These days, we're all very aware of the impact humans have on the environment and many more of us are starting to take more notice in what impact our lifestyle can have. If you've ever travelled to some of the most beautiful places on Earth, you'll know how important it is to protect the world from more destruction.
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After all, we all want our children to be able to enjoy the same aspects of nature as we did, but with it all being such an overwhelming issue, you might wonder what we can possibly do to help. Whilst it's true that changes to conservation can only come about through political change, you can make small changes to your home that could actually make a big difference.
Heating
There have been many debates on the best way to heat your home, to make it both environmentally friendly and cost-efficient, generally, most homes are fitted with gas central heating. If you live in an older property that is equipped with oil-powered heating, you might want to consider switching. Gas heating is the least polluting conventional fuel on the market and is a lot cheaper than oil too. In order to switch, you may need to get a professional to come and take a look at your plumbing, though thankfully, it can all be changed using your existing plumbing system, so there shouldn't be too much mess or a big clean-up required.
Washing up
Another age old argument is whether or not it is more environmentally viable to use a dishwasher or to wash up by hand. Despite the fact that many of us couldn't live without one, only around a third of UK households actually own a dishwasher. This is in stark contrast to other countries such as Germany, where over half of the population use a dishwasher regularly. Generally speaking, dishwashers are considered to be greener, providing that they are used responsibly. Only using it when it has a full load will mean you save money and also have a less harsh effect on the environment.
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Doing laundry
Everyone knows what a pain doing laundry can be. When you have kids, you seem to go through clothes like you've never known before! Unfortunately, washing machines are some of the most energy-hungry household appliances on the planet. On average, a washing machine on an hour-long spin will use around 2.5 units of electricity - equal to about 50p. Your laptop, when plugged in, uses around 6p an hour - so you can see where the expense lies! In order to use less electricity on your washing machine, simply lower the wash cycle for your everyday loads. Using a 40-degree wash rather than a 60-degree one can save up to a third of electricity.
Entertainment
Having at-home entertainment systems such as a plasma television is very popular these days. Whilst it can be fun to have a lot of electrical gadgets at your fingertips, you need to be aware of the potential effect they can have on both your wallet and the environment. Televisions account for around 75% of energy consumption in the consumer industry alone. Scarily, a lot of this consumption can come from the product even when it is turned off. Mains power can still be flowing even when the device itself is on standby. So, consider turning your electrics off at the plug overnight to save power.
Jada x
