Eco-friendly living is becoming increasingly natural for millions of people across the planet — but there’s always more to be done when it comes to going green. From recycling and renewables all the way to reducing food waste, there are many ways to lessen our carbon footprint.
The team at Ideal are conscious that responsibility for helping the planet lies with everyone, so we’re always striving to refine both our manufacturing processes and increase the energy efficiency of our heating systems.
We started to think about other ways to help the environment simply by making changes at home and here are the results — our top 20 tips for making a difference to our planet.
Check What You Can Recycle in Your Area
We’ve all been there — unsure which plastics we can recycle and defaulting to the simple option of popping it in the bin. Try checking your local council’s website for a full list of what they can currently recycle and stick a list on your fridge as a quick and easy reminder.
Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
There are a wide range of cleaning products on the market that are much better for the environment than the standard supermarket offerings. Go online or take an extra moment during your shop to seek out some eco-friendly alternatives.
Explore Renewable Energy Providers
In recent years there’s been a big increase in the number of gas and electricity providers offering greener energy, with some supplying homes with 100% renewable power. There’s likely to be a trade-off in terms of price, but it’s a great option for the environmentally conscious.
Turn Your Thermostat Down One Degree
By turning your heating down slightly to find a thermostat temperature you’re comfortable with, you can help ease the pressure on our planet. Replacing your boiler thermostat with a newer model can also provide more accurate readings, saving even more energy.
Try to Waste Less Food
It’s easy to get carried away during a shop and buy more than we need, but preparing a meal plan in advance can help. Work out exactly what you need beforehand and you’re much more likely to stick to picking up the essentials, meaning less food goes to waste.
Grow Your Own Fruit and Veg
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden where you could grow some of your own produce, why not give it a go? Even if you have limited space, you could try growing chillies on your windowsill — every little helps when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint.
Rejuvenate Your Wardrobe
Fast fashion brands are increasingly popular, but they use huge amounts of energy and resources. Why not try repurposing older items in your wardrobe or checking out a clothes exchange event to freshen up your look instead of splashing the cash?
Shine a Light on Solar Power
Sunshine never fails to brighten our day, but it’s great for powering our homes too. Uswitch reports that the efficiency of solar panels has greatly improved in recent years — they can generate large amounts of electricity even when the weather’s not so great.
Try a Weather Compensation Kit
Speaking of sunshine, have you heard of weather compensation kits? These clever tools let your boiler know how warm or cool it is outside, meaning it can adjust your heating accordingly to provide increased energy efficiency.
Grab a Reusable Coffee Cup
We’re all looking to cut down on single-use plastics, so investing in a reusable coffee cup or water bottle makes a lot of sense. There are all sorts of fun designs to choose from, so you can look stylish at the same time as you help the environment.
Start a Compost Pile
If it’s not just a greener lifestyle you have in mind but a greener garden too, this is the tip for you. Composting not only reduces the amount of rubbish you throw away, it helps your flowers blossom as well — Good Housekeeping has a great guide to help you get started!
Take Care Not to Overfill Your Kettle
Preparing a fresh pot of coffee may seem harmless enough, but it can increase our energy wastage if we’re not careful. Make sure to only heat the water you actually need for yourself or any friends or family looking for a quick caffeine boost.
Discover Wireless Boiler Thermostats
An exciting new development in heating controls is the arrival of thermostat models you can carry from room to room, warming up your home exactly where and when you need it. Replacing your boiler thermostat with a wireless version is a handy way to cut down your energy use.
Try Out Your Local Shops
If you haven’t already sampled them, pay a visit to your local grocers or bakers to try out their delicious fresh produce. Not only will you be supporting small businesses, there’s a good chance you’ll reduce your carbon footprint as they’re likely to sell lots of local products.
Turn Appliances Off, Not on Standby
We all have an array of gadgets to hand these days, and turning them off rather than leaving them on standby can make a real difference to the environment. Taking small steps like this can reduce energy wastage and subsequently lower our utility bills as an added benefit.
Spend Less Time in the Shower
A refreshing hot shower always leaves us ready to face the day, but we’ve all been guilty of indulging a little longer than we need to. Let’s volunteer to clean up our acts and cut back on energy usage by spending less time in the shower.
Use Energy-Saving Light Bulbs
Looking for another tip to help reduce the energy you use at home? Allow us to shed some light on the situation — replacing any incandescent bulbs with a more energy-efficient CFL model is definitely the way to go.
Unleash Your Pedal Power
Cutting back on driving can greatly reduce our carbon footprint and it’s a great way to boost our fitness levels too. Using a bicycle for short journeys, or even walking if possible, can have a really wide range of benefits for our bodies and the planet.
Insulate Your Home
Walls and lofts are common spots for heat to escape from our homes. Insulating our properties keeps them warmer for longer, reducing the amount of energy we need to use at home and helping protect the environment.
Invest in an Energy-Efficient Boiler
If your boiler is coming to the end of its lifespan, consider replacing it with an efficient new model that will be easier on both your energy use and your finances. At Ideal, we take great pride in the fact that systems like our Logic+ Combi Boiler are endorsed by the Energy Saving Trust.
Do you have any more tips to share with us for going greener at home? Get in touch with us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook so we can share your inventive ideas for being more environmentally friendly!
