Having a more sustainable home is easier than it looks and there are changes both big and small that can make a lot of difference. You can make adjustments to your house and your habits in order to reduce waste and to maximize energy efficiency. Here are some simple guidelines on how to make your home more eco-friendly this year.
Save on electricity
One of the easiest ways to do this is to update your appliances. Newer models will be more energy efficient so consider doing a bit of research. Things like washing machines, dish washers and electric ovens can use a lot of energy, but nowadays there are some much better ones on the market, designed for a sustainable home. A cheaper change you can make is by replacing all your lightbulbs with LEDs. These come for all different varieties of lights and are much more durable, they will save you a lot of money as well as energy. Hardly any energy is wasted on heat and you will have brighter rooms for longer.
Save on gas
Consider installing an automated heating system that can be controlled remotely from your phone or other devices. This way you can restrict the use of heating when it’s unnecessary and switch it to come on when you’re on your way home. You can also do this with more modern electrical appliances. In order to keep your house more insulated, replace all your windows with Green windows. These will keep the heat in and you won’t need to waste as much energy, on money on your heating. Consider adding drapes or insulating blinds as well to your windows which will also add insulation. Rugs and carpets also add warmth and texture to any room. You could choose some new styles trending now to add a new flair to your floors.
Renewable energies
For those of you who have the budget to consider more of an upgrade why not consider installing solar panels. These are becoming more and more common in residential properties, for a video tutorial on how to go about this, click here.
Recycle
Aim to recycle and reuse as much as you can. Make sure you educate your family about this as well. Separate your garbage into organic, plastic, paper and glass and use the respective government containers. Reuse what you can in the house. Devise a plan on how you can reduce your waste in general. Think about where you shop and if you can go somewhere a bit more ecological, where for example you can fill up your own containers. Is what you buy locally sourced? Try to support smaller businesses such as local butchers and grocers.
Detox
Think about the products that you use to clean for example and if you can buy more eco-friendly ones made of natural ingredients. Add more plants and flowers to all the rooms as this will help with air pollution, plus is a great way to brighten up your home!
Give sustainable gifts
Gift-giving is something we do all year round, be that at Christmas, on birthdays, or on other special days. However, this can sometimes cause a lot of paper waste when we use too much wrapping paper, and it can increase plastic waste too, from packaging and children’s toys that end up on the landfill. So, think sustainably with your gift giving. Choose natural gifts, such as a lovely bunch of birthday flowers by Fig & Bloom when you’re buying for your wife or girlfriend. Or consider using your skills at craft to make something homemade. And when you’re presenting your gifts to your loved one, reuse old gift bags or use these sustainable wrapping ideas to benefit the environment