by Last Updated on September 3, 2024 by Avia
If you’re feeling anxious and stressed and you’re not quite sure why, your living environment may be to blame. Many facets of your house, from the windows to the construction of your walls, can be modified to improve your mental health. This guide will provide some insights into how eco-friendly homes enhance mental health and can do wonders for the environment as well.
Table of Contents
Climate Anxiety May Be The Issue
Various aspects of life can cause anxiety and mental unrest, from your job to the stories on the local news. However, one facet of the world you may not have considered is the environment and the air you breathe. While there are physical ailments tied to things like pollution and a lack of sunlight, your mental health could also be at risk.
Over time, researchers have found a link between sustainability and stress, and your potential psychological well-being may be the result of climate anxiety. When you watch the news and constantly hear about climate change, storms around the world, and the limited time humanity may have left on the planet, it’s easy to feel helpless. When you tie those feelings with your other anxieties, it can be hard to take. One way to quell climate anxiety is to engage in mindfulness activities around the house. You can focus on exterior features, like growing a garden or improving the components of your home itself.
Start With The Materials Of Your Home
If you’re looking into purchasing a house, consider choosing a property or a builder that prioritizes using eco-friendly building materials. For instance, a house can be constructed with recycled building materials, such as earth-packed tires, which have their own heating and cooling properties, so you can use less energy. Upcycled plastic can also be used to create bricks that can be stacked faster and are just as strong as standard bricks.
The Dangers Of Noise Pollution
Many building materials, such as adobe brick, can also provide more noise protection, which can be especially beneficial if you live near a street or an airport. Noise pollution can be harmful to your mental health because your brain is wired to monitor sounds for signs of danger, and if it’s constantly processing new sounds, it can trigger stress.
Constant noise can also keep you from falling asleep, which can affect your mood and concentration the next day. If your house is already built, you can take other measures to reduce noise pollution, including adding rugs on the floors and curtains on the windows to absorb the excess sound.
Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
Poor air quality can often be an issue in cities and highly populated areas, making it hard to enjoy time outside. However, if not properly maintained, indoor air quality can also be dangerous for one’s well-being and mental health.
Indoor air often contains airborne dust. When you breathe in the dust, it can get into your lungs, but it can also enter through your olfactory nerve and get into your brain tissue. Over time, exposure to poor air quality affects your mental health and leads to an increased risk of depression. Inhaling unhealthy air has also been tied to dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and more, so you must be careful.
Update HVAC Systems
You can improve the air quality in your home in various ways. One step that you should have on your yearly to-do list is to maintain your HVAC systems. Well-maintained heating and air conditioning systems will operate at peak efficiency and help to clear the air. Pair that with the addition of high-quality air filters. Though more costly, a better HEPA air filter will catch even the smallest particles so you’re not breathing them in.
Ventilate and Dehumidify
When temperatures are mild, you can prevent your HVAC system from overworking and save on utility costs by opening the windows to properly ventilate the space. When you’re cooking or using household chemicals, opening the windows will help to usher the harmful elements outside.
If you live in a humid climate, consider investing in a dehumidifier. Run the device all day, and it will prevent humidity, which helps eliminate mold. Plus, you’ll make the interior of your home much more comfortable during the summer.
Head Outside
You can also get fresh air by walking through the park. Since trees and plants release oxygen, they make ideal air purifiers, so you can breathe easier. Plus, walking through the forest has psychological benefits, such as reduced feelings of anxiety and anger and an improved state of mind. You can also enjoy nature indoors by adding interior plants that boost positive energy.
The Sun Can Add To Your Happiness
Another way that your sustainable home can help you feel better and forge a stronger relationship with nature is by taking advantage of the sun. Check out these tips on how eco-friendly homes enhance mental health by utilizing the power of the sun.
Consider Solar Panels
Adding solar panels to your home is one way to make a major change. A lot of climate change is caused by the constant burning of fossil fuels to power homes and businesses around the globe. You can make a difference by using the sun instead. By modifying your home with solar panels, you may convince others to follow suit, and starting a movement in your neighborhood is a great way to fight the effects of climate anxiety.
Solar panels are great because they will power your house at a fraction of the cost of the electric company. However, they can be costly upfront, and not all homes are eligible, so you must first make that decision about whether or not solar panels are worth the investment. To work properly, your roof will need to be covered in sunlight often enough to produce enough energy. A solar panel installer can use software to see if your home is a good candidate.
The installer will also check your energy needs. If you have a small home that uses fewer utilities or you don’t use that much electricity in the first place, then paying the higher cost upfront won’t be worth it. Ultimately, you want to choose the route that will create the least stress.
Allow More Natural Light
An additional way to use nature and the sun to your advantage is to open the windows more often and bask in natural light. By keeping the blinds and drapes open more during the day, you eliminate the need to waste energy on lighting, which helps the planet and your wallet.
The artificial light you use in your home could affect your physical and mental health. Compact fluorescent light bulbs have been known to cause headaches, and if you already get migraines, color temperatures near 5000k can cause greater pain. By eliminating artificial lights and allowing natural light in your home, you can feel better. You’ll get a higher dose of vitamin D, which is good for your bones but also your mood and energy levels. More natural light can also improve your circadian rhythm so you can sleep better at night.
Conclusion
There are many ways to update your home to make it more sustainable so you can experience true serenity. While you work to improve your own mental health, you’ll also do a great service for the environment, which is a favor you’re doing for the world. We hope these tips on how eco-friendly homes enhance mental health inspire you to make positive changes for yourself and the environment.
About the Author: Ainsley Lawrence is a writer who loves to talk about good health, balanced life, and better living through technology. She is frequently lost in a good book.
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