Is Your Home Eco-Friendly?
There’s more and more pressure to be eco-friendly today, and while you might be making an effort to take your reusable shopping bags out with you, use your reusable coffee cup and filling up your water bottle each day; is there more you could be doing at home? Or is there anything you could do to your home to make it more eco-friendly?
Is your home insulated?
If your home is more efficient at trapping in the heat, you will cut your heating bills and use fewer fossil fuels. You could invest in a draught excluder as this is one of the quickest and cheapest ways to keep your home warmer. You can also make your home more eco-friendly by insulating your home with thermal wallpaper along with loft or basement insulation.
Do you make the most of the sun?
If you’re able to install commercial solar panels, you can reduce the emissions of your household massively because you’ll be able to generate your very own clean electricity. Even better if you are able to heat water through solar too, as this will mean you can ditch the gas-powered heating in the process.
Do you have too much stuff?
Did you know that stuff we buy for our homes has big ramifications when it comes to resource use and emissions from shipping? Obviously, there are going to be times when you need to replace things, so have a look at second-hand things first. If you do need to buy new, then make sure it’s made to last so that you decrease your environmental impact. It’s also a good idea to learn how to do simple fabric repairs so that you don’t need to replace things because of a small rip or fray.
Do you have any houseplants?
If not, get some. Adding plants inside your home can increase oxygen levels, and Dracaena plants have shown to be one of the most effective air filters as they remove formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and carbon dioxide – all of which are linked to health problems. They also increase the humidity of a room.
Is your home smart?
Upgrade to a smart thermostat so that the temperature automatically drops when you’re not home, and you save lots of energy.
Do you use cold water?
Yes, cold water, when washing your clothes, makes many people shudder and they seem to think that their clothes won’t be as clean. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth, as hot water actually sets stains while cold water won’t do this but will still get your clothes just as clean.
Do you reuse?
Before you throw away old clothes, do you ever think about how you can use them around the house? Would that T-shirt make a good cleaning rag or a hair towel? Just think twice before you throw things away and see what else can be done with them.
Do you recycle?
For many, recycling has become second-nature now, which is great, but there are still people who aren’t doing their bit. If you’re not recycling enough, invest in some recycling bins so that it’s easier to separate your waste.