These days, there are no excuses for not being economically aware. We have ready access to online platforms, newspapers, the television and more. Because of this, we’re all a lot more educated than we once were about how we can reduce our carbon footprint and therefore live an all-round greener life. However, it can still be difficult to know how we can be more environmentally aware in our day to day lives, and to know what small things we can do to make a big difference in the larger world. Your home is a microcosm of a bigger society, so remember that even if just you and some of your family stick to this, you’ll make a huge difference in the world as a whole. With these top tips, you’ll never struggle to live in an eco-friendly home again.
Be Mindful of Your Water Usage
Being mindful of your water usage doesn’t mean you have to go back to the Victorian ways of having one family-shared bath a week. It literally just means being aware of how much water you’re using in your home and figuring out how you can be more sustainable in its usage. It’s all about being aware. Take the time to check your home for any leaks and fix them accordingly, and also remember that you can reduce your water usage in the simplest of ways. An example of this, is making sure that you don’t leave the water running when you’re brushing your teeth or having a shave. You could even look into getting a low-flow showerhead installed into your home. These have been proven to save as much as 160,000 litres of water in a family of four. Not only will being smart about your water usage be good for the environment, but it will also save you money on your utility bills meaning you’ll not only be doing good, but getting something back for it.
Spend More Time Outdoors
We’re in the midst of the summer months now, and with the hopefully good weather on its way there’s no excuse for you to be sitting inside all of the time. By spending time outdoors, you’ll naturally reduce energy usage within your home without having to think about it. If you’re unsure what to do when you’re out in the garden, why not make your garden a project over the summer? Look into planting some flowerbeds, tidying your lawn and if you have a garden wall that’s looking a tad unsteady and worse for wear, look into getting it repointed with a local company through https://www.repointingspecialist.co.uk/repointing-near-me/. Not only this, but you could even attempt to grow some of your own fruit and vegetables. It’s well known that the vast majority of shop-bought products like these are wrapped in plastic, so by growing them yourself you’ll also reduce your plastic usage without even realising it. Who knew being kind to the environment could be so enjoyable and so easy?
Install a Smart Meter in Your Home
Being smart about the way you use energy in the same way as water is another way to reduce your house’s carbon footprint on the world. Heating is one of the most energy draining sources, so be mindful of how you use it and monitor it through the use of a smart meter. Smart meters can be programmed to only turn on at certain times throughout the day, for example, they can begin to heat up your home just a little while before you get back from work, and can shut off an hour or so before you leave the house, meaning you’re combating unnecessary energy usage, without even really having to try! They’re an absolute must for anybody who’s not only looking to be more environmentally aware, but for anyone looking to save a few pennies along the way too.
Go Au Natural
A surprising source of unhealthy fumes being passed into the environment, is the shop bought cleaning products we all keep so readily in our cupboards. Did you know that these cleaning products that are easily bought without any kind of warning, are actually linked to several respiratory problems, particularly in children? Switching over to natural cleaning products is not only healthier for the environment, but for your family too. For many day-to-day cleaning tasks, products such as the citric acid from citrus fruits, vinegar, and bicarbonate of soda are a great and healthier alternative to the chemicals found in shop bought products.
