By now, we are all well aware of the issues surrounding climate change and the importance of trying to live a greener lifestyle. Some of the most common advice is to carry tote bags with us when shopping and drink from metal straws, reusable water bottles, and travel coffee cups instead of using disposable ones. So what about actions we can do around the house? There are plenty of simple steps we can take to make our homes more environmentally friendly and do our bit to help the planet. Here are some top suggestions.
Improve the insulation
Heating is a big expenditure for many of us during the winter and also contributes considerably to our carbon footprint. That’s why making your property more efficient at retaining heat can both save you money and help the environment. If you have the budget for it, installing walls, attic, and basement insulation can make a huge difference. However, there are also smaller additions you can find, such as keyhole covers and draft excluders for doors that can keep out the chill. Another top tip is to hang thicker curtains or choose versatile shutters from sunburstshuttersaz.com in order to reduce the amount of heat that’s lost through the windows.
Cut your energy use
Boosting insulation and lowering the temperature on the thermostat aren’t the only ways that we can reduce the amount of energy we use in the home. Other great steps are to turn off all of your electronic appliances at the wall when they’re not in use and purchase energy-efficient models when they need replacing. Switching off lights when you leave a room and choosing to only boil the amount of water that you need in the kettle or saucepan are also simple but effective tricks. Over time, all of these actions taken together can make a big difference.
Reduce your water use
Water is an extremely valuable resource and one that we should take care not to waste. There are many ways to cut down the amount of water you use, including showering instead of taking baths and installing an aerated showerhead that uses less water without a drop in pressure. Other tactics include putting a device in the cistern of your toilet that reduces the amount of water used in each flush, turning the tap off when brushing your teeth, and only running the washing machine or dishwasher when you have a full load. Some models also have ‘eco modes’ that are more environmentally friendly.
Reuse and recycle
Recycling as much of your household waste as possible is an easy step we can all take to help the planet. Similarly, you can try and mend items such as clothes when they rip or break, rather than immediately throwing them away and buying something new. There are lots of tutorials online that can help you to pick up the skills you need. In addition, whenever you go to buy something new like a book, ask yourself whether you could get it secondhand instead. Thrift stores often have some real bargains, and you’ll be helping to reduce waste at the same time.
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