You don’t need to go off grid and live a totally self sufficient life to demonstrate your willingness to go green. For many it is not practical, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do your little bit for the environment.
Whist we have talked a lot about environmentally friendly ways you can heat your home, there are other things you can also do, to ensure a greener, more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
Below are 10 ways you can achieve this:
Buy Local Food – Although sometimes it may cost a little more, buying local food means it has traveled less to arrive on your supermarket shelf. This means the associated transportation carbon footprint is lower than if you were to buy from a supplier in another part of the country or world.
Use Recycling Opportunities – Many councils now offer recycling as part of their waste collection service, where you separate paper, cardboard, glass, tins and plastic. Using this may take a little more time than throwing it all in the main waste, but it provides a significant opportunity towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
Give Up Bottled Water – Many empty water bottles end up on a landfill site. Drink your own tap water and save waste packaging (and money). If you wish, you can use a water filter before you drink.
Alternative Energy Suppliers – Companies like Ecotricity provide electricity like any other energy supplier, but their power is sourced through their own network of wind farms. Saving electricity is one thing, but knowing you are getting it from wind farms is a great added green benefit.
Stop Junk Mail – Over 50 lbs of junk mail is sent to the UK home on average each year. Considering there are 25 million homes in the UK, this equates to 1.25 billion lbs or over 568,000 tonnes a year of junk mail (about the same weight as 1,300 Boeing 747 jets!) That’s a lot of waste! Where possible opt out of receiving mail from companies you deal with. Also if you join the MPS (Mailing Preference Service) you should see a significant drop in junk mail. Companies should screen their mailing databases against the MPS before they send a prospective mail shot.
Efficient Secondary Heating – Whist we have spoken at length about how a wood burning stove can be used as a central heating source, it is not always practical for everyone. However, investing in a highly efficient stove, which can have an energy efficieny of over 80% is an efficient move, when you consider an open fire has an efficient rating of only around 25% at best.
Central Heating – Ensure you are using an efficient boiler, and reducing the temperature of your central heating, one degree at a time, until you reach a lower level you are still comfortable with, is a great way to become more energy efficient and to save money. Home insulation and domestic energy saving is outlined in more detail in this article we have produced – view article.
Educate Yourself and Others – Don’t preach or lecture, but take the time to learn more about the environment and sustainability, and discuss with friends and family on the things they will find most interesting. Whilst most will not make a dramatic switch to a green way of living, a few small changes here and there will all add up over time.
Eco-Safe Driving – Where you can – walk. It’s good for you can saves money and of course the environment. Also learning eco-safe driving techniques, can save around 20% on fuel bills, not to mention making you a safer, more observant driver. Eco-safe driving also produces less wear and tear on your car, which in turn will mean components, namely brakes and tyres, will also last longer too!
Reuse the Plastic Water Cooler Cup – When at work, take a plastic cup from the water cooler and refill it when you want a drink. Too many people use a new cup each time they take a drink. This is a huge waste, and something you can easily and conveniently look to do, to save plastic waste.
There are many more ways, which you can become more environmentally friendly. As a manufacture of highly efficient stoves and fires, we are very aware how small changes can all add up to a big difference.
