If you want to create a home that has less of an impact on the planet, then take a look at the following post. From how to reduce energy consumption to simple habits that can be changed to benefit the environment, we’ll be covering some useful tips and tricks to help your home become more eco-conscious. Keep reading if you’d like to learn more.
Reducing Energy Usage
The amount of energy we use in our homes is one of the biggest ways we have an impact on our environment. Being more conscious of the energy we’re using can help reduce our carbon footprint and benefit the planet. Of course, during the summer months, it’s easy to switch off your heating, but this might be tricker come the winter. Turning your heating down and opting for heat conserving methods can help to bring down your energy usage in the colder months. Some tips for creating a warmer home include keeping doors closed and blocking drafts, layering up clothing and blankets, and using heat pads or hot water bottles instead of turning up your thermostat. It’s important to ensure your home is warm enough for your health, particularly if you have elderly relatives at home or young children.
Invest In A Renewable Energy Source
The majority of energy currently produced in the UK is done so by using up fossil fuels. This is incredibly damaging to the environment and is also a finite source so won’t last forever. More companies are realising the importance of switching to more renewable energy sources, such as wind energy and solar power, and supporting the use of sources such as this will help you to do your bit for the environment. You can also apply for energy efficiency heating grants through eco schemes, like from Next Energy, to help make your home more energy-efficient.You could also consider investing in a feature such as solar panels for your home, to help generate your own renewable energy for your home.
Installing Double Or Triple Glazing
If your home doesn’t currently have double or triple glazing, it could be worth investing in new windows to help reduce the amount of heat lost from your home. With less heat loss and better insulation, it can help to reduce the need for heating in your home or how high it has to be. This means less energy consumption and less burning of fossil fuels. It also means less heat will be released from your home into the atmosphere, reducing your contribution to global warming.
Resealing Windows And Doors
Another option is to have your doors and windows resealed. Over time, cracks and usage can lead to the sealant around doors and windows allowing heat to escape and cold air to enter. This means a colder house and more heat being released into the environment from your home. Resealing doors and windows is also a relatively low-cost task so it’s a good way to improve how eco-friendly your home is even if you’re on a budget.
Grow Your Own Fruit And Veg
Growing your own fruit and vegetables is a great way to help do your part for the planet. A lot of the fruit in supermarkets gets shipped from other countries, meaning it comes with a high carbon footprint. Cutting out the need for transportation via planes and lorries makes a big difference to levels of emissions. It also helps to cut out the need for plastic packaging which fruit and vegetables very often come in. You don’t need a huge garden to be able to grow your own food. Things such as tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and herbs can all be grown in relatively small pots or even along a windowsill. Growing your own food and plants also helps to provide a space for wildlife such as bees to thrive, which are an essential contributor to pollination and help to sustain a healthy planet. Making your own compost heap will not only give you a way to dispose of food waste from your home but also gives you a great fertiliser for growing your own fruit and veg in.
Buy Locally
If you can’t grow your own food, then the next best alternative is to try and source your supplies as locally as possible. This means there has been less transportation involved in producing the supplies you buy, cutting down on the level of carbon emissions contributing to the climate crisis. It also has the added bonus of supporting smaller, local businesses, rather than larger chain supermarkets. As well as small local stores that source their products locally, you could try sourcing your supplies directly from nearby farms for products such as eggs, meat, dairy, and fruit and vegetables.
Switching To Eco-Friendly Products
Another way to help contribute to more eco-conscious choices is to switch out the current products you use for more eco-friendly options. For example, you could choose to buy cleaning products that don’t contain toxins that are bad for the environment. You could also replace single-use plastic with biodegradable or reusable alternatives such as cardboard, bamboo, or recyclable metals. Also, consider the types of self-care products you’re using and their effect on the planet. Could you switch to more sustainable and eco-friendly options in your shower products, beauty products, or deodorants? Could you swap things such as antibacterial or baby wipes for biodegradable options instead?
Be More Conscious Of Your Recycling Habits
The standards and rules for recycling in the UK are pretty high in comparison to other areas of the globe, however, there are still ways we can help to improve our recycling habits. Sorting your recycling into the correct sections will help to make sure more of your waste gets recycled. This can vary depending on the area you live in, so be sure to check the rules around recycling in your local area. Washing out containers with residual food waste or residue from other parts of packaging will help to ensure it can qualify to be used for recycling rather than ending up in landfill waste. Check the symbols on the packaging for different products, it will tell you if the packaging can be recycled and how.