These tips will help you lead a more sustainable lifestyle
1. Reduce energy and water consumption
Not only will this lower your utility bills, but it will also reduce your carbon footprint. Turning off the tap, unplugging electronic devices and switching the light off during the day are all things that can save resources. You can also save energy by swapping your standard lightbulbs for energy-saving bulbs or LEDs. When purchasing new household appliances, it is important to check that they have a high energy-efficiency rating.
2. Heat your home sensibly and ensure there is effective ventilation
We all want our homes to be warm and cosy, especially when the weather is cold. However, if you want a more sustainable lifestyle, you should use your heating sensibly and maintain a consistent temperature in the rooms. You should therefore avoid turning up the heating too high. 20 degrees Celsius is the ideal temperature for living rooms, while it is 18 degrees in the bedroom and 23 degrees in the bathroom. When the heating is turned off, it is important to air your home on a daily basis. It is recommended that you open the windows three to four times a day.
3. Reduce the use of plastic
If you look around the supermarket, you cannot fail to see that many groceries are still sold in plastic packaging. There is often a choice, particularly when it comes to produce like fruit and vegetables. Choose plastic-free alternatives and loose foodstuffs. Avoid single-use bottles and take a fabric bag or shopping basket so that you don’t need a new paper bag if you happen to buy more shopping than expected.
4. Produce less waste and separate your rubbish
Use reusable products in your daily life, such as glass drinks bottles, bamboo straws, metal lunchboxes, beeswax wraps instead of aluminium foil, soap and shampoo bars and bamboo toothbrushes. There is now a huge range of environmentally friendly, waste-reducing products. Separating your rubbish properly is as important as reducing the amount you produce. Waste paper such as cardboard and boxes belong in the paper bin. The grey or black bin is for non-recyclable waste, such as vacuum bags, nappies and ash. Organic waste can be disposed of in the organic waste bin or on your own compost heap. The yellow bin is for plastic, aluminium or tin packaging and drinks cartons. Glass should be sorted and placed into the correct bottle bank according to colour.
