According to the United Nations, the Earth’s natural resource consumption has tripled over the last four decades by humans. At this rate, we would use up all of Earth’s natural resources to live a healthy life. The change in our climate is a crisis, but luckily there is still time to restore our nature of its resources. Here are five reasons to be eco-friendly after you retire.

1) Increase your home’s value

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in buyers who favor green and eco-friendly homes. A green home is designed to be environmentally sustainable by using efficient materials, making the home overall better for the environment.

By making your home eco-friendly, you can drastically boost the value of your home. Going green can be as simple as adding solar panels to your roof or changing out your shower, faucets, and toilets to a “low-flow” style. Green homes have a low impact on our climate, and some governments even offer subsidies when your home goes green.

From a home-buyers point of view, when purchasing a green home, they will help the environment, live in a healthier home, and reduce the costs of utilities. Therefore, homebuyers are more likely to favor your home whenever it provides these types of benefits.

2) Reduce utility bills

Saving money in retirement is essential, especially if you plan on living out a long and healthy retirement. Paying for utilities is inevitable, but luckily, there are ways to save money on utility bills in an eco-friendly way. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, you can save up to 20% on your utility bills whenever you and your home become eco-friendly.

As an individual, you could save hundreds of dollars on your current water bill whenever choosing a more sustainable option, such as switching out old faucets or reusing old water. The U.S. Department of Energy states if all homes and buildings in the U.S. were to become green, we would decrease energy spending by $20 billion every year.

For example, if you were to purchase solar panels for your home, you will get a return on your money in a few years and, overall, pay less for electricity each month. Changing your home lights to LED light bulbs is also a more durable and cheaper option to decrease your power usage than traditional light bulbs.

3) Help local farmers

The rise of supermarkets has hurt many local farmers make ends meet. A way to become eco-friendly after you retire is by purchasing organic and seasonal products at your local farmer’s market. When you buy local organic dairy and produce, you are helping boost your local community and allowing the community to grow.

Eating local allows you to enjoy fresh and nutritious foods, which are typically free of hormones and pesticides. Whenever you stay away from pesticides and toxins, you help relieve the air from pesticides, which helps improve air quality.

Purchasing local, organic food also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which are needed to help provide you with the food you eat.

Overall, there is less waste whenever you purchase food from local farmers. Large retailers have a significant amount of food waste due to items going bad before they are bought. Whenever you eat farm-to-table, you will help improve the waste crisis.

4) Improve health

One of the most apparent reasons to become eco-friendly after you retire is to improve your health. There are many benefits to becoming eco-friendly, as you will benefit from more fresh air, clean water, and help promote less pollution.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 14% of adults age 45 years and older report having coronary heart disease. Some of the droplets in our air come from pollution from fossil fuels, contributing to heart disease and other cardiac problems among adults.

Becoming eco-friendly does not just benefit your heart health but your mental health as well. Spending time outdoors, whether you are walking around a park or working in a garden, will promote more positive feelings and improve your overall mental health. Helping and improving the environment will bring you feelings of positivity.

5) Reduce carbon footprint

According to NASA, humans are the reason for our pollutant air and the sudden need to become eco-friendly. A scientific study found that half of our 825 natural ecosystems are at high risk of being destroyed. Whenever you play your part in this environment and become fully aware of your surroundings, you benefit from the atmosphere whether you see the change or not.

By choosing to become eco-friendly, you reduce your carbon footprint, which is the amount of carbon dioxide you emit individually into the atmosphere. You can reduce your carbon footprint by unplugging your devices, drive less, plant a garden, and eating locally.

By reducing your carbon footprint, you limit the amount of waste that goes to landfills and, overall, help battle climate change.

Summary

Becoming eco-friendly will make a significant impact on the world we live in. Even if you begin to take small steps into an eco-friendly life, you are still playing your part in fighting climate change. These are only five reasons to be eco-friendly after you retire, and hopefully, it helps you get started on a new, green venture.

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