Green Living Made Easy – And Stylish
In recent months, the effects of climate change have been in grim evidence across the world, including in the UK. During the summer of 2022 alone, temperatures soared to record-breaking levels, hosepipe bans were introduced, and swathes of the country turned dry and brown as vegetation died and water sources dwindled. If that wasn’t bad enough, massive wildfires broke out, destroying properties, and extreme weather ravaged the land.
The impact of these uncharacteristic climatic events has convinced many of us that climate change is a threat that needs to be taken seriously – not only for our own sake but for the generations yet to
come. As a result, discovering ways to live more sustainably and reduce our impact on the environment has become more important than ever before.
Fortunately, if you are keen to transform your home into a ‘green’ sanctuary – without sacrificing comfort or style – there are plenty of things you can do to accomplish your environmentally friendly goals.
Read on for some top tips on how to live a greener life while still maintaining a beautiful home that’s a delight to live in.
Switch To Sustainable Transport
One of the main causes of climate change is the vast production of so-called ‘greenhouse gases’ we emit as a society. Our petrol and diesel-powered vehicles are responsible for creating a significant amount of those gases, which is why it’s important to adopt more environmentally friendly methods of transportation if you can.
Walking and cycling are the most effective ways to get around without having any negative effects on the environment, but you may also want to consider investing in an electric car.
Because they are powered by a battery rather than a combustion engine, electric vehicles produce barely any emissions in comparison to regular cars. They are also pleasurable to drive, provide impressive levels of performance, and are cheaper to run and maintain.
Admittedly, some electric models may still be expensive to purchase, but if you don’t want to buy outright, there are plenty of cost-effective leasing options available. To find out about the ins and outs of leasing an EV, you can learn more from LV ElectriX.
For convenient charging, installing a charging point at home will allow you to charge your car through the night, so it’s ready for you to drive off each morning. This type pf installation needs to be carried out by a specialist.
Use Energy-Efficient Appliances
With energy prices rising, finding ways to reduce your energy consumption will not only help the environment but will also benefit your bank balance. Where possible, opt for electrical appliances that offer the highest levels of energy efficiency, from dishwashers to washing machines and tumble driers. This Guide on energy efficient appliances by CAPLE is a good place to start your research!
Another way of ensuring that you save money on your electricity bills while also making sure that your appliances aren’t causing more damage to the environment is by regularly checking them to make sure they’re in good condition and are functioning as they should.
For instance, many people make the mistake of ignoring the warning signs from their AC when it’s not functioning on its optimal levels. The simple way to fix this is having your AC properly installed and cleaned on a regular basis - this will prevent it from needing to be repaired more often, or have its parts replaced.
Discovering the efficiency of frequently used home appliances is simply a matter of checking their energy efficiency labelling. A is the most efficient, while G is the least efficient. Try and purchase as many ‘A’ appliances as you can to maximise your household’s energy efficiency.
These days, there are plenty of energy-efficient appliances to choose from in an array of styles, colours, and price ranges, so it shouldn’t be hard to find suitable products to add to your home.
One of the easiest changes that saves both energy and will increase the look and feel in your kitchen, is by upgrading to an induction hob in your kitchen. Check out these beautiful and energy efficient induction hobs!
Install A Smart Thermostat
Another cost-effective way to dramatically improve the energy usage and efficiency of your home is by installing a smart thermostat. These helpful Wi-Fi-enabled devices can be linked to your property’s climate control features – such as central heating or air conditioning – and can be used to turn your heating on and off when needed.
For instance, using the smart thermostat, you can switch off your central heating when you head to work in the mornings and then remotely turn it on half an hour before you are due to arrive home, so you come back to a warm and cosy house.
Smart thermostats can also adjust the heating in your home to correspond to outside temperatures, preventing any unnecessary energy usage.
Make Sure Your Home Is Well-Insulated
If you’re spending hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds to heat your home during the winter, you don’t want any of that precious warmth to escape. Unfortunately, if your property is poorly insulated then you could be losing more than a third of that heat through walls, floors, and windows – which is not only a significant waste of energy but also a waste of money.
To prevent this heat loss, your best bet is insulation, particularly on the roof. By placing down rolls of blanket loft insulation, you can trap the heat and prevent it from escaping. If you have an older property, you may also want to invest in cavity wall insulation, which is something you can install yourself or ask a professional to do for you.
There are a number of different kinds of insulation for you to choose from, so it’s a good idea to do some research to help you work out which insulation will be best for you and your home.
While you’re at it, if you have some spare cash set aside, you might also want to consider installing double or even triple-glazed windows to maximise your property’s heat retention.
Use Eco-Friendly Products
On a daily basis, while washing our clothing, our dishes, our bathrooms, and our household surfaces, we tend to use powerful chemicals which then end up being flushed down the drains and entering our streams, rivers, and seas.
These noxious chemicals poison aquatic fauna and flora and pollute the water to a staggering degree. When kept in our homes, they also pose a risk to our pets and young children. Switching to non- toxic, environmentally friendly cleaning products will free your home of potentially dangerous poisons and will also ensure that no harmful toxins are released into your local environment.
What’s more, you may just find that it’s cheaper and more convenient to make your own household
cleaning products and using low-cost, commonplace kitchen staples such as lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda, white vinegar, and even generic cola, which can be used to remove germs and limescale from a stained toilet bowl.
Change Your Eating Habits
As we browse for our weekly meals in our local supermarket, perusing plastic-wrapped packages of chicken breast, diced beef, and pork belly, and filling our trolleys with various dairy products, it can be easy to ignore the monumental toll that the meat and dairy industries are taking on our planet.
In fact, these two industries are responsible for a significant amount of the carbon emissions that lead to climate change. These emissions are produced during every stage of the production and preparation processes of meat and dairy items. In addition, vast tracts of the natural world are razed and converted to farmland dedicated to growing crops to feed the livestock involved in the industry.
By eating less meat and dairy, there would be less pressure on the environment, and we could also
help to significantly reduce the emissions that are already having a marked effect on our planet’s climate.
Recycle What You Can
While many of us vaguely understand the notion that recycling is vital for our planet, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it can be easy to lapse and throw things into the trash rather than preparing them for the recycling bin.
However, the stark truth is that if we don’t recycle, we are contributing to the significant degradation of the natural world caused by landfills, cutting down trees to produce paper, and harvesting raw materials from the earth.
To do your part and make your home ‘green’, recycle as many products as you can, including bottles, cans, paper, and plastic. The vast majority of items we use on a daily basis can be recycled or repurposed, so do your best to avoid throwing things away unnecessarily. The environment will thank you!
