Clothes on washing line

Playing your part: great ways to reduce your home's impact on our planet

| By Ashley | 24.06.2019

Today more so than ever, society seems to be waking up to its impact on our Earth. Climate change has barely been out of the headlines these past few months, with activists taking to the streets in cities around the world, to demand new commitments and major action from our leaders. 

But you needn’t join a protest march to play your part in protecting our planet. While there are some big challenges we need to overcome, each of us making just the smallest of changes in our day-to-day lives could have a huge impact overall. And where better to start than right here at home? Here are some small but significant changes that’ll have you well on your way to become a household eco-warrior. 

Say bye to standby

Most modern appliances come with a standby function. Handy when we want to power things up in an instant – but just think how much electricity is wasted in those hours when all your appliances aren’t in use. Try saying bye to standby by unplugging and turning off switches and – particularly if you use a smartmeter – see if you notice the difference when your bills come through. 

Eat smarter

Did you know that what’s sitting in your fridge and kitchen cupboards plays a big part in the size of your household’s carbon footprint? There are a handful of changes you can make to your weekly shop that really make a difference: 

  • Eat locally sourced food. This is better for the planet as it has used less energy to get to your kitchen table.
  • Reduce your meat consumption. In most cases, more energy is used in animal agriculture than of plant-based alternatives. You don’t necessarily need to cut out meat altogether if you don’t want to, but committing to one veggie day a week is a great step.
  • Buy foodstuffs in bulk. This should use less non-recyclable packaging, and you can freeze many products to use at a later date.
  • Reduce your food waste. Plan meals more thoroughly, ahead of time, and think about how you can re-use leftover ingredients or freeze any excess. 

Rethink your lighting and appliances

Many newer appliances on the market come with great, energy-saving features. We wouldn’t recommend throwing away well-functioning appliances, as this is wasteful in itself, but you can certainly put energy efficiency to the front of your mind when choosing any necessary replacements – keep an eye out for those A+ energy ratings. 

Where lightbulbs are concerned however, it can make a lot of sense to start replacing any old, incandescent bulbs you have around the house as soon as you can. Modern options like LED bulbs not only require as much as 75% less power* but even tend to last longer, so make for a smart investment. 

Get water wise

From our morning soak to a glass of the cold stuff with dinner, there’s no denying we need to use plenty of water around the home. But there are some ways we can cut our footprint when we do: 

  • If you can, turn the temperature down a little on your water heater. We all love the occasional super-hot soak, but this small step can save hundreds of kilograms in carbon each year.
  • Have your boiler serviced. A poorly-functioning boiler is a wasteful one, and will use more energy to get the job done. Have it looked at by a professional and see if it can be repaired or improved.
  • Install a low-flow showerhead. This should let you enjoy the same steamy, pressurised showers you love, while using less hot water and saving 100’s of kilograms of carbon when you do.
  • Wash your clothes at a cooler temperature. Your standard household washes will come out perfectly clean and smelling lovely, even at 40. 

Invest in your home’s infrastructure

While not everyone will be in the position to take more drastic steps, for those who can and are committed to lead the charge against climate change, there’s no better time than the present. Potential projects could include: 

  • Having solar panels placed on your roof. That way, your home will produce renewable energy all on its own.  
  • Consider an innovative insulating solution. Something like having your wall cavities filled could see you use far less energy on heating come winter, and with a big reduction in your bills, it might even pay off financially. The Energy Saving Trust predicts most people will make back the cost of the insulation within five years~.
  • Replace your windows. Lots of heat is lost through old windows, particularly where single glazing has been used. Modern options are much more efficient when it comes to trapping heat in, so look out for an A+ rated option when the time comes to replace. 

These are just a few tips to get you started, but there are hundreds of ways we can all change our day-to-day routines, and put our properties on the path to carbon neutrality in the years to come.  

While your home’s working to protect the planet, we’re here to help protect your home.

 

*https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/save-electricity-and-fuel/lighting-choices-save-you-money/led-lighting
~ https://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/home-insulation/cavity-wall