In recent years, there has never been a greater demand for eco-friendly products. It is easier than ever to be green, as more designers and companies make environmentally-friendly products. Eco-friendly swaps to reduce your carbon footprint have never been so easy. With so many eco products on the market today, where should you begin, and how can you make your house more eco-friendly? Making small eco-friendly improvements to your home will make a huge difference to both the environment and your wallet.
You can reduce your carbon footprint by making a few changes to your home.
Home Swaps
- Firstly, Find an energy calculator. Assess your current energy consumption.
- Many sites on the internet can automatically calculate your home’s energy efficiency. Choose a site that shows graphs of your home’s potential savings. It is easier to make the best changes if you know your current energy costs.
- Please turn it off at the wall.
- Even if you only plug in your appliances, they still use energy. When not in use, unplugging appliances and devices can reduce energy consumption dramatically.
- The same effect can be achieved by plugging in devices to an extension cable and switching it off at the mains while not in use. It’s the same effect as unplugging devices.
- Do not use hot water to wash your clothes.
- Did you know that your washing machine uses 80-90% more energy to heat the water when doing hot washes than it does for cold? You’ll be amazed at how much power your washing machine can save by using cold water washes or eco mode.
- Use an eco-friendly detergent for cold water to wash your clothes. It will still clean them as well as hot-water washing.
- Sustainable Flooring
- Materials such as cork, laminated wood, stone, or parquet flooring are not only eco-friendly but also add beauty to your home.
- Consider the material of your furnishings, such as rugs. Wool rugs offer a sustainable alternative; they are biodegradable, renewable, and better for the environment than synthetics. Browse our carefully selected collection of wool rugs.
- Insulation
- Insulating your basement and attic can help you save money on your energy bills and reduce your home’s energy consumption. This is because insulation traps heat and maintains a constant temperature all year round.
Eco-Friendly Interior Products Swaps
- Choose products with low VOC contents.
- Volatile Organic Compounds are hazardous to the human body and environment. Paints, household items, furniture, carpets, and other products contain these compounds. When purchasing interior products, always ensure that the VOC content is low.
- Use organic and natural materials.
- Avoid plastic, particleboard, and chromed metal furniture if you want to make your house more eco-friendly.
- If possible, try to buy wooden furniture such as tables and chairs.
- Wool-stuffed furniture is a better alternative to feathers and other non-sustainable materials for softer furnishings like mattresses, carpets, and bedding. For a comprehensive guide on choosing eco-friendly furnishings, check out The Tree Hugger.
- Let The Sun Shine
- If possible, let natural light brighten your room instead of using artificial lighting. Open blinds and use skylights to maximize sunlight.
- Use LED light bulbs to save energy if you must use artificial lighting.
- Reusable Items
- Use reusable bags instead of plastic bags for your supermarket or retail purchases. Since the UK introduced the 5p carrier bags law in 2016, British plastic bag waste has decreased by 90%.
- Instead of buying a quick lunch, bring your own to work. Use reusable containers (usually bamboo) and reusable cutlery. You will save money and help the environment by bringing your lunch to work.