As the world becomes more environmentally aware, people are looking to go green and reduce their carbon footprint. While some choose to build an eco-friendly house from scratch complete with renewable materials and solar panels, others make a few basic tweaks to their home. If you’re looking to do your bit for the planet in a quick and simple way, here are a few tips to help you out.
Arrange a gas boiler service
If your boiler isn’t working properly, it could be releasing emissions into the air unnecessarily. To stop this from happening, it’s a good idea to arrange a boiler cover with a company like HomeServe before the problem escalates. A Gas Safe Register approved engineer will check your central heating and ensure everything is working efficiently. If it’s not, a few basic repairs could reduce your energy bill significantly and cut your carbon emissions at the same time.
Let natural light into your home
During winter, it can be tempting to turn the lights on when it’s dark and cold. This could leave you with unaffordable charges, so why not make the most of natural light? If you have sofas, cabinets, tables, chairs, or any other furniture blocking your windows, try to move them out of the way and let the sun shine through. Sure, the days might be gloomy at this time of the year, but when lighting makes up eight per cent of an average household’s energy bill, it’s best to try anything you can.
Cut back on water
Cutting back on water is one of the easiest ways to save money and energy – you just need to make a few lifestyle changes. Turning the tap off when you brush your teeth, filling the washing machine and dishwasher to the brim and not overfilling the kettle can all make a big difference to your outgoings. Similarly, taking showers instead of baths, washing up in a single bowl of water and fixing leaking faucets will help you live a more eco-friendly life. As a sudden loss of water from a burst pipe or such like can be damaging and expensive, it’s also worth taking out plumbing cover for extra protection.
Get busy in the garden
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, you could always transform a small section into an allotment. Growing your own fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices (and anything else you fancy) will save you money at the shops and help you connect with nature. It can be rewarding to nurture things from scratch, so work out what you want to cultivate and get started. If you have the space, you could even start a roof garden, as plants produce oxygen and clean the air.
Recycle your old gadgets
If you have a number of old games, gadgets, DVDs, CDs or even clothes lying around your home, then a great way to get rid of these an de-clutter your home would be to recycle them. Some great websites for this are Amazon or Ebay. Another great place to do this is Music Magpie. By visiting www.musicmagpie.com, you can sell DVDs, CDs and games, giving you money whilst also de-cluttering. You could then save up this cash to get yourself something new for your home.
It’s surprising what a few home improvements can do, so think about going green throughout 2013 and beyond.
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