Living an environmentally friendly life is not only beneficial for nature but will save you thousands of pounds each year. It is a win-win situation and will make you feel great about yourself.
There are four major categories you can focus on when trying to live a greener life. Here is a complete list of tips you can follow for a positive impact on the world around you:
Reduce the Waste You Generate from Food and Food Packaging
Did you know that the UK wastes 6.7 million tonnes of food each year and leads this negative chart in Europe? For example, half of the produced potatoes in the UK go to the landfill or around 350 000 tonnes.
Here are a few ways you can positively impact the world around you by tremendously reducing the food waste of your household.
Eat less meat, processed food or food that is not available in your region (imported from abroad). Think of all the energy needed to transport a piece of exotic fruit across the globe just so you can enjoy something slightly different from the fruits grown locally.
Buy funny-looking fruits and vegetables, they are as tasty as the pretty ones yet few people buy them because of their appearance.
Buy and cook food smart. Don’t buy more than you can eat. Cook more at home, it is more healthy, cheaper and you learn a useful skill. Use the method FIFO – first in first out, place the groceries that will expire sooner to the front of your cupboards and fridge.
Another way to get more use from groceries is to have a ‘use it all up’ meal where you use food that will soon expire. It might not be a state-of-the-art recipe but it can still be as tasty as a Gordon Ramsey meal.
Save by Reducing Your Electricity Consumption
Try to reduce the ‘vampire power’ you generate. The term vampire power stands for the electricity that your electric appliances use even when they aren’t working. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean units stop to consume electricity while being plugged into the grid.
If you wish to reduce the amount of electricity you consume, try buying economic appliances.
A good example is the use of LED bulbs which reduce the electricity consumed as much as 90%. Amazing, right? And don’t forget to turn off the lights in the rooms you are not using!
Another way to reduce the electrical consumption of the lights at home is to use a power strip.
Reduce the number of electrical appliances you use. Why use a dryer when you can put your clothes on a clothesline to dry?
Try to use appliances during the night savings time when fewer people use the grid. This way you will also save some money off your monthly budget.
Pollute Less And Use Transport The Smart Way
If you can, try to go to and from work by bike or walking, combine getting healthy with helping the environment. If your workplace is too far, you can use public transportation.
Another way to pollute less from burning gasoline or diesel is to drive your car economically, without pushing the throttle to the maximum. It might sound like something irrelevant, yet it can reduce the gasoline burned by half compared to driving by over-revving all the time. For example, driving with 70 mph and 80-90 mph makes your engine consume more than 25% more gasoline. Remember, a 2l engine consumes twice as less gasoline than a 4l engine.
Carefully planning your time when going out with your car and combining different tasks such as shopping or going to the city centre will save a lot of your gasoline bills. As often as you can, try to share a drive with friends or use shared transport services. There are Facebook groups of people who offer a ride to and from every major city.
Reduce The Waste You Generate In A Dramatic Way
Recycle everything you can.
Plastic packaging, glass, paper, metals, electronics, etc.
Less than 50% of the generated domestic waste in the United Kingdom gets recycled. The rest ends up at the landfill.
Imagine how much usable materials could be put back in the economy instead of throwing those away.
Here are a few more simple tips to reduce the overall waste your households generates:
Pay your bills online so you don’t receive paper bills each month. Thousands of tonnes of paper are used to print and send bill letters across the country. Be the change
Donate or give away any items that you would otherwise throw in the recycle bin.
Use reusable bins, water bottles, grocery bags, and kitchen utensils.
Get rid of one time items such as razors, plastic cups, dishes, forks, and spoons.
Pay attention whether an item you buy is environmentally friendly, whether its packaging is recyclable or whether it’s reusable.
Do not use chemical cleaners. Also, use natural and reusable cleaning materials to clean at home.
Follow proper recycling. Leftovers such as window glass need special recycling.
Use as little paper as possible. Unsubscribe from all junk mail, try to read all newspapers and books online. We live in a digital era where we can send and receive literally any information online without the need to print it out on paper.
In the end, remember to unplug yourself from your busy daily life and be mind-friendly to yourself.
Think Of Sound Pollution In and Out Your Home
Although less popular than it should be, the issue is getting ever more traction throughout the busy urban areas. When it comes down to sound insulation, you could do interior, exterior or, at best, both. Although an issue throughout many suburban areas, noise pollution is most prominent throughout apartment buildings. If you are on a budget, one of the best solutions is to consider a soundproof floor and thus best insulate noise coming in or out of your home. The next best choice is to take care of windows and doors. Something as simple as soundproof curtains could make the difference in a decibel or two.
Remember, if you still need help with any sort of rubbish at home, Rubbish Please can help you, we are available 24/7 on 020 3404 5556.
