing much better than others on key metrics, such as clean energy and responsible consumption.
For example, in Colorado, which ranks 13th out of 50 states, the focus on pollution and waste prevention has grown considerably. Sustainable landscapes in Colorado are common for communities, as they help them attain goals like water conservation and composting.
However, eco-friendly living and housing often evoke apprehensions about the expenses and everyday maintenance. So, how much of this hesitation is warranted, and what is merely a myth?
A primary roadblock to making our homes more sustainable is the belief that it will entail too much effort with too many lifestyle changes to plan. It can seem demanding, particularly for families with small children or pets. Who has the time?
The interesting thing is, sustainability improvements do not always require massive lifestyle changes. The optimal strategy is to start small and chart your way from there.
For instance, many homeowners have permanently switched to energy-efficient lighting, picking LEDs every time. The lifespan of these bulbs is longer than that of traditional options, which drastically reduces the need for replacements.
LEDs also open up a world of possibilities for smart homes by connecting with your Wi-Fi and permitting you to optimize usage based on occupancy and weather conditions. Admittedly, these alternatives do have a higher upfront cost, but it is one that many families can find manageable with financial planning.
A sustainable living element that attracts polarizing opinions is the enthusiasm toward recycling. You visualize frequent trips to recycling facilities, with the water from your kitchen supplied to the garden plants.
However, what we tend to overlook is that recycling could start as simply as using old water bottles as planters. Or making notes on both sides of the page.
The US EPA recommends that avoiding food wastage at home can be an impactful approach to more sustainable living. One can do this with mindfully-created shopping lists that consider the availability of frozen foods and plans for meals at restaurants.
Sustainable and spectacular don't always go together in aesthetic moodboards. We assume that eco-friendly homes are all vines and vinegar-based cleaners, compost bins where a trampoline could have been. In a cheerful state of events, many sustainable edits can actually be aesthetically appealing and aligned with the sensibilities of discerning folks.
Consider the garden and curb area. Sustainability interventions may bring to mind succulents or hardscaping. These alternatives do not consume excessive water and can be ideal for areas prone to droughts or water scarcity. However, they aren’t everyone’s idea of a rejuvenating garden.
Evolving ideas on sustainability now have options that can match different aesthetics. For example, you can pick drought-tolerant plants that also bring a vibrant dash of color. Lavender is an excellent choice, its glorious violet color winning hearts all around. It works particularly well with other drought-resistant varieties, such as thyme and coneflowers.
Water conservation efforts have become vital in some parts of America. The US Department of the Interior highlights that the western US is experiencing a prolonged drought, with the Colorado River Basin facing low inflow levels.
According to Lifescape Colorado, sustainability must mean aligning with the local climate and reducing the use of resources, including water and fertilizers. These efforts can also be visually pleasing and easy to maintain when done thoughtfully.
Even if you acknowledge the impactful benefits of sustainable living, you may believe that changes are feasible only in new homes. How much can you really transform if your home is an old construction, set in its ways?
The scope of retrofitting for sustainable improvements is more vast than you may have imagined. It doesn't even require a complete structural overhaul, as you can start with small upgrades.
For instance, homes in high-temperature areas may incur steep air-conditioning costs. Window treatments, such as blinds, can reduce the solar heat coming inside in the summer. Over time, this simple measure can start lowering your energy bills.
Similarly, winter weatherization can also improve a home’s carbon footprint. Sealing air gaps and limiting potential thermal bridges that encourage heat escape will make heating less energy-intensive.
Of course, some upgrades will be more extensive, such as installing solar water heating systems or smart home technologies for optimal resource use. Homeowners can claim credits for some of these modifications.
The IRS notes that the Residential Clean Energy Credit is 30 percent of the cost of the addition, provided it was installed between 2022 and 2032. Solar electric panels and geothermal heat pumps are eligible under the program.
However, it is best to approach with caution in modern-day America, where the One Big Beautiful Bill strives to curtail clean energy credits.
As time progresses and the Earth continues to warm, adopting measures for sustainable living may become essential. Leading more conscious lives will become imperative for the planet and the health and wellness of our communities. It is fortunate that new developments are making these measures much more affordable and accessible.
It’s time to dispel myths about sustainable homes that serve us well and get going on making our living quarters resilient.
