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List for eco-friendly home
Making your home a little more eco-friendly doesn’t need to be expensive or time-consuming. With just a few small changes, you can do your bit to help protect the environment and reduce your energy bills, too.
- See the light.
- Swapping just one standard light bulb for a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) fitting will reduce your home’s greenhouse gas emissions by a massive 400lbs. You’ll use 66% less energy too, so you’ll be quids-in.
- Take the power back.
- Hook up groups of appliances (like your TV, set-top box and DVD player) to multi-point sockets and switch them all off in one go when not in use. Make sure you turn off smart device chargers as soon as phones and tablets are fully juiced.
- Keep it chilled.
- Is your fridge or freezer in direct sunlight? If so, try and move it to a shadier spot so your appliance won’t have to work as hard to keep cold. And don’t keep opening the door every five minutes – your wallet will thank you for it!
- Cook smarter.
- Cooking food in bulk is a great way to save energy as you’ll need less oven time; freeze the extra portions for those busy days when you don’t have time to cook. Reheat the meals in the microwave, as this uses half the energy of a standard oven.
- Hang tough.
- Your tumble drier might seem like a godsend at times, but did you know it emits 2-3kg of carbon for every hour it’s switched on? Make the most of warm or windy weather and hang your clothes out to dry, instead.
- Stay snug.
- Adding rugs or carpets to hard floors helps your home retain heat, reducing your energy bills by up to 6%. Cover up with a blanket or throw when you’re watching TV in the winter, and give your pets a cuddle for extra warmth.
- Cool it down.
- Setting your dishwasher and washing machine to a lower temperature could make a big difference to your energy bills. To reduce water use, wait until your appliances are full before switching on, or use the half load setting.
- Burn it up.
- If you have a wood-burning stove in your home, you could be saving money on your central heating bills already. Why not do your bit for the environment, too, by switching to alternative log types that release fewer greenhouse gases?
- Butt in.
- We might get plenty of rain in this country, but lawns and flower-beds still need watering in the summer months. This can prove expensive if you have a water meter fitted, so lower your bills by investing in a water butt.
- Party on.
- Filling your house with friends and family is one of the easiest – and most enjoyable – ways to heat your home in the winter months. So turn the thermostat down and invite everyone round for a knees-up.