There is so much more focus on being more environmentally friendly when it comes to the way we live and our homes. It is hard to shy away from the things that we feel we should be doing as a duty. But for some, this can be something that you are just considering doing.
Sometimes it is the small changes that can make the big difference. Other times you will need to think about making an investment into your home in order for you to benefit from your eco-friendly choices. You could even make changes to how you live your life and act throughout the day. However, your home and lifestyle can be two great places to start when it comes to reducing your carbon footprint and ensuring that you are more eco-friendly in the future, and here’s how you can make some differences.
Image source – pixabay – cco license
Solar energy
Solar energy can often be a great way to make sure you are doing your bit for the environment and having them on your home can be a cheaper alternative. Once you have invested having the panels fitted that is. However, you can enlist the help of a home solar installation company to do the hard work for you. Solar energy does most aspects of your home, from Lighting to heating your water. It can be an excellent investment for the future and may even affect the value of your home in a positive way.
Changing your habits
Sometimes you need to think of the habits you have when it comes to energy usage. For example, do you always switch a light off when you leave a room? How about switching an appliance off at the wall instead of leaving it on standby. Maybe you always boil a full kettle even if you are only making one drink. These habits can be changed, and over time the difference will be seen in your electric bill. If you don’t have the chance to use solar energy, then using as little power as possible can be the next step to doing your bit. You could also look at other ways that you can positively impact your carbon footprint and that might mean changing the way you commute or travel. One trip many of us do is the trip to work, but you could make this a little more environmentally friendly by car sharing or even you could just use public transport, bike or walk to work instead.
Driving a green vehicle
Whether you commute to work, you live for spontaneous road trips or you do the school run twice a day, it’s beneficial to think about how you could reduce your carbon footprint behind the wheel. The range of greener cars is diversifying all the time with options like battery electric vehicles becoming much more popular. Eco-friendly cars not only benefit the environment, but they also provide a cost-effective solution. Although the purchase price may be higher, these cars are a lot cheaper to run and will save you money in the long term. You can also lower your carbon footprint by cycling or walking short distances instead of driving and by opting to book flights with airlines that offset emissions when you search for holidays.
Switching light bulbs
The lights in your home can be the most significant use of energy. Especially in the winter when it can feel like you have every light on and let’s not forget the purpose of Christmas lights during the festive season. However, switching the light bulbs and the use of views where you can to an LED alternative could help you to use less energy overall. Investing in them may cost a little more, but over time the saving will be made in your usage and also how long they can last.
Collecting rainwater and exterior changes
A great way to make your home environmentally friendly would be to think about things such as how you act in the garden. You may want to create your own vegetable patches or plant fruit trees to make yourself a little more sustainable within your home. But then you will need to think about things such as collecting rainwater as you will need to ensure that the plants can get watered regularly through the summer months. Looking into poly water tanks could be the way to help you collect the rainwater and also use this throughout the year.
New windows and doors
Another way to invest into your home and to also make it environmentally friendly would be to consider windows and doors and adding new ones. Using glass that is double or triple glazed helps to avoid drafts getting in and also enables you to think about it being an added extra security measure. The doors can also be another way to keep energy inside your home. The last thing you want is heat escaping, and if this is happening you are more likely to be cranking up the thermometer and using more energy than is necessary. Making this change not only adds value to your home as an investment but allows you to think about keeping the heat inside and ensuring that you don’t have hefty energy bills during the winter months.
Improving insulation in your home
On the subject of keeping heat in your home and using your central heating less is to consider insulation. Insulation can be added to the walls of your home but most commonly in the attic and roof space. Heat rises in your home, and it could be easily expelled through your roof if it is not insulated correctly. Adding the insulation can be a great way to help you keep your home warm and toasty, and again using less energy overall.
Reducing the amount of plastic you use
Finally, there is a lot of news out there at the moment regarding the amount of plastic that you could be using daily. We use plastic for packaging in the shops, and it is very evident that we can change our habits when it comes to this. One of the leading causes of pollution in our oceans comes from plastic. So maybe now is the time to try and cut that down. You could use things such as boxes or paper bags. Or maybe even shop at refill shops in the future. Hingis are difficult with shopping habits right now so even making small changes such as using bamboo toothbrushes, getting a vegetable delivery in a box or even using a corked wine bottle instead of a screw cap. Start small and build up the changes. Trying to do it all at once can be overwhelming.
There are things we can do, big and small, that can help the environment and your home and lifestyle are two excellent ways to start making positive changes.
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