In an age where 77% of people wish to live more sustainably, it’s hardly surprising that we’re all thinking more about our habits. At home, especially, years of being told to turn off the lights and unplug appliances have seen most of us adopting these behaviours as a standard part of our routines.
However, with the climate crisis undeniably still raging and getting swiftly worse, it’s fair to say that what we’ve been doing, while still valuable, hasn’t been enough to facilitate real change. This is an issue that needs addressing, and it’s something that’s only really possible by expanding the efforts we’ve put in so far with positive steps we’ve not yet considered taking, especially at home. The question is, what are those lesser-known changes, and how can they make a difference?
# 1 – Washing all wrong
We’re all now aware of the need to switch off our appliances, and with our washing machines especially the vast majority of us make an effort to reduce the washes we do. But, with many of us still washing on 40° as standard, we’re continuing to make perhaps the most fatal mistake of all. After all, even if it means doubling the amount of washing you do (e.g. two washes in a week instead of one), switching instead to 30° washes has the potential to save you as much as £19 off your energy bills, and also an impressive 80kg of CO2 according to Huffington Post. This can both save money and the environment and is a change that couldn’t be simpler to implement.
# 2 – Lighting a path home
Leaving lights on in rooms that you aren’t using is obviously not sustainable. Unfortunately, few of us expand that thinking to outdoor lighting that, in some cases, stays on all night or for the duration of the time that we’re away from home. From garden path lights to garage lighting, etc. even lights left on to make it easier to open doors/find our way when we arrive home can pose a problem, burning sometimes hours worth of electricity. By simply switching energy-wasting bulbs for either more efficient LED alternatives or, even better, entirely sustainable options like these solar area lights, you’ll be far better able to ensure an easy return that doesn’t do damage. And, that’s guaranteed to make a lasting difference.
# 3 – Sourcing energy from the wrong places
Even a small amount of energy sourced from a company that utilizes harmful processes can cause issues., As such, it’s also essential to consider where your electricity comes from regardless of how you use it. This doesn’t necessarily mean turning to companies that utilize only renewable energy (although this is preferable), but could also involve considering energy suppliers that make specific efforts to reduce/offset carbon impact overall.
Sometimes, it’s the small stuff that matters and, as we move into a future where the future looks incredibly uncertain, these lesser-considered alternatives to sometimes ineffective or incomplete environmental efforts should certainly count.
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