‘Tis the season for celebrating with family and friends, reflecting on the past year and planning for the one ahead. If one of your goals is to reduce your carbon footprint and live a greener life, we have five resolutions you can make for a more sustainable new year.
1. Use It, Lose It, or Store It
If you haven’t “used it” in a while, it may be time to “lose it” -- but that doesn’t have to mean the garbage. Whenever possible, recycle items that are no longer useful to your household. You can even salvage some of the harder-to-recycle items liked plastic plant containers, batteries, and even live Christmas trees at The Home Depot. You can also organize a swap with neighbors to trade unused items for more useful ones.
For the things you keep, store them smartly and sustainably. Here’s some inspiration for new storage systems.
2. Use Your (Water)Sense
100 percent of all new bathroom faucets, showerheads and toilets at The Home Depot are WaterSense-labeled, making it easier than ever to manage your home water usage. Want to learn more about how you can save money, water and the planet? Check out the benefits of WaterSense products.
3. See the Light
LED lights are safer, can reduce maintenance costs and help significantly lower energy consumption. That’s because they have a longer lifespan at 60,000 hours and are 90 percent more efficient than traditional lights. See the light and switch to LEDs to use your electricity more sustainably in the new year. Learn more about how to choose LED lights for your home.
4. Clean, Garden or Paint Green(er)
The Eco Options program identifies products that have less impact on the environment than comparable standard products. This makes it easier to identify which purchases will help reduce your environmental impact. Plan some projects for the new year that are better for your home and the environment.
5. Be an Energy Star
According to the EPA, the typical American household spends about $2,000 a year on energy bills. ENERGY STAR products allow a home to use 30 percent less energy while saving more than $575 per year on energy bills. Look for the Energy Star Label and replace your old, inefficient appliances with Energy Star appliances to save energy and money.
To learn more about The Home Depot’s Eco Options, visit ecooptions.homedepot.com. To learn more about our sustainability goals and achievements, read our 2020 Responsibility Report.
