TIPS AND TRICKS FOR AN ECO-FRIENDLY HOME
Whether you’re looking to live sustainably or to save money, Seren McKeever has put together a list of 10 simple things you can do this year for a more environmentally friendly household.
LED LIGHTBULBS
These use much less energy than incandescent or halogen bulbs, while also lasting way longer. A LED bulb can last up to 15 years, meaning it’s a simple way to contribute to reducing costs, and the carbon footprint of your home.
USE NATURAL CLEANING PRODUCTS
Standard cleaning products release unnatural, harmful chemicals into the water. However, for day-to-day cleaning, you can actually use citrus fruits, bicarbonate of soda, and vinegar. Often, these come with less packaging, so you’re helping in more ways than one.
BRING A PACKED LUNCH TO WORK
Food waste is one of the biggest causes for greenhouse gases worldwide. The UK throws away around seven million tonnes of food every year, and almost three quarters of it could have been eaten. By using leftovers for your lunch the next day, you can save both the environment and your wallet. Check out our lunchbox guide here.
BUY YOUR CLOTHES IN CHARITY SHOPS
The fashion industry is predicted to cause 25% of worldwide carbon output by 2050. The UK is one of the worst contributors, burning thousands of pieces of clothing annually. By keeping your clothes longer, or buying new pieces in charity or vintage shops, you help show the fashion industry that its current way of working isn’t one that should continue.
CREATE YOUR OWN COMPOST
Although most UK governments now provide recycling bins for food waste, putting a compost bin in your garden lets you visualise how much food you’re actually throwing away. Not only this, but food compost also provides great fertilisation for plants – a healthier garden for less.
EAT LOCAL, AND SEASONAL
Although veganism and vegetarianism is on the rise, that might be too big of a change for some people. However, buying local, organic meat can make a big difference to the environment too. Additionally, transporting food from one country to another causes a lot of pollution, so by paying attention to what vegetables are freshly available in Wales each season, you help more than you realise.
SWITCH OFF PLUGS
Leaving your phone charger plugged in when there’s no phone connected is something we all do. The same goes for the kettle, the microwave, and hundreds of other items. By switching off these plugs at the wall when they’re not in use, you stop ‘phantom energy’ and save a lot of money on your electricity bill.
BUY LOOSE-LEAF TEA OR COFFEE BEANS
This is one of the simplest switches to make, but effective in helping to cut out single-use plastic. While you probably already know about coffee pods’ plastic, you might not know teabags also contain plastic in their fibres. So, switching to the alternative really helps the planet.
LAYER UP
Although it’s tempting to blast the heating when you’re sitting at home cold, it’s much better for everyone if you put an extra jumper on. Doing this saves your heating bill, and it saves the environment.
THINK
You’d be surprised how much you can cut back just by taking a moment before each purchase. Do you need it, or can you wait, or repurpose something you already own? Doing this means you can cut the amount of products, waste, and CO2 output you have by surprising amounts.
All of these steps have been picked for how easy they are to do. Plus, while you don’t have to do every one, most of them also help you save money as well. So, they help you as much as they help the planet!
