How to Make the Living Room More Eco-Friendly
What makes a living room living?
Well, besides the obvious of humans occupying it, the room is living and breathing energy and entertainment. Even when it is empty and silent, there is energy flowing through electricity or plants photosynthesizing. Even the furniture sits there waiting for it to be warmed by a body of a human or pet. There is life in this room, and we have a stake in how we bring the room to life. In this article, I will cover energy-saving, furniture-purchasing, decor-setting, and waste disposal tips. Animated? Electrified? I hope you will be by the end or at least entertained by the potential of a living room “living” an eco-friendly lifestyle. ;)
Energy-Saving = Savings ($$)!
Ever wondered how much energy your TV actually used? Or what about the speakers? I will cover how much energy (and money) common furniture appliances require to function. Most of these are in-use wattage as standby is minimal, but it’s best practice to use these appliances only when you need to and unplug if not using them for extended periods of time.
Common living room appliances and items:
I used exaggerated numbers for the number of hours each appliance would be in use. For more accurate costs, use this energy cost calculator.
Televisions
LCD: Avg. of 120 watts (this is the avg for a 42-inch) would be $0.1872/day and $68.328/yr, if left on for 12 hours daily.
Plasma: Avg. of 220 watts (42-inch) would be $0.3432/day and $125.268/yr, if left on for 12 hours daily.
LED: Avg. of 80 watts (42-inch) $0.1248/day and $45.552/yr.
LED and LCD being the clear winners here.
Speakers — Avg. of 50 watts for 12 hours a day would be $0.072/day and $26.28/yr. I’m linking this article that takes an in-depth (but mostly plain-speak) look at how fewer watts really equal better quality. A lot of big box brands try to sell you that more wattage is better, but this comes at a higher cost that doesn’t always match what you really need for your home stereo system.
Lamp and Ceiling Lights
An avg. of 13 watts for LED would be about $0.020/day and $7.40/yr.
An avg. of 53 watts for Halogen would be about $0.083/day at 12 hours and $30.18/yr.
CFL (fluorescent bulbs) with an average of 15 watts would be $0.023/day at 12 hrs and $8.54/yr.
The best ones to use are LED by far for energy saving (and cost savings), and they also typically last the longest. It doesn’t necessarily matter if you use a lamp or ceiling light, just use one or the other because the ceiling does still require electricity to power the bulb (and fan if included). The lamp is more waste in the long run if you end up donating it or landfilling it, so do keep that in mind. For more information on how to recycle lightbulbs (if possible), see this article.
Electric Blanket — Avg. of 300 watts for 12 hours, you’re looking at $0.936/day and $341.64/yr.
Fans
Ceiling Fan: Draws about 75 watts, and for 24 hours a day, this would amount to $85.41/yr and $0.234/day.
Floor Fan: Avg. is 70 watts, and for 24 hours a day, this would amount to $79.716/yr and $0.2184/day.
But what if your floor fan stops working or is inefficient at circulating air around the room? The ceiling fan is better in terms of airflow efficiency and less maintenance, but isn’t portable and can be expensive to maintain. With a floor fan, if it stops working, you can repair this yourself or have some help before tossing away. It is likely to save the fan and not have to buy a whole new one (which means new packaging and another fan that eventually gets tossed).
For more information on where you can save money with your appliances, I wrote articles exclusive to the office and the bedroom.
Furniture Considerations:
According to the EPA, furniture and furnishings amounted to 12.1 million tons generated, and 9.9 million tons of that were landfilled in 2018. These numbers continue to increase each year. When buying furniture for your living room, you are making an investment in its style, quality, and durability. However, this also makes for a huge investment as furniture is one of the highest-priced items you can buy for the home. So where to start with ensuring that you won’t end up in a situation where you feel you need to kick it to the curb?
— Consider buying from second-hand shops, antique stores, or stores you can trust with transparency. If you can test it out first, even better!
— Plan for your lifestyle and the lifecycle of the furniture. Is it consistent with your living needs and decor? How long will it last and where will it end up when it is no longer a match for you? Can you find ways of modifying your furniture to match the decor before you toss it aside?
— This article lays out the comparisons in couch materials and what to expect for pros and cons, which is important because if you buy the wrong material then it most likely will become a “waste.”
— For any wood attachments or build, if possible, ensure that it is made of FSC-Certified Wood. This matters because FSC-Certification guarantees that the wood used in your product was sustainably sourced and will not contribute to deforestation. To learn more about FSC-Certification, refer to their website here.
— For glass furniture, most are made out of tempered glass that likely will not be recycled. Check with your local recycler as not all glass is treated the same.
— For metal furniture, check with your local recycler before trying to recycle, or consider a junk hauler that is transparent about what they do with the metal. Just as all glass is not treated the same, this also goes for metal furniture.
Other Recommendations:
When hanging decor, if you can use tacks or nails to do so, this is preferred as they can easily be reused. Mounting putty and strips on the other hand cannot be easily reused, often strip the paint or leave stains, and they will end up in the landfill.
To purify the air of the living room and add aesthetic appeal, this article suggests some beautiful plants that can match any living room design.
There have been studies but no conclusive evidence on the long-lasting negative health effects of burning candles. It is recommended that when buying candles, you buy natural and organic waxes (e.g., soy, coconut, etc.) but be sure that it is sourced responsibly and will last. The obvious choice for candle alternatives that pose fewer risks of toxins and fires are essential oil diffusers. They can also be used as diffusers depending on the capacity of water they can hold. These typically last longer than candles, use minimal electricity and water, and essential oil bottles can often be recycled or upcycled (glass candle holders can too, but they can be tricky to clean).
End of Life for Objects — Where Does the Waste Go?
Before tossing, consider repairing. YouTube has a plethora of DIY and tutorial videos just for this purpose. Additionally, see if there is a repair clinic/fix-it event near you. This website gives an idea of where you might find that information. To inspire you in the meantime, here is an article and video on how to fix a faulty lamp!
Remotes — No need to landfill. Donate, repurpose, or locate a local recycler that accepts these.
Electronic Waste — No need to landfill. Donate, repurpose, or locate a local e-waste collection facility.
Batteries — Use this convenient locator for finding your nearest battery collection site. Typically, it is advised that “single-use” alkaline batteries be disposed of in the garbage, and all other batteries recycled with a designated recycler. Consider replacing your single-use batteries with reusable ones. They are more expensive, but they last longer and are worth the investment in the long run as they will save money and the headache of being responsible for more landfill waste. This website gives a more detailed explanation for why batteries are so tricky to dispose of (keep in mind that it uses Chicago as an example, but most of the information is pertinent to anywhere in the U.S.).
That’s it for now! I know we covered a lot, but if I missed anything, please leave a comment below or feel free to contact me at rerecyclechi@gmail.com. In the meantime, in what ways have you made your living room more eco-friendly? Any tips from your own experiences that you want to share? I would love to hear from you!
