Sustainable living is coming more and more to the forefront of our everyday lives. And you don’t have to go completely off the grid to make a positive impact on the environment. Here are nine simple ways that you can improve your environmental impact with some straightforward switches.
Install double-glazed windows
Windows are some of the biggest sources of temperature change inside your home. Sunlight and heat will have a far easier time entering your home through them, and the warm air inside your home will likewise have an easier time escaping through them.
Double glazed windows are made up of two panes of glass instead of one, with a small airtight space in between them. This creates additional barriers, with the panes soaking up a lot of the heat before it can get into your house in summer or out of your house in winter.
And regarding heating and cooling in general, better insulation will always reduce the need for air-conditioning in winter and heating in summer, which is not only more sustainable, but also cheaper too.
Use reusable items over disposables wherever possible
Investing in some good reusable items won’t just reduce your environmental impact, it will also be cheaper in the long run. Plus it will reduce the amount of objects that end up in landfill. Examples of some easy things to change include using tea towels over paper towels, using glass food containers over plastic ones, using a water bottle when going out rather than buying bottled water when you’re there.
Use wooden and stone implements
Wooden and stone implements are free from the chemicals found in plastic implements and give a rustic look to any kitchen. They are also far more durable and need replacing less often. Just be sure to check that the wood has been sustainably sourced, or you’ll be switching one negative impact for another.
Coordinate car trips
For families with older teenagers, a lot of driving can happen across multiple vehicles. Simply taking the time to ask around before going out to the groceries or other errand if somebody needs something along the way can reduce the amount of car trips that happen from your house. Driving to family outings in the same car will also have the same effect. And, of course, coordinating car trips includes other straightforward things like carpooling to work (or social gatherings) wherever possible and
Go paperless
The internet has revolutionized so many aspects of our life, and mail is one of the most notable. Switching to online statements and bills is good for the environment and convenient for you, especially because you can pay your bills online as well.
Switch lights off when you exit the room
Maybe not the type of switch you instantly thought of, but just as beneficial. Like many of the entries on this list, turning off the lights when you leave a room will reduce your environmental impact and your electricity bill. Win win. And that isn’t the end of the lighting switches you can do.
Install LED lighting
Anyone who still has an incandescent light bulb somewhere will know the heat the little things put out trying to generate what little light they can. And they’re terribly inefficient at it too. LEDs, meanwhile, are far and away the most superior lighting option out there, outstripping even fluorescent lighting by a fair distance. They last far longer, are far more luminescent (and superbly efficient too), and generate almost no heat. Plus they’re available in a variety of sizes, colours and shapes.
LED’S are lighting the future, and they’ve never been more accessible, as they are much cheaper now. Just be sure to get a professional residential electrician to do the LED lighting installation. The dangers of electrical DIY are always present, especially with lighting.
Choose natural products
Simple, easy and applicable in many places. Looking at the ingredients or materials of items you buy can reveal a lot about their environmental impact, and it’s often easy to make a switch to a more sustainable product. Don’t be afraid to vote with your wallet when it comes to which companies (and their environmental impact) you support.
Go solar
While the installation of solar panels is certainly far more involved than some of the other entries on this list, there’s no doubting the advantages that going solar has on your environmental impact (and your electricity bill too). And if you don’t want to go all the way, a solar hot water heater can really help reduce your electricity bill in winter especially. Solar-powered lighting is also an accessible and environmentally-friendly way to illuminate outdoor areas at night.
Who to speak to for more ideas?
A residential electrician can be a treasure trove of ideas that you may not have thought of or found across blogs on the internet. And they can help you action those ideas. So if you’re interested in learning how you can do more to reduce the environmental impact through electronic improvements, or if you want an LED lighting installation or any other electrical update done, get in touch with a trusted electrician.
