How to Prep Your House for a Greener Getaway

Eco-conscious travel begins long before you touch down in your dream destination or even go through airport security. It begins right at your doorstep, starting the moment you begin getting your house ready for your time away.

Preparing your home thoughtfully before any trip, whether you’re taking a long weekend for a short getaway or living out your jet-setter fantasies with an extended adventure, offers a significant opportunity to minimize your environmental impact while you're traveling. With a few attainable tactics, you’ll set yourself up for a green getaway that extends beyond your activities abroad.

Unplug Before Departure

Don't let your appliances silently drain energy and make your bills skyrocket while you're away. Even when set to "off", many electronics continue to consume power, contributing to a phenomenon called "phantom energy" waste. Make it a habit to physically unplug devices like your TV, coffee machine, toaster, and all chargers before heading out. Set a reminder or alarm in your phone to help you remember to complete this task. When you’re traveling for an extended period, maximize energy savings by unplugging and emptying your refrigerator and freezer as well. Keep in mind you’ll need to slightly prop their doors open to avoid odour build up.

Adjust Your Thermostat

Minimize energy waste by adjusting your thermostat before you leave. Since no one will be home to benefit from the AC or heat, setting it to an energy-saving mode is crucial. During colder periods, program the thermostat to a temperature just above freezing to safeguard your pipes from bursting. Conversely, in warmer seasons, slightly raising the temperature setting will protect your home while significantly reducing energy consumption.

Implement Smart Timers and Solar Lights

To maintain a sense of security, explore the benefits of smart timers or solar-powered outdoor lighting to make it look like someone’s home and deter break-ins. These energy-efficient upgrades for your home can be programmed to follow a schedule that simulates your usual activity, providing a more sustainable and secure solution for your home during your absence.

Manage Your Mail

Preventing the tell tale sign of an empty house by planning for unattended mail while you're traveling. Instead of allowing newspapers and other non-essential deliveries to accumulate and potentially be discarded or spoil, consider placing them on a temporary pause. This simple action helps reduce unnecessary paper and packaging waste during your absence, contributing to your sustainability efforts while protecting your home.

Pre-Trip Decluttering

Use packing as an opportunity to reassess your belongings. As you prepare for your trip, take a moment to go through storage spaces, wardrobes, and garage clutter. You’ll likely find items you no longer use, need, or want.

Instead of tossing everything in the bin, donate gently used items to local charities or host a pre-trip yard sale. For anything beyond reuse, you can still stay eco-conscious by working with waste removal experts.

Services like roll-off dumpster rentals make it easier to toss out trash responsibly and in bulk, ensuring materials are disposed of properly. It’s a low-effort, green-friendly way to remove junk from your home before your journey.

Conclusion

Embracing a lighter footprint extends beyond your suitcase. By prepping your home with sustainability as a priority, you establish an eco-friendly mindset that will follow you from the moment you step foot on the plane to the blissful re-entry into your home once you’ve returned. This mindful preparation cuts your energy costs, benefits the planet, and ultimately enhances your peace of mind throughout your travels.