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Ultimate Guide: Eco-Friendly Ideas for Your Home
Monday, 3 June 2019 09:49:56 Europe/London
Creating an eco-friendly home may be easier than you think. By making small, easy changes, you can help do your bit to reduce the strain on our planet whilst also saving yourself some money.
In our latest post, we’ve created a list of ideas for you to make your home a little more environmental. Whether you live in a small Milwaukee apartment or a luxury penthouse in London, our ideas start off with changes that won’t cost you a penny and go through to more serious modifications for your home
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Recycle Everything You Can
Starting with the most obvious, you should be recycling all of the waste that you can. In the UK, the majority of residences have a local pick up of waste for the landfill along with recycling for glass, plastic, cardboard and paper. If you don’t have access to a waste collection, take it to your local tip or refuse centre.
Even smaller things like batteries and carrier bags can also be recycled. Try to find somewhere to properly dispose of them rather than the general bin. Supermarkets or your local recycling centre should have these facilities.
Make sure you sort through everything that’s heading to the bin to make sure it’s disposed of properly. Some places can be pretty picky so separating your waste is a must. The more you can save from the landfill, the better.
Donate & Sell
If you have things you need to get rid of but they might be of use to someone, donate or sell them. Sites like Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace are great ways to sell your stuff locally and it's free of charge. You can arrange the sale of your things in a convenient way to yourself. There’s also the option of having a car boot sale to sell larger quantities of goods. Alternately, eBay is always a great option to sell just about anything.
If you’d rather donate what you have, you could drop it off at your local charity shops. Some shops also offer a collection service for big items and large donations. This gives you the opportunity to get rid of what you don’t need and helps out a deserving charity.
Compost Your Waste
When it comes to food scraps and garden waste, you can compost this waste to quickly break it down. Only plant-based waste should be composted as meats will smell and likely attract vermin.
There are several types of composting available with options to suit the most housing situations. A small kitchen compost bin can be added for fruit and vegetable scraps if you have limited outdoor space. This will quickly break down your waste and is conveniently located.
If you do have more outside space, a traditional compost bin or pile will give you more room for waste including cut grass and plants. For even better results, worms can be used to help breakdown the waste.
If you’d rather not use a bin or open pile, you could simply dig a hole and bury your waste. This quickly breaks the dirt down and directly adds to the soil.
Not only is composting great for disposing of food waste but it also provides an all natural fertiliser for your garden. Just sprinkle the decomposed waste at the base of your outdoor plants to add vitamins and minerals to the soil.
If you’re not able to compost your waste yourself, have a look for a local facility to find someone to do it for you. These kinds of facilities are becoming more common and a quick online search should help you find a local venue.
Avoid Single-Use Packaging & Products
Packaging made from single-use plastic cannot be recycled or reused. Any clear plastic bag found in supermarkets is likely to be this kind of wasteful packaging. Rather than buying anything in these bags, take your own bags, go bagless or choose a more eco-friendly product alternative. You could also shop at a more environmentally friendly store. A greengrocer will likely use paper bags rather than plastic bags.
Single-use products should also be avoided. Plastic plates and cutlery, earbuds and straws are all wasteful products that decades to breakdown and have been seen to have a huge threat to animals.
Ditch the Bath
Not literally but try not to use it very often. Although there are some arguments about which uses less water, if you have a relatively short shower, you will save water when compared to a bath. Try to keep showers short to keep your water and heating down.
If you do like a nice relaxing bath, try to limit how often you have one and only fill the bath halfway.
Air-Dry Washing
Rather than using a tumble dryer, air-dry your washing. On sunny days, hang the washing outside and use the heat and the wind to dry everything. In the winter, use a clothes airer indoors stood by a heat source.
Cutdown on the Ironing
If you’re the type of person who irons everything, stop ironing pointless things. It's fair to say; socks and bedding don't need to be ironed.
Before you get out the iron, hang something up whilst you’re in the shower. The heat and moisture can help wrinkles fall out and save you from getting the iron out.
Wash When Full
Only put on your dishwasher and washing machine when they’re full. This will help to cut down on how often they’re used.
But don’t overfill. This can reduce the effectiveness.
Turn the Temperature Down
Rather than turning your heating up too high, knock it down a couple of degrees and put on a jumper or use a blanket. Even when it’s cold outside, you don’t need the temperature to be too hot indoors.
A small drop can make a big difference in the long run, especially over the winter months.
Meat-Free Monday
It’s no secret that eating meat is bad for the environment. From the gas produced by livestock to their consumption of water and food to the fuel used to ship the meat products, there are a lot of negative consequences to getting the meat on your plate.
Choosing a vegan or vegetarian diet can make a significant difference, however, having a day or two off meat and dairy will help combat these negative effects. At least one day a week, cut out the meat from your diet.
Tech-Free Tuesday
Following on from meat-free Monday, try having a tech-free Tuesday. In the digital world we live in, it’s going to be pretty hard to avoid technology through the day but once you’re home, have a night away from screens and technology. Read a book, go for a walk or just spend time with family and friends rather than streaming the latest show on Netflix or mindlessly scrolling through your Instagram.
If you want to really commit, you could even avoid your kitchen appliances by having a barbeque. It’s a great excuse to cook up some delicious BBQ food and has no negative effects on the earth.
A day away from technology will significantly reduce your carbon footprint by lowering your energy consumption.
Go Paperless
Pretty much every company you have an account with will offer email correspondence as well as letters. Take your time to change your account preferences to electronic versions to significantly reduce the post you receive. Digital paperwork is easier to organise and can be accessed anywhere meaning it's more convenient that post.
Stop Junk Mail
To help reduce the junk mail you receive through your letterbox, apply a sign stating the following: “No Junk Mail – Name & Addressed Mail Only”. If you have a repeat offender who keeps ignoring your sign, call the company to complain.
Go Digital
With the digital world, everything is available online. Instead of buying CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays, stream from sites like Netflix and Spotify. This will hugely cut down on wasted plastic and fossil fuels.
Rather than buying new books, eReaders are a handy option. If you’re really not a fan of reading on a device, buy secondhand books. In terms of newspapers and magazines, most editorials will be available in electronic versions as well as in print. Online versions are also much more up to date, another benefit.
Instead of using notepads, you should make your notes on a phone or computer. Not only will this reduce the consumption of trees but digital notes can be accessed anywhere and they’re easy to organise. The same goes for a calendar. Keep it on your phone and share it with your family for easy access.
Switch Everything Off
When an electronic device isn’t in use, make sure you switch it off at the plug. This goes for every device including phone chargers as they can still waste power, even if your phone isn't plugged in.
Do you struggle to remember to switch everything off? Try using smart plugs on your appliances. If you do forget, you’ll be able to cut the power off using your smartphone.
Work from Home
As you can probably guess, driving during rush hour creates a huge amount of pollution, especially when sitting in traffic. Working from home at least one day a week will remove the commute and help to conserve some fuel.
Light Your Home With Daylight
Especially during the summer months, the long hours of daylight should be sufficient to light your home. Pull back the curtains, voiles or blinds and let the daylight shine through the windows. Keep the windows clean and cut back plants and trees from blocking the light.
Take Your Shoes Off at the Door
Taking your shoes off at the door will help to stop you from bringing dirt into your home. This will cut down on the need to vacuum or clean up any nasty stains.
Reuse Gift Bags
A nice simple one, keep gift bags and reuse them rather than buying new ones. Try to avoid wrapping paper and only use recycled paper if you do use it.
Remove the Lawn
Although a luscious green lawn can look great, they’re a drain on water, energy through mowing and your time. Removing or reducing the lawn will make a difference.
Artificial grass and astroturf have come on a lot over the last few years. They no longer have a horrible plastic look and feel to them. They’re also available in eco-friendly versions that’ll last for a number of years.
If you prefer natural grass, try adding a no-mow area with long grass. This will look more like a nice open meadow rather than a golf course.
Add Low-Water Plants
When it comes to your garden, try to add plants that only need a limited amount of water to thrive. Lavender, bougainvillaeas, aloe vera, cacti and many more can flourish even in times of drought and will significantly reduce your watering.
Plant Your Own Christmas Tree
The festive season can have a huge impact on the environment with the increased buying, wrapping paper and decorations. A great way you can help to reduce the impact is by planting your own Christmas tree.
With your own tree, you can reuse it year after year by bringing it in a pot. This will cut down on the waste of fresh trees every year and the plastic used with artificial trees.
Install a Water Butt
Harvesting rainwater is a simple way of cutting down on your water consumption from the mains supply. Attaching a water butt to your gutters can provide plenty of water to be used in your garden. Store water collected over winter for use in the warmer seasons.
Collected water can also be used to flush toilets by filling the cistern. Connect the water supply to the toilet but also make sure it’s on the water mains in case you run low.
Buy Some House Plants
According to a 1989 NASA report, houseplants help to improve the quality of the air by removing allergens and toxins from the air. Houseplants are also a great way to decorate your home creating a clean natural atmosphere that’s thought to help reduce stress levels and anxiety.
Cutdown on Food Waste
From all the food grown in the world, a third of it ends up going to waste. Not only is this a waste of the actual food, but it also costs huge amounts in resources to grow and transport the food. In the UK, it’s estimated that a family of four throws away an average of £800.00 a year in wasted food.
To help lessen this waste, try to plan your meals out per day according to the expiration dates. Keep your cupboards, fridge and freezer neat and tidy, putting long expiration dates towards the back. Make sure you have a check every couple of months to prevent things from going off.
Try to make sure you’re only cooking meals that are the right portion size to help stop waste. If there is anything leftover, save them for later and actually eat them. If you do overcook, freeze what you won’t use.
If you have food that’s likely to go to waste, donate it to your local food bank or homeless shelter. They’ll make sure the food is put to good use rather than ending up in the bin.
Cook from Scratch
Home cooked food is notorious for being filled with all sorts of preservatives and chemicals that can have an adverse effect on the world. They’re also usually packaged in a significant amount of plastic.
Cooking your meals from scratch can also help you to make significantly healthier meals that cost less. You’ll know exactly where every ingredient comes from. Premade foodcan be shipped large distances.
Microwave Rather than Oven
When possible, use the microwave rather than the oven or hob. Microwaves use significantly less power compared to more conventional cooking appliances. They also give significantly reduced cooking times.
It’s not just ready meals you can cook in a microwave. Instead of putting a baked potato in a fan oven for an hour, use the microwave and cook it in five minutes.
Make a Packed Lunch
Instead of buying food on the go, try to take a packed lunch with you. A packed lunch can be stored in reusable Tupperware or beeswax paper. Additionally, you will have full control over what you’re eating allowing for meal planning.
Close Your Fridge
Rather than leaving your fridge and freezer open when unloading shopping and cooking, make sure you close the doors. Once open, your fridge and freezer will try to quickly return to their set temperature and waste energy. The same principle goes for the oven!
Grow Your Own
Growing your own fruit and veg is a great way to save your money whilst making a positive environmental change. Home growing completely cuts out the need to transport your food and helps add to the vegetation.
In the UK, our climate allows us to grow a huge selection of produce, including potatoes, strawberries, peas, apples, pears, grapes, salad leaves and much more. Do a little research into the best timings to plant and harvest your fruit and vegetables. If you want to take it a step further, you could add a chicken coop in your garden for fresh eggs every day.
Even if you’re low on space, there’s always something you can plant. An indoor herb garden is low maintenance and takes up very little space.
Food Shop Online
Unless you can walk to a supermarket, online shopping is likely better for the environment. Think about it as a car share for your food shop. Food will also be delivered in reusable crates rather plastic bags.
Take Your Own Bags
Before you leave the house, make sure you have a couple of bags on you. Tote bags can be folded down to a barely noticeable ball that can be slipped into a coat pocket or handbag without you realising.
Borrow Rather than Buy
Do you have a job that you need a specific tool for that you’ll only use a handful of times? Why not try borrowing it from a friend or neighbour before buying it? If you don't know anyone with whatever you need, you could try renting it online. Sites like Fat Llama let you hire pretty much anything by the day.
Shop Local
Some meats, fruits and vegetables are shipped from the other side of the world, having a huge effect on your carbon footprint. Buying local produce cuts down on shipping. The same can be found with locally produced alcohol. Buying from local breweries and vineyards can significantly reduce transportation demands.
Not only is buying local products more eco-friendly, but it also helps to support your community and economy.
Upcycle & Fix
Rather than buying something new, try to fix what you have. Furniture, clothing and more can be fixed or repurposed to give them a fresh look or completely transform them.
A simple sanding and a coat of paint can give a piece of furniture a new lease of life. Cut off those old jeans into fashionable shorts. Get creative rather than getting rid.
Buy Second Hand
Retro and vintage never go out of fashion. Instead of buying something new, have a look online or in secondhand shops for preloved alternatives. These can also be repaired or upcycled to save you a fortune. In terms of tech, devices like smartphones and laptops can be bought refurbished and their quality is as good as new.
Invest in Quality
If you’re not able to upcycle or buy second hand, invest in high-quality, natural products that will last. The upfront cost may be more but in the long run, you will be saving money. Avoid cheap products as they’re likely to break and may cost more resources to make.
Buy Natural Cleaning Products
A lot of chemical cleaners are filled with powerful but harmful ingredients that can harm the environment during their production and use. When buying your cleaning products, look for environmentally friendly alternatives. Check the label before you buy and make sure whatever you choose has safe chemicals that haven’t been tested on animals.
If you’re struggling to find an eco-friendly alternative, you could make your own. A quick internet search brings back thousands of instructions using common household products.
Choose Eco-Friendly Light Bulbs
LED lights bulbs are a simple and easy change to make in your home. They use significantly less energy than their CFL counterparts and can will last up to 25 times longer. This will help out our planet and save you some money.
Choose Eco-Friendly Products
When it comes to choosing products that are more environmentally friendly, you can usually find an alternative for most of your day-to-day items. Below, we’ve listed just a few of the many little swaps you can have a huge difference:
Bamboo Toothbrush: Cut out the plastic waste with a bamboo brush. Bamboo is a natural, fast-growing plant, and surprisingly makes a very good toothbrush.
Pet Supplies: From poo bags to cat litter, pet supplies can be hugely detrimental to the planet. Choose eco-friendly versions that are biodegradable. You can also get toys made from recycled and natural components.
Nappies: Rather than conventional nappies, go back to the traditional with cloth nappies. They’re significantly cheaper, reliable and don’t take up to 500 years to decompose like disposable nappies.
Cloths over Disposable: For cleaning cloths, napkins, makeup wipes etc. choose reusable and washable options rather than single use.
Period Products: Not only is the cost of period products far too expensive but they’re also awful for the environment. Switching to reusable products like menstruation cups and period underwear will cut the cost and stop wasting plastic.
Face Wash with Microbeads: Microbeads have been a hot topic over the last few years. They’re actually small pieces of plastic that don’t break down. Try to avoid face wash with microbeads in favour of other eco-friendly options. You should also check the labels to avoid anything that has been tested on animals.
As we mentioned, pretty much every product available has a greener alternative so have a look around before making any purchases.
Use Energy Efficient Appliances
Electronic appliances generally have eco-friendly alternatives for most items. Choose electronics with a high energy efficiency rating and low-power modes. They may be more expensive upfront but will save you money on your electricity bills over time.
Install Low-Flow Plumbing
Showers, toilets and taps are all available with low-flow options which use significantly less water than the traditional counterparts. Updating your plumbing to these options will save hundreds of thousands of litres of water every year. Again, you’ll save money on your water and heating bills and help save water.
Fix Those Leaks
A leaking tap or pipe is a constant waste of water that could cost you a fortune. It’s thought that up to £100.00 could be added to your annual water bill from a slow-dripping cold tap alone. Fix any issues you have as soon as possible to prevent waste.
Choose a Greener Energy Company
You may think that every energy provider is the same but this couldn’t be more wrong. Some energy suppliers go above and beyond to reduce the use of fossil fuels and only use sustainable energy alternatives.
Before deciding on an energy company do some quick research to see what types of fuel the company uses. Comparison sites often let you look at green energy plans but you should also do your own research.
If you need a hand with switching to a greener energy supplier, sites like GreenMatch can make the process simple for you.
Switch to a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat lets you keep a close eye on your energy use. They can be accessed from anywhere using a smartphone. This lets you change the temperature of your home and only use it when you need it. If you forget to set the heating to a holiday mode when you’re going away for a week, you can easily do this with just a few taps.
Some smart thermostats such as Nest will offer you energy saving incentives and suggest these options from you. This will help you make decisions that can be better for the planet.
Switch to a Smart Water Meter
Although not quite as advanced as a smart thermostat, smart water meters can also help you to save money on your water bill. They let you check how much water you have used and according to Thames Water, save the average customer 12%.
Hardwood Flooring Rather than Carpet
Having hardwood flooring with rugs rather than full carpet can have some huge eco-friendly benefits. Wood flooring is easier to clean using a dustpan and brush saving you money on your electricity bills. Carpets are also full of dust, dirt and allergens that get trapped inside the fabric.
As well as the cleaning aspects, wood flooring is also made out of natural materials whereas most carpets are from petroleum and synthetic fibres. Carpets usually have a significantly shorter lifespan and will need to be replaced sooner than wood flooring as well.
Install Loft & Wall Installation
Insulating your home properly can save you a fortune in heating bills in the winter and keep your home cooler in the summer. Insulation dramatically cuts down on your carbon footprint by helping retain heat in two places where it’s lost the most.
You can have insulation professionally installed or do it yourself, depending on your budget. Materials like fibreglass, wool, paper and more can be used to keep the heat in your home. If you do have professional insulation done, you will recoup your costs between two and four years.
Image from Assured Insulation LLC
Install Double Glazing
Double glazing works in the same way as loft and wall insulation, saving you money on your heating bills. Two panes of glass are used with an air of gas insulation layer stop heat escaping and cold air getting in. Ratings vary between E and A++ so choose a window on what you can afford.
Don’t want to invest in new windows? Why not add a thick set of curtains or use a draught excluder to help act as cheap insulation. This works for both windows and doors.
Install Solar Panels
Solar panels are used to convert sunlight into power to use around your home. They will both cut your energy costs and carbon footprint by giving you access to your own renewable energy.
Solar panels can be pricey but there are a lot of incentives around for installation. You’ll also save a huge amount over time and can sometimes sell the energy you don’t use to the national grid.
Install a Heat Pump
There are two types of heat pumps available to drastically reduce your carbon footprint and save you money. Air and ground pumps extract heat from the two sources to be used in your house. Heat pumps can be very effective but are limited to your home and its layout. They may also be subject to planning permission.
Image from CSE
Use Your Voice
If you really want to make a change, speak out and make a change. Write an email to your local MP, look out for online petitions, take to Twitter to complain about excessive packaging and make sure your vote counts in all elections. Your changes will contribute to creating a more eco-friendly world, however, we need to see some large-scale reforms for a dramatic difference to be made.
Do you have any other tips for creating an eco-friendly home? Let us know in the comments below!
Resources
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19930072988
https://greatist.com/happiness/eco-friendly-tips-save-cash
https://wrap.org/files/Resources.htm
https://stylecaster.com/eco-friendly-tips/
https://foe.scot/cutting-down-plastic-nappy/
https://www.plumb4you.co.uk/how-much-does-a-dripping-tap-cost
http://www.beenergysmart.co.uk/energy-solutions/wall-loft-insulation/benefits/
https://www.goodenergy.co.uk/blog/2017/08/22/ultimate-guide-eco-friendly-living/
https://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/renewable-energy/heat/ground-source-heat-pumps
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/10/01/eco-friendly-home-50-ways-to-do-it_n_5916442.html
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