With the sharp escalation of the climate crisis in recent years, it is essential that everybody does their bit to practise sustainability in their everyday lives for the good of the planet. Regardless of your motivations for going green, every step you take towards eco-friendly living is not only one that helps the world, but also can enrich your life in the process. The best part is that being environmentally friendly isn’t always about big, public gestures - a lot of the most effective ways that we as individuals can implement sustainable practices into our lives can be carried out from the comfort of our own homes. With this in mind, if you’re just starting out on your sustainability journey and want some simple ideas to get you started, keep reading.
1. Prioritise Recycling
Although it might seem obvious at this point, the importance of recycling properly cannot be overstated. Chances are that if you’re considering a more sustainable lifestyle, then you’ll already be recycling. But everybody is capable of improving their recycling habits, as practically everything is recyclable these days - from paper to batteries and even cars. Before you throw something away, take a second to find out if it can be recycled instead.
In the same vein, it’s also a good idea to try and buy recycled products where possible. This can include everything from gifts to everyday household items like kitchen roll. Whenever you notice that there is a recycled option available, it’s definitely worth purchasing.
2. Go Plastic Free
Sometimes it feels like plastic has wormed its way into every single aspect of our lives, but giving it up isn’t as difficult as you might think. Simple ways that you can reduce your plastic consumption include bringing a tote bag with you when you shop, buy your fresh produce loose and invest in a reusable water bottle. There are also an increasing number of shops where you can bring your own container for things like nuts, pasta and cereals, as well as refills for soap, shampoo, washing up liquid and laundry detergent.
3. Install a Smart MeteR
A home efficiency solution that is easily implemented in the short term is the installation of a smart thermostat. These Wi-Fi-enabled systems can be controlled remotely from any smart device, and can be connected to your central heating, all types of boilers and air conditioning. This clever technology remembers your home’s heating patterns so that it knows when to heat it up or cool it down based on outside temperatures.
Using smart meters is useful in reducing the energy demand from fossil fuel powered plants, which in turn is great for saving money on your energy bills. Data collected from customers using the
Google Nest thermostat, for example, found that UK households save on energy use by 16.5% compared to homes without smart controls.
4. Be Conscious of Your Water Waste
When we consider “sustainability”, we often only think about it in relation to energy consumption. However, being truly environmentally conscious means taking a more holistic approach, meaning that you need to get serious about saving water. Firstly, identify any leaks around the house and fix them. If there aren’t any leaks, there are still plenty of lifestyle changes you can make to save water. For example, don’t leave the tap running when you brush your teeth or shave. It’s also a good idea to
install a low-flow showerhead filter, which has been proven to
save around 30 litres of water per shower.
5. Eat Less Meat
Although the vegan lifestyle isn’t for everyone, being conscious of what you’re conscious of is at the heart of becoming more eco-friendly, and simply cutting down on the amount of meat you eat can have a big impact. Cutting out red meat and pivoting towards a more plant-based diet - even if it’s just for a couple of days a week - is not only great for your health, but can also significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
6. Switch to Renewable Energy
Switching to renewable energy is a great eco-friendly option for any household, and is one of the most significant things you can do to help combat the climate crisis. Unfortunately, due to the current state of the energy market, it’s a good idea to stick with your current supplier for the time being. But it’s a good idea to keep up to date with news regarding renewables to find out when it’s best to make the switch.
7. Reduce Food Waste
Remember the old phrase, “waste not, want not”? Every year,
the UK wastes a whopping 9.5 million of food. This is not only a huge waste of food and money that is desperately needed elsewhere, but it also contributes to the amount of CO2 emitting from landfills exponentially. Try and be conscious of what you’re buying on your trips to the supermarket - create specific lists and stick to them - and if you do find yourself with food that’s a little too far past its sell by date, then you could always compost it rather than throwing it away. Not only will it create a natural fertiliser and keep your garden green, it’ll also reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. If you can’t compost at home, look for local compost schemes, or find out if your local authority collects food waste alongside other types of recycling.
8. Use LED Light Bulbs
Not only do LED light bulbs last longer, they’re also highly efficient. This means that you’ll be using less power whilst having to replace your bulbs less frequently - it’s a win-win situation. Plus, with so many brightness and design options available, you can really tailor your lighting to suit your home.
9. Buy Green Cleaning Products
Many mainstream cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to create and dispose of. What’s more, many people aren’t aware that continual exposure to these cleaning products can actually be detrimental to your health as well. Eco cleaning products use more natural and organic ingredients and manufacturing methods.
10. Insulate Your Home
Homes that aren’t well insulated are much harder to keep warm during the winter months, and cool down when it's hot. Insulating your home means that it’ll be easier to retain the inside temperature, thus reducing your energy consumption and saving money on your bills in the process.
11. Consider Eco Lifts
If you live in a flat with an elevator that’s starting to feel a little past its sell by date, consider contacting your freeholder about the possibility of installing an eco lift in your building. When it comes to eco lifts, it’s about much more than simply conserving energy as they are specifically designed to give back much more than what is invested. For example, regenerative drive lifts recover around 50% of the energy that is usually dissipated asway as heat, and return much of this energy back into the electrical system. Some of the benefits of eco lifts include:
● Substantial Energy Savings: As mentioned above, eco lifts don’t consume as much energy as standard elevators, and they don’t use power for descents because they rely on gravity. Similarly, the amount of energy required for moving upwards is also minimal. Halogen and LED lighting is implemented to further reduce energy consumption - the installation of which also costs less compared to conventional lighting systems.
● Use of Sensors: Eco lifts have special in-cab sensors that further improve their energy efficiency, allowing the system to enter idle mode whenever they aren’t in use. Not only do the lights turn off, but the ventilation and any music or video systems also go into hibernation. Generally, the ventilation system simply slows down.
● No Need for Lubricants: Eco lifts don’t have cables or gear pistons, and thus don’t need to be lubricated regularly or worry about preventing oil leaks.
Eco lifts are a must for any building owner that values their impact on the planet, not to mention that the energy, time and money they save are exponential.
Looking for Eco Elevators & Modern Lift Solutions?
Choosing eco lifts from ADL Lift Services will help you save money and practice sustainability in the process by reducing the amount of power consumed within your building. Our energy saving lifts will also harness electricity that would have otherwise been wasted. Our experienced lift engineers offer a comprehensive service, including lift design, installation and machine room-less eco lifts that can be tailored to suit your specifications. Alongside our eco lift installation and maintenance services, we also offer custom lift designs to suit a wide variety of requirements - from office buildings to hotels. To find out more about our modern lifts, or to obtain a free no obligation quote, get in touch with us today in
Glasgow,
Edinburgh or
Aberdeen.
