19 Cheap & Innovative Ways To Green Your Home

Save the earth while saving on your bills.

1. Install low-flow aerators on your faucets and showerhead

They only cost a few bucks and save up to 77% more water and energy than your standard faucet. Huge long-term pay-off!

Source: greenandsave.com

2. Use hand-cranked kitchen appliances

Give your arms a workout while simultaneously conserving electricity and making delicious noms. Win-win.

Source: amazon.com

3. Shred bar soap to conserve water

More info here.

Source: nathaliestaempfli.com

4. Plant a garden

Bonus points for doing it in re-purposed vessels.

Source: pinterest.com

Source: duitang.com

5. Start your seeds in a newspaper planting pot

Source: mrbrownthumb.blogspot.com

6. Water your garden with greywater

Collect and re-use greywater, or run-off water from your showers, sinks, and laundry. Learn more!

Source: pinterest.com

7. Make a re-usable market bag from an old t-shirt

Or buy one for a few bucks.

Source: ecouterre.com

8. Collect and use rainwater

Less for the storm drain, more for you.

Source: beachbrights.blogspot.com

9. Connect your rain barrel to a DIY sprinkler

Cost of materials: $4.49

Source: curbly.com

10. Replace dryer sheets with re-usable wool balls

They reduce static, shorten dry time, and act as chemical-free fabric softener. Tutorial here.

Source: simplyrealmoms.com

11. Make solar chargers out of playing cards

Tutorial.

Source: instructables.com

12. Displace water in your toilet tank with a filled plastic bottle

Placing a 2-liter bottle of water in a toilet tank will save around 10 gallons a day in a typical home. It’ll continue to function perfectly while using less water per flush!

Source: realsimple.com

13. Make re-usable waterproof sandwich bags with beeswax cloth

More info here.

Source: tutorialadventures.blogspot.com

14. Turn a plastic tub into a compost bin

Optional: add in some carbon filters to eliminate the smell.

Source: budgetingwiththebushmans.com

15. Slide draft stoppers underneath doors to lock in heat

DIY or purchase from Amazon.

Source: notmartha.org

16. Clean with lemon juice, baking soda, and vinegar

More detailed recipes here.

Source: pinterest.com

17. Make a solar oven out of cardboard and tin foil

Temperatures inside can reach up to 400 degrees if made well. Here are a bunch of awesome solar cookers.

Source: inspirationgreen.com

18. Seal electrical boxes with foam gaskets

Insulate your room by inserting foam gaskets (less than $1 each at your local hardware store) underneath your outlet covers.

Source: familyhandyman.com

19. Threats, punishment, and masochism

If your family member takes a shower lasting longer than 8 minutes, discipline them. Wear a shock collar every time you run the dishwasher. Buy appliances that emit high level radiation when used. Foolproof!

Image by Angela Meiquan Wang