Conscious Living: Make Every Room in Your Home Greener

“When choosing a doormat for your entryway, look for mats made out of recyclable or biodegradable materials (coconut fibers) rather than petroleum-based or synthetic materials,” says Erica Dodds, Ph.D., a sustainability expert and the COO of the Foundation for Climate Restoration. “Instead of generating carbon emissions at the landfill, the doormat can be recycled.” The Kempf Natural Coco Coir Doormat, for instance, is made from coconut husks and doesn’t have a PVC backing.

“The key to any functional entryway is good lighting, and as people get more creative with personalizing their space with chandeliers and pendant lights, it’s important to consider the environmental impact,” says Dodds, who recommends switching to LED bulbs to both save money on your energy bill (up to 85 percent) and reduce your carbon footprint.

Sylvania sells 60-watt LED bulbs in bulk packs, making it easy and cost-effective to swap out any energy-sucking incandescent bulbs lurking around your home. (And when they burn out, check with your local Home Depot to see if they recycle LED bulbs, or order an LED bulb consumer recycling kit from LampMaster.)

Biom’s sanitizing wipes are 100 percent plant-based, plastic-free, and biodegradable. They’re also CDC-compliant and effective against 99.9 percent of germs — perfect for use on hands (ages 3 and up) and bacteria-prone surfaces, such as doorknobs, remotes, phones, and kids’ toys. The brand’s starter kit contains one refillable dispenser and two wipe refills.

Furniture is often treated with chemicals that threaten air and water quality, such as certain dyes, flame retardants, and lacquers, but checking out the sustainability practices of furniture companies before you buy from them can help minimize these issues. Think: the Essential Sectional by Sabai, which is made of FSC-certified wood and recycled and upcycled fibers.

“Most furniture ends up in the landfill each year, so buying pre-loved or upcycled furniture lessens waste and your carbon footprint,” says Dodds. Sites like Kaiyo (where this Ethan Allen Square Coffee Table is from), Apartment Therapy Bazaar, and Urban Outfitters’ Urban Renewal are great places to browse for finds that are just right and lightly loved.

While carpets are a nice touch to a room, their environmental impact can be damaging from chemical emissions from manufacturing to difficulty recycling because of their bulky nature. These Stratosphere Carpet Tiles by Flor, on the other hand, are part of the eco-friendly rug company’s Carbon Negative Collection.

The Pure-Sky Ultra Microfiber Cleaning Glove is multitalented — one side is great for tackling dust on furniture and electronics, while the other can be used to clean glass or mirrored surfaces sans streaks. Just add water.

It’s estimated that 24 percent of all food in the U.S. (54 million tons) goes to waste. Fortunately, there are plenty of products out there to help us waste less, including Zwilling’s Fresh and Save Vacuum Sealer Glass Storage Set. The rechargeable cordless vacuum pump removes all air from the containers and bags to keep your produce and leftovers fresher longer. (Additional glass containers are also available.)

Vejibags aren’t just an eco-friendly alternative to storing your produce in plastic — the organic cotton bags also keep it fresh and crisp for up to two weeks by providing a humid environment that breathes. The starter kit contains two standard bags, two large, and one extra large.

VestaEco’s Compostable Vacuum Pouches are made from renewable resources — PLA resin, to be exact — that decompose over time. They’re super-durable, lock in freshness for five to six times longer (sans freezer burn), and work in most vacuum sealers.

Bokashi fermentation is the most convenient, cost-effective, and streamlined way to recycle organic waste from your kitchen. The odor- and vermin-free composting process doesn’t produce heat or gasses, sequesters virtually all carbon to the soil (where it’s gradually taken up by microbes, fungi, and plants), and can be done year-round. It takes only 4 to 6 weeks for your food waste to become nutrient-rich compost.

Anywhere you have a faucet, you should install a faucet aerator, à la the Neoperl Dual-Thread Faucet Aerator. “They’re inexpensive and redistribute the flow of water so you waste significantly less water without sacrificing water pressure,” says Piper.

No drain hoses necessary: The Tetra Countertop Dishwasher is fully self-contained and can be plugged into any old electrical outlet. Just fill with water, load up your dishes, select a cleaning cycle, and let it do the work. Tetra cleans 50 percent more dishes using 40 percent less water in 55 percent of the time than the leading countertop dishwasher.

Blueland’s Dish Duo offers up a powder dish soap that’s tough on grease and grime and dishwasher tablets that gently deep-clean dishes, glass, silver, and porcelain. The kit includes a reusable shaker and tin, with refills available in compostable paper pouches.

Green Gobbler’s Drain Clog Dissolver uses natural enzymes that quickly dissolve hair, fats, oils, and other obstructions. It’s also biodegradable and won’t harm rivers and oceans.

Conventional mattresses are often chock-full of synthetic materials, like polyurethane foam, that may emit volatile organic compounds and have other harmful effects on the planet, says Horvitz. Avocado mattresses are as eco-friendly as it gets — a GOTS-certified organic product with the Made Safe® nontoxic seal for safety, the brand’s Eco Organic Mattress is the most affordable certified organic mattress around, with one for kids too.