How to make your home more eco-friendly
Nathan Walker, Sales Director, points out some useful tips that can help us all work towards living in a far more eco-friendly home...
The shift towards an eco-friendlier world continues to pick up a head of steam, and we can all play our part by extending the eco-friendly decisions we make into our home.
Of course, saying we want to play our part and help make a difference is one thing, but knowing what we can do to easily live a greener lifestyle is quite another.
I mean, where do you even start?
Well, checking out our ‘Guide to Going Green’ is a decent place to start.
I’m sure the vast majority of us are already consciously recycling our cardboard and other general recyclable waste, but there’s quite a lot more we can be doing - and all are pretty simple and straightforward to start incorporating into life at home.
So, what can we do to turn our house into an eco-friendly haven and promote a reduction of waste throughout the household?
Here are some ideas that can be applied to anyone - homeowners, tenants, students, and landlords alike.
Reduce how much plastic packaging you use
Did you know that almost 70% of plastic waste in the UK comes from plastic packaging? A lot of this plastic packaging is on standard everyday household items or products, including food, and things we purchase on a regular basis. This makes packing the primary focus of The UK Plastics Pact.
We can reduce the amount of plastic packaging we use quite drastically by making simple changes, such as making fresh purchases from local grocery stores, butchers, and markets as they don’t package their products in plastic - don’t forget to take your own reusable bag! Yes, shopping locally for fresh produce will come at an added cost, but even doing this on occasion can still make a good dent in the amount of plastic packaging you go through. Not to mention unpackaged fresh food will always do you good, so perhaps look at your monthly or weekly outgoings and see where you can make savings elsewhere to justify the fresh food treat!
Your city or town may also have some zero waste shops which will naturally help you cut back on single use plastic. See if your area has any by checking the available shops near your city or post code on the Zero Waste Network.
Remember milk deliveries back in the day? Well, they are still a thing. Utilise the services of businesses such as Milk and More, who offer an online subscription that will see your milk (and other fresh foodstuffs) delivered to your door in reusable glass bottles.
Speaking of subscriptions, you can even substitute your regular toilet paper for an eco-friendly alternative such as that offered by the likes of EcoRefill.
Upcycling or selling unwanted furniture (or giving it away)
Many of us are hoarders, but once in a while we will have a good sort through and get rid of unwanted things. This can include furniture. Even if you feel a particular item of furniture is old and tatty and better off replaced, it could potentially be turned into something unique and special with a little TLC and creative upcycling.
Alternatively, consider selling it or even giving it away to charity or offering it on social media groups such as Facebook Market, or websites like Freecycle - there are other people who would no doubt take it off your hands in a flash regardless of its condition.
In fact, these are also places you could look yourself if you’re on the hunt for furniture to help with a home makeover - you’d be surprised at the things people are looking to offload.
Regulate your use of water
Many companies offer tap inserts for free with easy to fit attachments that actually limit the flow of water, which reduces the amount of water used each time you operate the tap. Eco-friendly shower heads do the same for the shower. It’s surprising how much water we waste and how little we actually need to use for most tasks.
If you’re in the habit of running the shower for several minutes before getting in try to kick it and consider turning the shower off altogether while shampooing and washing. If you’re someone who prefers taking a bath, try alternating between baths and showers through the week so you don’t lose out on them altogether - you’ll help both save water and money.
Control energy use with a smart meter
Having a smart meter installed will give you more control over how much energy is used in your home. It’ll show you your current usage and ways in which you can cut back on future energy use. This can lead to making energy-efficient changes, such as using energy-efficient lightbulbs, being more mindful of how often you use the washing machine and tumble drier or making sure you turn standby appliances off while they’re not in use.
This all leads to a win-win scenario as you lower your energy bills and reduce the carbon footprint in your home.
Choosing reusable over disposable
If you think of everything you use on a daily basis around the home, chances are many of them are disposable. The truth is, much of this can be changed for reusable items. Think about dish sponges, kitchen wipers, paper towels, plastic food bags, to name just a few. All of these things are disposable, some even being single use. A little thought and upfront investment on reusable alternatives instead can help us do our bit to reduce waste produced from our home. Plus, it’s another way to save money in the long run.
Consider using washable napkins and cotton hankies instead of kitchen roll and paper towels, machine washable cleaning cloths and scrubbers instead of disposable sponges, and reusable face cloths instead of cotton pads and disposable makeup pads.
A simple search online will bring you to many websites who sell clever eco-friendly alternatives to many of our disposable household items.
A few to get you started:
These are just a few ideas to help you make a start on creating an environment at home that’s far more eco-friendly, but there’s still much more you can consider. From using eco-friendly cleaning products and being more mindful of your fashion choices, to growing some of your own produce and seeking out compostable products. The list goes on and on, so have fun finding ways to reduce your waste and share the tips with your friends.
Here at CPS Homes, we’re proud to offer expert sales and lettings services across the whole of Cardiff. To see how we can help you with a house sale, property purchase, property management services for landlords, or simple property investment advice in the city of Cardiff, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our knowledgeable team. Contact us today by calling 02920 668585, e-mailing enquiries@cpshomes.co.uk or by popping into one of our three branches.
