Everybody has to start somewhere so here are some simple ways to go green that everyone can do. Almost all of these ‘green tips’ will also save you money in the short or longer term. So you’re not only helping the environment you may be helping your pocket too!
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How to Go Green at Home
1. Recycle. You know you should, so just do it.
2. Switch it off. Leaving a room? Switch the light off. Turning the TV off at night? Switch it off at the wall so it isn’t left on standby.
3. Buy Energy Efficient Appliances. Once an appliance has irreparably broken this is a good time to look into replacing it with a far more energy efficient one.
4. Hang your washing out to dry. Using a clothes line or hanging your clothes indoors on an airer is much better for the environment, and your wallet, than using a tumble dryer.
5. Use Energy Saving Light Bulbs. LED lightbulbs are more expensive to buy initially but last longer and will save both energy and money over time.
6. Drink Tap Water. Tap water is perfectly safe to drink in many parts of the world. Stop buying all those water bottles!
7. Switch to reusable nappies. It’s important to be aware that reusable nappies are only more environmentally friendly if they are washed with a full load, on a more energy efficient setting or by hand, and hanging them out to dry rather than tumble-drying. Alternatively you could buy sustainable bamboo nappies.
Read How to Have an Eco-Friendly Baby for more tips!
8. Use a ‘moon cup’ or ‘diva cup’. Not for everyone, but once you get used to them menstrual cups are much cheaper and way better for the planet. Learn more about plastic free periods.
9. Fix leaking taps. It’s a simple way to save water at home.
10. Grow your own! Grow your own herbs or some veggies at home.
11. Drive at the speed limit. Boring? Yes. But it’s also safer, cheaper and better for the environment.
“Studies have shown up to 30% of the difference in miles per gallon (MPG) is due to driving habits alone. You could save more than a ton of CO2 per year by:
– Accelerating slowly and smoothly
– Driving the speed limit
– Maintaining a steady speed
– Anticipating your stops and starts” – Matter Of Trust
12. Buy a car that’s only as big as you need. Why buy an SUV if you live alone and only drive around town? My car is so small I don’t pay any car tax and the petrol lasts for ages.
13. Plan your errands. Work out what needs to be done and plan to do all your errands in one day using the most efficient route. This saves you money, time and is one very simple way to go green.
14. Buy local. Wherever possible buy your fruit and veg from local farmers markets. You’re supporting the local economy, less likely to be purchasing unnecessary plastic and more likely to be buying organic food. (Why you should eat organic food)
15. Always carry cloth shopping bags and refuse plastic bags at shops.
16. Buy a reusable water bottle.
17. Get yourself a reusable coffee cup.
18. Get yourself a reusable lunch container. Take a packed lunch or carry a reusable container for buying takeaway lunches (ask your local cafe / takeaway to fill your container rather than coming away with lunch and single use plastic – why not ask for a discount for using your own containers, you never know?)
19. Always refuse straws (or if you seriously can’t go without then buy some reusable ones)
20. Buy a plastic free toothbrush. Bamboo toothbrushes are all the rage!
22. Go paperless. Pay your bills online.
23. Stop unsolicited mail – stopping all those leaflets and menus coming through your door saves paper (and your sanity).
24. Switch to a green energy supplier.
25. Make your own washing powder.
26. Do a cold wash instead of a hot one. It still washes your clothes and can use up to 57% less electricity per wash. – Ariel
27. Use a quick wash cycle. As well as using cold water (30º or less) use one of the shorter cycles.
28. Use public transport, car share or ride a bike when possible.
29. Collect rainwater to water your plants.
30. Make a compost bin at home.
31. Reuse scrap paper. Printed something by mistake? Only used one side of the paper? Use the other side for making notes or giving to the kids to draw on.
32. Keep your car tyres properly inflated.
“Under-inflated tyres can not only put lives at risk but they increase the stress on a vehicle’s steering and suspension, cause it to use more fuel and thus produce more CO2.” – ATS Euromaster
33. Keep your car serviced as this helps to keep emissions low and your car running efficiently.
34. Plant a tree!
35. Grow some wildflowers. Wildflowers will attract bees and they look lovely too.
36. Reduce the temperature a notch on your thermostat (just pop on a jumper).
37. Check your home for draughts. “Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy – and money – in any type of building.” – Energy Saving Trust
38. Take shorter showers.
39. Use shampoo bars. Shampoo bars are a great way to reduce the amount of plastic packaging you buy.
40. Stop mowing your lawn. Yes doing less in your garden is a very easy way to go green.
41. Don’t use pesticides. Embrace the bugs in your garden, don’t kill them!
Read Easy Ways to Have an Insect Friendly Garden and why you should embrace the bugs
42. Go on a beach clean-up.
43. Cook in bulk. Cooking in bulk then freezing what you don’t eat straight away can reduce your food waste ensuring that you use all your fresh vegetables before they go off.
44. Eat less fish because the ‘fishing industry is the greatest threat to our oceans’.
45. Look for sustainable, natural materials. Find clothes or linen made from sustainable organic cotton, bamboo or hemp.
46. Stop using bleach to clean your loo. Baking soda and vinegar are a great alternative. There are so many ways to clean your bathroom in an eco-friendly way.
47. Buy from thrift shops. You can find some great quality clothes in second hand shops or charity shops and it’s cheaper than buying new or buying from unethical clothes manufacturers.
48. Use rags instead of disposable wipes.
49. Sell, re-purpose or donate unwanted items, to reduce the overall waste your household produces.
50. Stop buying so much stuff that you really don’t need!
BONUS – Download some eco-friendly apps to help you live more sustainably.
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The above are all very simple ways to go green and many of the ideas could save you money too, which is always nice.
I try to do all of these things, in fact there’s only 3 that I haven’t yet done. I don’t use reusable nappies (I don’t have a baby so hopefully you’ll forgive me for that). So far I’ve not tried a bamboo toothbrush because I still have a couple of plastic ones that I haven’t used yet (and there’s really no point in just throwing them away). Finally I haven’t fixed my leaking taps yet. I live in rented accommodation and I’m rubbish at fixing things like that, but it’s on my list of things to do.
I always ask myself a few questions before buying anything.
- “Is the packaging on this recyclable?”
- “Can I buy this item without plastic packaging?”
- “Is this a single use item?” (If so what’s an alternative version I could buy)
And probably the most important question to ask yourself…
- “Do I really need this?”
Refuse -> Reduce -> Reuse -> Recycle
Want some more ideas? Check these 250 ways to be more sustainable in all aspects of your home and lifestyle.
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I always thought that the quick option was the best, but I recently learned that it uses much more water! New machines have an eco-program. It takes a long time but is apparently the best for the environment.
oh Jessica thanks for sharing. I know my machine as as Super Eco-Wash program, but I never relate it to Eco-friendly or so. 🙂 At least now I know.
This is a very valuable and helpful article. Adding insulating jackets to water heaters is another practical home upgrade that aligns with sustainable living. It helps conserve energy by reducing heat loss, ultimately lowering heating bills anywhere from 4% to 9% and reducing your carbon footprint.