10 Easy Ways to Make Your Home More Sustainable

Vermont is a leader for sustainability efforts in the United States, committing to reducing greenhouse gas pollution to 40% (below 1990 levels) by 2030. Our government is working to fight against climate change, and many Vermont residents are taking it upon themselves to change their own lifestyle to be more environmentally friendly. Some homeowners are making the switch to renewable energy source options, like solar. In fact, 16.39% of Vermont’s electricity comes from solar energy. But solar and renewable energy options are not accessible for all Vermonters. 

Here are 10 ways you can make your household more “green,” building new habits that both reduce your carbon footprint and cut down on personal costs for heat, water, electricity, and more.

LED Lightbulbs

Did you know that LED lightbulbs can use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than regular lightbulbs? This is a great way to save energy and boost convenience because you don’t have to change them out as often. Plus, it can save you around $225 per year in energy costs.

DIY Weatherization

Implementing weatherization tactics like weather strips, insulation, and air sealing will keep your home warmer during the winter and cooler during the summer, decreasing the amount of energy used to heat and cool your home. These additions are typically low cost, and Efficiency Vermont offers rebates for up to $100 for certain products purchased to achieve a more consistent temperature.

Avoid Air Conditioning

It can be tempting to fill your home with window air conditioning units as soon as summer hits. However, fans use a fraction of the amount of energy as air conditioners, bringing down your energy use and costs. There are many tactics you can use to cool down your home without AC, including: 

• Keeping curtains closed during the day to avoid heat from the sun and opening windows at night to let in cool air. Consider purchasing insulating curtains to provide an extra seal around your windows to regulate temperature.

• Spinning ceiling fans counter-clockwise to push cool air down.

• Unplugging appliances, including chargers, when they’re not in use—believe it or not, they’re still generating heat and drawing on the system even when idle.

Air Dry Laundry

Dryers use an average 3,000 watts per cycle. Setting up a clothing line in your home or backyard is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and your electricity bill. To be exact, this simple measure can reduce your household’s carbon footprint by 2,400 pounds per year and save you over $100 annually. Plus, there are other benefits to air drying laundry: clothes last longer when they are air dried, reducing the amount of clothing going into landfills and making it so your favorite t-shirt lasts forever. They also smell and feel great after a day out in the fresh air.

Composting

Since 2020, Vermont has required residents to compost their food scraps. Wanting to abide by the rules and join this movement but not sure where to start? There are three options: you can start a backyard composting system, hire a local pickup service, or drop off your food scraps at a local food waste facility for free. All you need to start is a bucket with a lid—place it next to your trash can and every time you have food scraps, put them in the bucket instead. This is a fantastic and low-cost way to make your household more sustainable, reducing the amount of trash you produce.

Reusable Swaps for Single-Use Items

We can all get caught up in using too many paper towels or relying on plastic bags. Check out these alternatives for your single-use items to reduce the amount of waste in your home:

• Plastic wrap and plastic bags—Invest in beeswax wraps, silicone food storage bags, and reusable containers to store food and keep it fresh.

• Cotton pads—Swap disposable cotton pads for reusable versions or face cloths.

• Diapers—Many parents have made the switch to cloth diapers to reduce their waste.

• Paper grocery bags—Bring your own reusable tote bags to carry your groceries.

• Aluminum foil and parchment paper—Purchase reusable mats that cover your baking sheets.

• Toilet paper—Try out bamboo and organic options.

• Paper towels—Clean using microfiber towels, washcloths, and even reusable paper towels.

• Coffee filters—Choose the compostable version and add them to your compost bucket instead of the trash.

Swap to an Air-to-Water Heat Pump

This definitely isn’t the easiest task on our list, but Efficiency Vermont offers up to $6,500 in rebates for this swap, making it especially beneficial for both your household and the environment. An air-to-water heat pump saves energy and cost on heating bills over time—even up to 70% less electricity than electric baseboard heat. These pumps move heat from outside air into water pipes and have the ability to provide both heat and hot water at the same time, eliminating the need to have a separate water heater.

Clean Large Appliances

Have you ever dusted the vent fan behind your refrigerator? Doing so can save you energy in the long run. Removing this dust reduces the amount of effort the appliance has to put in to operate. Regularly clean your refrigerator vent, dryer exhaust and lint screens, bathroom fans, and more to improve their function.

Replace Windows and Doors

This is a bigger and more expensive swap, but it will save you in the long run, your windows will last longer, and it will make your household more comfortable in all seasons of the year. Test your windows and doors to see if you can feel a draft using the paper trick. Open the window and place a piece of paper in the crack. Close the window and pull on the paper. If it doesn’t move, your seal is good. If you can easily slide the paper out, the seal is weathered and needs to be replaced. Replacing damaged or old windows will improve your home’s ability to maintain a consistent temperature, keeping it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Grow Your Own Produce

Looking for a new hobby that uses your green thumb? Start your own garden! There are many sustainability benefits that come with having your own garden: you’re using sustainable growing practices, you’re less reliant on grocery stores (which reduces your grocery bill week-to-week), and you’re eating fruits and vegetables that are in-season locally, reducing the demand for produce transported long distances on trucks, trains, and planes thus reducing your overall carbon footprint. Growing herbs on your windowsill in your home will reduce waste, save money, and ultimately be convenient when you’re cooking. 

Transforming your household into an eco-friendly haven isn't about perfection—it's about progress. Each small change you implement creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond your own four walls. From composting food scraps to air-drying laundry, these individual actions collectively contribute to Vermont's broader sustainability goals and help combat climate change.

Want more home maintenance tips? Read our blog!