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By now, we all know we should reduce, reuse and recycle. But beyond that, what more can we do to go greener at home?
There are lots of little things we can do to clean the air, protect our natural landscape and reduce landfill waste. And the best thing about being eco-friendly? It’s usually the most economical option.
Plus when we get our kids involved, we double our efforts. It’s important that they understand the why to our what.
So here are 39 small changes we can make at home to live an eco-friendlier lifestyle. But don’t be overwhelmed: start small. Choose 3 things you’re not already doing and try to make them a habit this year.
1. It’s important to remember where our food comes from and to teach our kids it doesn’t only come from a supermarket! Plant a simple backyard garden, you could start small with a herb garden or get your kids involved with their own washing up bowl allotment!
2. Collect rainwater and use it to water your garden.
3. Eat seasonal UK food. Not only is it healthier, taste better and kinder on the purse – it’s better for the planet too.
4. Help support local businesses and shop at your local farmers’ market.
5. Build your own compost bin. It will give you nutrient-rich soil that you can use for your vegetable garden. And you can chuck in certain waste materials, so you stop them from going to landfill.
6. Clean the air in your home by getting some indoor houseplants. Peace lilies and Boston ferns love rooms with high humidity and can reduce the mould spores in the air, making them perfect for bathrooms.
7. Make sure to buy your flowers and plants from a local supplier. Around 90% of flowers sold by supermarkets and UK florists are imported.
8. Help the bees out by creating your own bee hotel. A great activity for kids and you’ll be helping to create a little haven for solitary bees.
9. Replace your old appliances with energy-efficient models. You’ll save money on your energy bills!
10. Wash your laundry in cold water instead of hot. According to the Energy Saving Trust, washing at 30 degrees uses around 40% less energy.
11. Leave the tumble dryer and line dry your laundry instead. During summer, do your washing in the morning to take advantage of the longer, warmer days.
12. Put a brick in your toilet tank, it will displace and reduce the amount of water wasted in each flush.
13. Stop relying on disposable bags and get yourself some reusable ones.
14. Buy an inexpensive reusable water bottle to cut down on disposable plastic.
15. Don’t forget about your coffee cup either, get yourself a reusable one. (We love these collapsible coffee cups: small and lightweight, they’re perfect on the go).
16. Get yourself a lunchbox. Even if you don’t pack your own lunches for work, carry a reusable container for buying takeaway lunches.
17. Repurpose glass jars as leftover containers and food storage in your kitchen.
18. Switch to cloths rather than paper towels for cleaning the kitchen. You could even cut up old t-shirts and towels to turn them into cleaning cloths.
19. Make your own household cleaners out of natural ingredients – many of them will be hiding in your cupboards!
20. Lighting accounts for around 15% of your electricity bill, but you could save around £40 a year by switching to energy-efficient lightbulbs.
21. Open your curtains and use natural light when you can.
22. Going on an errand nearby? Walk or cycle – it’s great exercise and great for the planet!
23. If you can’t walk or cycle, plan your route and combine as many errands as you can into one car trip.
24. Practise eco-driving:
- Regular maintenance can improve fuel-efficiency by approx. 10% according to the RAC Foundation.
- Don’t overload the car. Every extra 45kg reduces fuel economy by 2%.
- Waiting for more than a minute? Turn off the engine. Between 5% to 8% of the fuel consumed occurs whilst idling.
25. Stop filling up your recycling with unwanted junk mail and opt-out. It will save paper and your sanity.
26. Pay your bills online and go paperless.
27. Reuse unwanted and scrap paper by letting your kids use it for colouring.
28. Conduct your own home energy audit. It will help you figure out how energy efficient your home currently is and what upgrades may be needed to improve performance.
29. Check your local Freecycle, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace before buying anything new
30. Donate to and shop at your local charity shops. You’ll be recycling items, saving money and supporting your local economy. It’s a win-win.
31. Get to know your local tailors and seamstresses before throwing out that ill-fitted jacket. You’ll be more inclined to wear clothes that fit.
32. Always unplug unused appliances and chargers. Using a power strip will help make this a lot quicker.
33. Teach your kids about our crazy consumption culture and building a sustainable future with these short movies from The Story of Stuff. You might even learn something too!
34. Download green apps like Too Good to Go and Farmdrop – thanks to our smartphone we can all take small steps to a better environment.
35. Try reusable nappies. Don’t let the upfront cost put you off, you’ll easily recoup this long-term by avoiding disposables.
36. Invest in a cheaper, eco-friendly alternative to disposable tampons with a menstrual cup. It will save the environment from around 16,000 tampons in your lifetime, which can take 500 to 800 years to fully decompose!
37. Or try a reusable tampon applicator. They fit every size of tampon, are antimicrobial (an agent that kills microorganisms) and easy to use.
38. Cut single-use plastic in your bathroom and invest in things like bamboo toothbrushes, toothpaste tablets and shampoo bars.
40. Switch to 100% renewable energy for your home.
Remember, even if you only manage to do two or three of these tips, you’ll still be helping to make your home that little bit greener.
