You’ll be aware, as we all are, of the necessity of considering your impact on the natural world. With the effects of climate change accelerating, it’s become paramount that all of us consider our carbon footprints, and actively work on keeping them as low as possible. Remember: while the bulk of the responsibility for navigating the world in the right climate direction lies with corporations, we all have a role to play.
The most effective way to reduce your carbon footprint is to focus on the areas that have the most impact. In all likelihood, that will be your property. In this post, we’ll run through some of the best ways to minimise your property’s carbon footprint.
Grow Your Own Vegetables
The food in your fridge can have a huge environmental impact. Did you know, for instance, that the water required to make a single hamburger is equivalent to a month’s worth of showers?
Even the vegetables you eat might not be as good for the planet as you might have thought, especially if they’ve travelled a long distance to end up on your plate. Growing your own vegetables is a great way to reduce your environmental impact. Plus, the tastiness — and satisfaction — of eating vegetables grown in your own back garden is unparalleled.
Look Second Hand
Anything that reduces your impact on the earth’s natural resources is beneficial. All too often, eco-friendly homeowners undo much of their other good work by buying new products that utilise the earth’s resources. An effective way to reduce your carbon footprint — as well as having a positive impact on your wallet — is to look at buying second hand. You can buy used furniture, appliances, and so much more. There are even ex-display in frame kitchens for sale, allowing you to get a great cooking space while also treading lightly on the earth. Once you begin exploring second-hand options, you’ll find that there’s a used option for just about everything.
Add Solar Panels
This is a big one. There’s often an investment required to add solar panels to your home, but it’s one that’ll pay off. Most homeowners find that their solar panels have paid for themselves (in energy savings) within around 5 – 7 years. It’s worth checking if you’re eligible for any government grants to add solar panels to your property. Once you’ve added them, you’ll have access to clean, renewable energy. If everyone added solar panels to their properties, then the world would be in a much better place.
Upgrade Your Appliances — And Avoid Using Them When Possible
If you’re using old appliances, then you’re probably using up more energy than you need to — and paying a lot more for the privilege, too. As with solar panels, you’ll need to set aside a fair amount of capital to upgrade your appliances, but it’s worth paying the price. Newer models are extremely energy efficient, resulting in lower bills. Though remember that sometimes the best method is to avoid using the appliances altogether — like hanging your clothes out to dry instead of using a dryer, for instance.
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