If you haven’t heard, there has been a lot of talk about how we can all reduce our carbon footprint and make the world a better place. Of course, a lot of the blame lies on the shoulders of the corporations that are being messy and abusing environmental laws. However, this is no excuse for us to ignore the steps that we can take to improve the world around us. If you are interested in how you can do your bit, here are some suggestions on how you can make your home a more eco-friendly place.
Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
Recycle more
If you live in certain areas, you might already have a kerbside recycling service in place. Most parts of the UK have a large recycling focus which is supported by the local governments. If you are waiting for something to start in your own area, you don’t have to wait for the government to take charge. There are thousands of recycling centers, and there are more options when it comes to recycling too. For example, some supermarkets are taking back single-use plastics (such as old carrier bags and bread bags) and recycling them. If you have a look around you, you will see that there are plenty of places that will take your rubbish to be recycled. All you need to do is sort it properly and leave it off.
Keep the heat in
When it comes to your home heating, you want to keep the heat in during the winter months, and the cool air inside in the summer. When it comes to maintaining the temperature in your home, you need to ensure that the elements from the outside can’t get inside. This could mean adding new insulation or replacement windows to prevent any heat loss. The reason that this is necessary for year-round temperature control is that it will keep the air inside your home, regardless if it is hot or cold. If you think you could benefit from some upgrades, you could find yourself saving hundreds of dollars on temperature control throughout the year.
Upcycle
You might read that heading and think to yourself, “but isn’t that the same thing as recycling?” Nope, it is not exactly the same but it is kind of the same. Confused? Well, don’t be. The idea behind upcycling is that you can take an item and change it to make an updated version. For example, taking a set of old dining chairs that have been neglected, giving them a fresh coat of paint and some fresh fabric for the seats. Recycling would be to turn those chairs into something completely different by taking them apart and reusing the wood for something else. If you have old furniture that has seen a better day, you could always try to upgrade it and make it new. Some people have created a healthy business by upcycling furniture so don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it.
Shop local
Have you ever wondered where your food comes from? There is a lot of stuff that we buy that is from the other side of the world. Of course, you would expect exotic fruits to be on the list, but what about your meat? There is a lot of stuff that is shipped worldwide because of the seasons. However, it is possible to get a lot of your food from local farmers. Or course, you will have to eat the food that is in season locally, but is this so bad? Many people claim that they feel calmer and more in tune with themselves when they buy their food according to the local seasons. Plus, you don’t have to limit your shopping to just food. There is an abundance of talented artists and creators around you so you can kit out your house with local art and local food.
Ditch the car
If you drive, you are probably aware of how much driving you do. You should stop and ask yourself if you need to drive as much as you do. Is there a way that you could leave the car at home? Is it really necessary for school runs? Do you need it to pop to the shop? Is there any way that you could use your car less? If you think you can alter your routine and habits to use your car less, go for it! Not only will you save yourself some money on fuel, but you will also lower your carbon footprint, and get fitter in the process. For longer journeys, you could switch to public transport and make the most out of the services. A lot of trains and buses have free wifi and charging ports so you can relax while you are travelling. It can be tough to ditch those bad habits but over time you will adjust to leaving the car at home.
Install alternative energy sources
Have you ever looked at your gas bill and cried? There are a lot of people out there who have and the cost of warming our homes is not going to get any cheaper. However, there is the option to change how you heat your home with alternative energy sources. This can be adding solar panels to the roof, a wind turbine to the garden, or ensuring that your energy supplier is using renewable energy sources. This can be a tough process but it is worth it in the end when your energy is from a clean source and is a fraction of the price. You might need to look into the energy grants in your area as some places are offering help to install solar panels.
And that is it, some ways that you can make your home a little bit more eco-friendly. All of the things we have listed require a minimal amount of effort and can make an immediate change to your life. We hope that you found our suggestions useful and that they help you to make some changes in your life.