6. CUT-DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
Struggling to make your home eco-friendly? SAM WYLIE-HARRIS looks at a few steps that, if you can make them, could help save our planet (and cash)
2. SWITCH OFF!
“LEAVING the TV on standby should be a thing of the past. It wastes needless energy and really increases your bills. It’s simple: if it’s not being used, switch it off! The same applies to lights, heating and any appliance.
“Over the past 12 months, our research reveals 39% of UK adults have started to turn off stand-by appliances at the mains, so it’s encouraging to see people changing their habits.
“Having a smart meter in the house, in clear view, is also a clever way to track which appliance is using the most energy. Noting this down can be an easy way to reduce consumption and your bills.”
3. RECYCLE
“RECYCLING couldn’t be easier nowadays, so it’s a mystery as to why more people aren’t taking the time to do it. If you’re confused, your local authority website will be able to share details of local recycling policies and what’s being done in your area.
“More than half (51%) of Brits say their own children are putting pressure on them to recycle, so it’s great to see that future generations are so aware of the importance of recycling.
“It’s never too late to consider what happens to packaging when it’s been used, so we should all be making this change.”
4. ELIMINATE PLASTIC
ENCOURAGINGLY, Smith says Moneyexpert.com’s research shows 57% of Brits have used less plastic and fewer plastic bags in the last 12 months.
“What a huge shift in just a year alone. Eliminating plastic can be extremely tough, however with more places offering paper bags and household products being more widely available in unpackaged form (everything from cleaning products to pulses and pasta), things are getting easier. And 39% of Brits revealed their children have asked them about their use of plastic, so again this is a topic we need to face head-on.”
5. GET WALKING
“THERE’S no longer any justification for jumping in the car for short journeys. If you can walk to your destination in 20 minutes or less, then take some fresh air. Consider the impact of these short car journeys on the environment, and being more active can benefit our health too.”
“ASK yourself: how long do I spend in the shower? If you’re shocked at your answer then it’s time to rethink. Whether it’s the time spent showering, how long the heating is on full whack, or how much time you spend re-boiling the kettle for that cup of tea you still haven’t got round to making – all this time, and energy, adds up. So, if you can shave a few minutes off your shower, then consider making that small change.
“We can also look to cut-down on our meat and dairy consumption, and buy fresh produce from the UK.
“It’s not too much of a challenge to introduce ‘Meat-free Mondays’ to your household as a starting point.”
Cut the time you spend in the shower