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The last week or so has got cold hasn’t it? I’ve found myself chilly at home, noticing the draughts around the front door and through the cat flap. It’s in the winter that the house’s weak spots show themselves – the odd badly fitting window, the cold air under a door.
It makes me realise that my home is probably costing me more than it needs to heating wise, and that has got me thinking about all the other ways in which my house could up its game environmentally. There are so many areas where we could improve the green credentials of our home, from big projects like properly insulating your loft down to choosing washable dishcloths and sponges.
I’ve picked out five ways to make your home more eco-friendly, with something for every budget and enthusiasm level.
Replace your windows
One of the biggest ways to make an impact on your fuel bill and make your home more eco-friendly is to make sure your windows are energy efficient. Installing energy rated double glazed windows and doors means you spend less on heating and can and massively help you to reduce your carbon footprint as a homeowner. Click here to find out more about energy rated double glazing.
Get your recycling system sorted
We’re all guilty of neglecting our recycling from time to time. You know the feeling, the food waste bin is full and needs emptying so you just chuck the carrot peelings into the bin. It’s easy to do but just putting in a little more effort can make a big difference. One way to do this is to make sure you make things as easy for yourself as possible by having your bin and recycling boxes all in one place with the recyclables easy to sort. I have a brilliant recycling bin for this.
Make your kitchen refillable
Food shopping is one of the big culprits when it comes to wasteful packaging. After your next shopping trip, take an honest look at the amount of waste – carrier bags, plastic wrapping on fruit and vegetables, plastic bottles and cans – it’s a lot. One simple and actually very cost effective way to make your kitchen more eco-friendly is to find your local refillable store. Mine is Lesser Litter in Taunton. They sell all sorts from oil, juice, herbs and spices to pasta, flour and baking products. They even have a machine where you can make your own peanut butter!
Reduce plastic in the bathroom
Take a stock take of your bathroom and you’ll probably find a LOT of plastic – shampoo bottles, shower gels – most toiletries come in plastic bottles that then go straight in the bin. Consider making small changes, like switching from shower gel to paper wrapped soap, or using refillable containers like in the kitchen. Going eco-friendly in the bathroom can actually feel like a real treat, as you can splash out on delicious smelling products from places like Lush, in paper bags or refillable containers.